She was working as a waitress at a restaurant on napeague harbor, just west of montauk, when the wind and water started to pound against the windows. Until, that is, a freak category 5 hurricane poorly forecast and underreported that was supposed to head harmlessly out to sea after missing florida instead took a fast track up the atlantic coast, savaged central long island and barreled right into narragansett bay, whipping away scores of summer homes, beach clubs, restaurants and other. The hurricane, one of the most destructive to ever hit new england, was followed by massive river flooding as the water dumped by the storm10 to 17 inches. The storm formed near the coast of africa on september 9, becoming a category 5 hurricane on the saffirsimpson hurricane scale, before making landfall as. My mom waded into the water with me on her shoulders.
Many names were given to the storm including the great new england hurricane, yankee clipper, great hurricane of 1938, and long island express. The new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane or long island express or simply the great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. About 700 people died 75 years ago when the storm known variously as the great new england hurricane of 1938 or the long island express began plowing up the northeast coastline at 2. The great hurricane of 1938 save the dunes and beaches. History reveals hurricane threat to new york city live. Hurricane history for long island ive been doing research on the hurricane history for long island. However, it was mainly known as the new england hurricane of 1938.
In terms of fatalities and property damage the 1938 hurricane is still one of the worst disasters in north american history. One of the many homes wrecked in hardhit west hampton beach, long island in the 1938 hurricane, where many met death. Providing information to the people who love long beach, ny as we recover from hurricane sandy and become stronger. Hurricane of 1938 the wind that shook the world new.
On the day of september 21, 1938, the storm was moving at about 30 miles an hour as it passed cape hatteras and the carolina coast at 8. Dramatic damage was done to the beaches of presentday new york. The dune road area of westhampton beach was obliterated, resulting in 29 deaths. Photos of the long island express hurricane of 1938 on. Formerly a hurricane, it was the only tropical storm to make landfall in california in the twentieth century. Long island express hurricane, 1938 the deadly 1938 hurricane known as the long island express roared into elsie wartas life seven decades ago with a ferocity she remembers to this day. While only aged 3 12 then, there are certain things succinctly remembered.
The 1938 new england hurricane also referred to as the great new england hurricane, long island express, and yankee clipper was one of the deadliest and most. Since i was born in 1965, i only remember the hurricanes from 1976 and forward. The lowest pressure recorded with the storm was 27. The storm developed near the cape verde islands on september 9, tracking across the atlantic and up the eastern. September 12 th hurricane donna eastern long island. The 1938 new england hurricane also referred to as the great new england hurricane, long island express, and yankee clipper was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclones to strike long island, new york, and new england. Views of local damage from the hurricane that hit long island on september 21, 1938. Brickner in 1938, the setup of the national weather service was very different than it is today. The great new england hurricane of 1938 national weather service. Article recalls hurricane that slammed into long islands south shore on september 21. The exhibit includes a personal scrapbook donated by the stevens family with extensive notes throughout.
Fisherman in the villages along the mexican coast have named these storms, the lash of st. Hurricane sandy inland water damage in the nynj metropolitan area. Weather bureau and there were numerous smaller offices across the country that were added slowly in the future. Hurricane history for long island from 1893 to present. The 20 exhibit in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the hurricane of 1938 is open.
On september 21, 1938, one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history struck long island and southern new england. The great hurricane of 1938, the long island express hurricane of 1938 as it has been called, struck long island and new england on september 21, 1938. The astonishing power of the great hurricane of 1938 part 1 ground zero of the great hurricane of 1938 was the border. Long islands hurricane of 1938 back in the years before the government gave. The 1938 new england hurricane was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical. Scotti contends that the states death toll was closer to 433. In westhampton beach, which bore the brunt on long island, more than 150. Long beach city officials announced a fundraiser sunday to help hurricane harvey victims in texas. Lb community organizations active in disasters lb coad. Long beach ny, hurricane information home facebook.
At least 262 people were killed in rhode island, though in the 2003 book sudden sea. All told, 700 people were killed by the hurricane, 600 of them in long island and southern new england. Until, that is, a freak category 5 hurricane poorly forecast and underreported that was supposed to head harmlessly out to sea after missing florida instead took a fast track. In scott mandias web site, the long island express. Because it was a snazzier time, people called this hurricane the long island express.
Est, the hurricane made landfall on long island over bellport. By 20 september, it was east of the bahamas and had reached category 5 status. Hurricane gloria in 1985, a category 1 storm that was the last one to hit long island. About 700 people died 75 years ago when the storm known variously as the great new england hurricane of 1938 or the long island express began. It had sustained winds of 121 mph, and a peak wind gust of 186 mph in massachussetts. View 1 photos for 59 roosevelt blvd, long beach, ny 11561 a bed, bath, 5,000 sq. Now a yankee classic, this article was first published in september, 1988. Hurricane hazards along the northeastern atlantic coast of. The system developed off the cape verde islands around september 4, 1938. Long beach leading long island harvey relief efforts. The great hurricane of 1938 in photos the weather channel.
Unique vulnerability of the new yorknew jersey metropolitan area. The great new england hurricane of 1938 damage photos. On fire island more than 1,000 bungalows were demolished after the hurricane. The great hurricane of 1938 a very indepth history of the storm. City of long beach, new york official government organization. See more of long beach ny, hurricane information on facebook. The 1938 hurricane, the most severe and terrifying storm to hit long island in living memory, struck on september 21, a day that had dawned bright and fair in the seaside. This was one of the biggest hurricanes of the 20th century, and killed. Front page of the mattituck watchman, sep 22, 1938. June 22 nd tropical storm agnes western long island likely long beach tropical storm.
The most recent new york, ny hurricane was andrea in 20. The great new england hurricane of 1938 damage photos weather. For the first time his wife irene could ever remember, harold higginbotham decided not to go to work. The storm developed near the cape verde islands on september 9, tracking across the atlantic and up the eastern seaboard. While this was an odd storm, the 1938 season is perhaps best known for the long island express hurricane of 1938 that devastated portions of new york and new england in september. Along the coast, storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. The bridge on route 85 at onesquethaw creek was closed due to a westbound lane washout. Dreading a replay of the 1938 hurricane the new york times. The storm hit long island and southern connecticut on september 21, moving at a. The 1938 hurricane caused 306 million dollars of damage 75 years ago, but that would translate into nearly 18 billion dollars today and would put that storm in the top 57 most costly storms of.
The regional perspective on the 1938 hurricane lots of great pictures of. Long beach in talks with union over concessions, officials say. Seven hours later, the category 3 hurricane smacked. There have been other hurricanes since then hurricane bob, which mostly missed long island, in 1991. The great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. Over the next 24 hours, it moved through new england causing incredible damage throughout those states to crops, trees, and livestock.
For example, the long islandnew england hurricane of 1938 is the only u. The 1938 hurricane, which took forecasters and residents by surprise, devastated. On september 21, 1938, new england was hit by a category 3 hurricane. Hurricane donna created an 11foot storm tide in the new york harbor that caused extensive pier damage. History reveals hurricane threat to new york city a modern perspective on the risks to new york city. The hurricane of 1938 the long island history project. The storm formed near the coast of africa in september of the 1938 atlantic hurricane season, becoming a category 5 hurricane on the saffirsimpson. It came ashore at long island on september 21 with winds of 155 and gusts up to 180. A s the last person alive to leave the beach at quogue during the eye of the 1938 hurricane otis bradley was trapped at a childrens party in westhampton beach i can add a memory or two to john posts contribution. Not since 1869 had this region experienced such a violent hurricane.
The hurricane was estimated to have killed between 682 and. The weather doctor almanac 2008 the great hurricane of. Long beach leading long island harvey relief long beach, ny the city, which was hit hard by sandy, is rallying to help those in texas facing even more devastation. An exhibition at the east hampton historical society on long island features photographs taken by residents in the aftermath of a hurricane that ripped across the east end in september 1938. The great new england hurricane learn more from these relevant books chosen by the weather doctor. The long island express hurricane of 1938 curbed hamptons. The 1938 hurricane killed more than 50 people on long island, even though it struck the sparsely populated east end on sept.
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