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. Mar 22, 2016 this is a great book that describes the 1938 new england hurricane. A gripping description of new england s storm of the century. All told, 700 people were killed by the hurricane, 600 of them in long island and southern new england. The new england hurricane album of pictures of the. Black and white photographs from the fsaowi, 19351945, which is part of the american memory collections at the website of the library of congress. Hurricane of 1938 new england remembers paperback by aram goudsouzian, robert allison. One of the greatest weather disasters ever to hit new england struck at around 3. It is still the most powerful and deadliest hurricane in new england s recorded history. Hurricane sweeps through long island and new england, killing more than 100 in 1938 the new york daily news published this article on sept. The 1938 hurricane that revived new england s fall colors an epic natural disaster restored the forest of an earlier america a southern new hampshire pine forest was entirely blown down in the. The new england hurricane, also called the long island express, or the great hurricane of 38 this was before hurricanes were given names, is still in the record books as one of the most damaging hurricanes to ever strike the u. A social and meteorological history of the great new england hurricane, by lourdes b.
The great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. The original house was built by kates parents in 19. Burns sets the stage at the beginning of the great hurricane of 1938 nicely and then hourbyhour takes us through the slow buildup and the ferocious blast of the hurricane. Now a yankee classic, this article was first published in september, 1988. A look back at the disastrous great new england hurricane. The 1938 atlantic hurricane season featured the great new england hurricane, regarded as one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes in new england history. This hurricane was later nicknamed the long island express because of the force with which it destroyed the long island, new york. The new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane or yankee clipper or long island express or simply the great hurricane of 1938. Forecasters originally believed that the storm would. Jul 28, 2019 the great new england hurricane finally dissipated over canada that night. Hurricane of 1938 the wind that shook the world the hurricane of 1938 was the worst natural disaster in american history, greater than even the chicago fire or san francisco earthquake.
This system developed in the far eastern atlantic, near the cape verde islands on september 4. In the wind that shook the world, as it was later called, new england lost more than 25 percent of its cherished elms. Expert recounts unimaginable great new england hurricane. This aerial shot is from early 1938 before the hurricane on september 21st washed it away known by many names.
According to the author, no one could have been prepared for the 1938 storms speed and ferocity. On making landfall, irene moved along at 15 miles per hour, a speed typical for hurricanes, which dont seem to be in a hurry. The great new england hurricane of 1938 catskill archive. By 4 pm, one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes ever to hit southern new england made landfall between bridgeport and new haven. And, because a storm must be incredibly fast and strong to reach new england, when a hurricane. Sep 21, 2017 without warning, a powerful category 3 hurricane slams into long island and southern new england, causing 600 deaths and devastating coastal cities and towns. This startling works project administration video of the 1938 new england hurricane, which raged at almost 200mph, killed up to 800 people, and damaged 57,000 homes, should give those who. A category three hurricane has wind speeds between 111 and mph. This is a great book that describes the 1938 new england hurricane.
Stephen long is a great writer making this book very enjoyable to read. Entire communities were leveled by the hurricane s powerful winds and. As a remembrance of the strenuous days we experienced following the floods, hurricane and tidal wave of september 21st, 1938, the trustees are presenting each member of the new haven family with a copy of this graphic record of the damage and reconstruction of the new haven railroad. The hurricane of 1938 was one of the most devastating storms to strike new england s atlantic coast. The great hurricane of 1938 and millions of other books are available for instant access. The 1938 hurricane that revived new englands fall colors. The system developed off the cape verde islands around september 4, 1938. Hurricane of 1938 the wind that shook the world new. Over the next 24 hours, it moved through new england causing incredible damage throughout those states to crops, trees, and livestock. The storm developed near the cape verde islands on september 9, tracking across the atlantic and up the eastern seaboard. Does the electronic version of the book completely replace the paper version. The great hurricane of 1938 in photos the weather channel. The great new england hurricane of 1938 weather concierge. The hurricane of 1938 new england remembers series by robert allison in epub, fb3, rtf download e book.
It came ashore at long island on september 21 with winds of 155 and gusts up to 180. After more than a hundred years without a hurricane, the 1938 storm reminded northeasterners that they, too, are vulnerable to tropicalforce destruction. The great new england hurricane of 1938 killed an estimated 600800 people in its path, causing widespread damage in connecticut, rhode island, massachusetts, new hampshire, vermont and even in. Burns lays out the story in the great hurricane of 1938 like a movieand reading the book is a very visual experience. Springfield, ma 1938 hurricane pair disaster postcards. A gripping description of new englands storm of the century. On september 21, 1938, southern new england prepared for a glorious latesummer day. Seventyfive years ago the hurricane was estimated to have killed between 682 and 800. Few people, if anyone, knew that the most severe hurricane in southern new england history, known as the long island express or the great new england hurricane of 1938, was about to strike. Free shipping on due to covid19, orders may be delayed. In newport, it was estimated that this was a 1 in a 400year. The 1938 new england hurricane left 256 people dead. One point that has been lost in the retelling is that much of new england was already flooded when the 1938 hurricane entered the picture. Best of all, if after reading an ebook, you buy a paper version of the hurricane of 1938 new england remembers series.
For the auxilliary interstate highway, see long island expressway. What became known as the great new england hurricane of 1938. The great new england hurricane finally dissipated over canada that night. Photo record 1938 hurricane and flood book new englands. This photo from island park, rhode island, shows the damage inflicted by the great new england hurricane of 1938. We thought we would revisit our area one more time to remind readers that the storm referred to above some 80 years ago was no piece of cake. It crossed the atlantic and threatened florida on september 20. The next thing i really remember was 34 years later my parents purchased a book about the great new england hurricane. And, because a storm must be incredibly fast and strong to reach new england, when a hurricane does come, it comes hard. Sep 08, 2015 this year marks the 77th anniversary of one such storm, the great new england hurricane of 1938 also commonly referred to as the long island express hurricane which struck on september 21st, 1938. Also called the long island express, the great new england hurricane of 1938 was the most destructive storm to strike the region in the 20th century. 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. The year produced fifteen tropical depressions and nine tropical storms, of which four further intensified into hurricanes.
Postcard 1938 new england hurricane boston massachusetts boats city point. Hurricane that swept the north atlantic coast took a known 116 lives at the time. Sep 04, 2010 the following images snapped shortly after the great new england hurricane of 1938 are from america from the great depression to world war ii. The storm hit long island and southern connecticut on september 21, moving at a. On september 21, 1938, one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history struck long island and southern new england. This year marks the 77th anniversary of one such storm, the great new england hurricane of 1938 also commonly referred to as the long island express hurricane which struck on september 21st, 1938. Wind gusts reached category 5 strength in eastern connecticut, rhode island and southern massachusetts west of buzzards bay and cape cod. The official weather forecast for new england on sept. The hurricane of 1938 new england remembers series. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience. Sep 24, 2019 the great new england hurricane of 1938 killed an estimated 600800 people in its path, causing widespread damage in connecticut, rhode island, massachusetts, new hampshire, vermont and even in. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. This startling works project administration video of the 1938 new england hurricane, which raged at almost 200mph, killed up to 800 people, and. It forever changed the landscapes of cities and towns in its path.
September 21, 1938 new england hurricane of 1938 this storm made landfall on long island and connecticut as a category 3 hurricane. Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary of the storms landfall as a category 3 hurricane on long island, and to coincide with that occasion, the ams has just released a new book about the event. For the first time his wife irene could ever remember, harold higginbotham decided not to go to work. The new england hurricane an album of pictures of the hurricane and floods this publication contains many photographs of the damage of the 1938 hurricane in new england predominantly connecticut. It stands as one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes to impact long island and southern new england of all time. The 1938 hurricane along new englands coast images of. The great 1938 hurricane, a onceinalifetime storm new. Via without warning, a powerful category 3 hurricane slams into long island and southern new england, causing 600 deaths and devastating coastal cities and towns. A social and meteorological history of the great new england hurricane.
Before the dawn of satellite observations, a fastmoving category 3 hurricane snuck up on new england in midseptember 1938. Oct 12, 2017 the 1938 hurricane that revived new englands fall colors. The great new england hurricane of 1938 weatherworks. By then, the category 3 new england hurricane of 1938, after crossing long island about 2 p. 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. Because the storm track did not take it over any land mass, it didnt lose any of its strength. Vermont scars from 1938 hurricane still visible today. Few paid attention to the storm barreling up the coast. This day in history the great new england hurricane 1938. Summer had been hot, muggy and stormy, but this day promised a wonderful respite of lowered humidity, brilliant sun and flat sea. With riveting detail, burns weaves together the countless personal stories of loved ones lost and lives changed forever from those of the moore family, washed to sea on a raft formerly. New ams book remembers the great new england hurricane. The new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane or yankee clipper or long island express or simply the great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new.
Aug 27, 2011 the new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane or yankee clipper or long island express or simply the great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new. When you think of hurricanes you tend to think of the caribbean or the coastal south, not new england but in 1938 a killer hurricane of massive proportions hit an unprepared new england and changed both the geography and people of that region forever. Unlike other books or reports on this storm, this book focuses on the forest and agricultural impacts from the hurricane. The hurricane lost intensity as it passed over northern new england, but by the time the storm reached canada around 11 p. Throughout the hurricane, the coast guard worked tirelessly to provide aid. The following images snapped shortly after the great new england hurricane of 1938 are from america from the great depression to world war ii. The great new england hurricane photo 7 pictures cbs. Worcester, massachusetts, kanes furniture store,great new england hurricane 1938. Throughout the hurricane, the coast guard worked tirelessly to provide aid to countless displaced residents. The 1938 hurricane along new englands coast book, 2008. The great 1938 hurricane took almost everyone by surprise. Great new england hurricane of 1938, hurricane of 1938, stephen long about kevin kevin oconnor is a brattleborobased writer and former staffer for the sunday rutland herald and times argus. Expert recounts unimaginable great new england hurricane of. Ma, boston, massachusetts, great new england hurricane of.
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