The hurricane was estimated to have killed between 682 and. See more ideas about new england, weather storm and rhode island history. Est, the hurricane made landfall on long island over. The 1938 hurricane was moving at 40mph when it struck long island this increased the winds on the right side of the cyclone to much stronger values. Hurricane in the hamptons, 1938 book by mary cummings. Hurricane of 1938 the wind that shook the world new. The storm hit long island and southern connecticut on september 21, moving at a. Hurricane sandy vs hurricane of 1938 business insider. Until, that is, a freak category 5 hurricane poorly forecast and underreported. Long island remembers the great hurricane of 1938 cbs.
The major damage on long island was more easterly, beginning about westhampton and westhampton beach and on to montauk point. She stated in her 1991 book that 95% of her personal belongings were. The 88yearold has lived in the city for 75 years and survived the famous hurricane that devastated long island in 1938. Traveling 960 km 600 mi in approximately 12 hours time, the great new england hurricane of 1938 exhibited the fastest forward speed upwards of 96 kmh 60mph ever recorded in hurricane history. The great hurricane of 1938 damage caused by storm. If new york and the rest of the world have been so well informed about the cyclone, it is because of an admirable organized meteorological service.
Few paid attention to the storm barreling up the coast. The great hurricane of 1938 the long island express. The hurricane of 1938 remains the most devastating hurricane in recent memory, a gale with winds of 110 miles per hour that stormed into eastern long island and new england with no warning. That morning a new york times editorial entitled hurricane concluded,every year an average of three such whirlwinds sweep the tropical north atlantic between june and november. Along the shore, 7,000 cottages and 2,000 other houses were destroyed, and the human death toll was estimated at 680.
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 new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane or yankee clipper or long island express or simply the great hurricane of 1938. On the night of september 21,1938, news on the radio was full of the invasion of czechoslovakia. The following is a letter scanned from richard hendricksons book winds of the. No one saw the hurricane of 1938 coming eight decades ago, catching the community of quogue, new york, completely unprepared.
The states of new york, connecticut, and rhode island, suffered their worst natural disaster in recorded history. By then, the category 3 new england hurricane of 1938, after crossing long island about 2 p. In westhampton beach, which bore the brunt on long island, more than. Some east end residents shared their memories of the 1938 long island express hurricane at a gathering hosted sept. Scotti contends that the states death toll was closer to 433. Summer had been hot, muggy and stormy, but this day promised a wonderful respite of lowered humidity, brilliant sun and flat sea. On september 21, 1938, one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history struck long island and southern new england. Long beach ny, hurricane information posts facebook. 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.
The hurricane of 1938 rocks connecticut connecticut. 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. Making landfall with horrific fury and 129 mph winds, the eye of. The 1938 hurricane hit long island and then moved on to. Allen find in a library the great new england hurricane of 1938 nat weather service in harms way at the long island museum. The long island express hurricane of 1938 curbed hamptons. Dreading a replay of the 1938 hurricane the new york times. The great new england hurricane of 1938 damage photos. By the time oceanfront residents noticed an ominous color in the sky, it was too late to escape. The great new england hurricane of 1938 katharine hepburns connecticut beach house and 8,900 other homes were swept into the sea. Indeed, a row of 39 homes along a beach in connecticut where totally washed. By the 16th, it had become a strengthening hurricane, near 21n 53w. The mission of the long beach public library is to provide friendly service, useful information, needed and wanted materials. Since the hurricane moved at a speed similar to that of a.
On the night of september 21,1938, news on the radio was full o. Victor ponga is among a rare breed of stormtested long beach residents. It destroyed cemeteries, slammed boats into shore, uprooted entire orchards and smashed structures into splinters. The great new england hurricane of 1938 damage photos weather. The astonishing power of the great hurricane of 1938 part 1 ground zero of the great hurricane of 1938 was. Storms beach noreaster 1 1991 storms beach noreaster 2 1991. The state of new york is located along the east coast of the united states, in the northeastern portion of the country. Providing information to the people who love long beach, ny as we recover from hurricane sandy and become stronger, smarter and sexier. 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. Article recalls hurricane that slammed into long islands south shore on september 21, 1938, that hurricane may go into record book as local storm of the century. Our sports teams used to be known as the green wave. Views of local damage from the hurricane that hit long island on september 21, 1938. A collection of memories from westhampton beach and quogue areas by marion raynor van tassel obrien, verity, margaret b.
Remembering the long island express, the 1938 storm the new. Memories of li express, 80 years later some east end residents shared their memories of the 1938 long island express hurricane at a gathering hosted sept. That storm, known as the long island express or the great new england hurricane of 1938, was initially expected to hit miami, but surprised the east coast after it changed direction and. I think only those with an operating knowledge of long island and coastal ne will really like this book. By 4 pm, one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes ever to hit southern new england made landfall between bridgeport and new haven. Much has been written about the 21 september 1938 hurricane and its impact on long island.
The great hurricane of 1938 in photos the weather channel. Eightyfour tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the state of new york since the 17th century. Emergency officials expressed grave concern that residents have become accustomed to more tame storms that did not cause extensive damage, and would not heed. Hurricane gloria in 1985, a category 1 storm that was the last one to hit long island. On september 21, 1938, southern new england prepared for a glorious latesummer day. Sitemap disclaimer commerce policy ca privacy rights coupons made in nyc. 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. Hurricane in the hamptons, 1938 ny images of america. At least 262 people were killed in rhode island, though in the 2003 book sudden sea. 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 communities between westhampton beach and montauk point.
Y for those few who still remember, the images are seared into their brains. The result was what the hartford courant called the. There have been other hurricanes since then hurricane bob, which mostly missed long island, in 1991. Remembering the long island express new york times. The 1938 hurricane, the most severe and terrifying storm to hit long island in living. The great new england hurricane without warning, a powerful category 3 hurricane slams into long island and southern new england, causing 600. The great hurricane of 1938 and millions of other books are available for instant access. Long beach public library new york the mission of the.
Seven hours later, the category 3 hurricane smacked. I teach united states history at westhampton beach middle school on long island. Waves ranging from 30 to 50 feet swept houses and families right out to sea. Remembering the long island express hurricane of 1938. The 1938 hurricane that revived new englands fall colors. On september, there was indications of a tropical cyclone near 19n 37w. Cbsnewyork 80 years ago, no one saw the great hurricane of 1938 coming. The hurricane center was now somewhere near centereach, ny although with new reanalysis data of the hurricane, this could be slightly different. In terms of fatalities and property damage the 1938 hurricane is still one of the worst disasters in north american history. The hurricane is now located about 350 miles east of daytona beach, fl. The hurricane of 1938 the long island history project. Front page of the mattituck watchman, sep 22, 1938. A look back at the disastrous great new england hurricane. The storm formed near the coast of africa in september of the 1938 atlantic hurricane season, becoming a category 5 hurricane on the saffirsimpson.
New jersey had gale force winds and downed trees, wires and other scattered debris. In a matter of hours, 600 people were killed, 4500 were injured, and more than 75,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Because it was a snazzier time, people called this hurricane the long island express. The great 1938 hurricane crossed over the tip of long island, slammed into new london and raced up the connecticut river valley at 50 miles per hour. The strongest of these storms was the 1938 new england hurricane, which struck long island as a category 3 storm on the saffirsimpson hurricane scale. The great hurricane of 1938 is remembered on its 80th. 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. Long island hurricane history display montauk library. The system moved just northeast of the lesser antilles into the southwest atlantic as a fairly fast clip. 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. Archival hurricane photos on exhibit at montauk library until october 30, 2018. Exhibit remembers 1938 hurricane the long island express.
The 1938 new england hurricane was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical. The dune road area of westhampton beach was obliterated, resulting in 29. This was one of the biggest hurricanes of the 20th century, and killed. 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 great 1938 hurricane took almost everyone by surprise. Long beach public library new york the mission of the long beach public library is to provide friendly service, useful information, needed and wanted materials. Milton miller, 96, survived the great new england hurricane of 1938, the storm that many are remembering as irene, in many ways a similar storm, moves up the atlantic coast. Remembering the long island express, the 1938 storm the. Buy a cheap copy of hurricane in the hamptons, 1938 book by mary cummings. Such was the case on september 21, 1938, when a tropical hurricane, the first since 1815 to visit new england, suddenly veered inland, pulverizing long island and cutting a swath across connecticut.
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