A look back at New England’s worst hurricanes, in photos
Though hurricane season technically began June 1, the most dangerous storms to hit New England’s coast have typically arrived in late summer.
Gov. Charlie Baker has officially devoted this week to hurricane preparedness, urging Massachusetts residents to educate themselves on how to prepare for a worst-case scenario weather event. Here’s a look back, in photos, at some of the worst hurricanes in local history.
The Great Hurricane of 1938
On Sept. 21, 1938, a record-breaking hurricane hit New England, killing 564 people and injuring 1,700 more. The Blue Hill Observatory in Milton recorded the strongest winds ever for the region, with gusts up to 186 mph, according to the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
This September 1938 photo shows a damaged ferry boat sitting in shallow water in Providence, R.I., following the deadly hurricane of 1938 that hit the Northeast.
The remains of St. Hedwig’s Catholic church at 99 Otis Street, East Cambridge, the oldest Polish Catholic church in the city. Amazingly, the altar was unharmed.
Hurricanes Carol and Edna
The “twins” arrived in quick succession during the late summer of 1954. Following Hurricane Carol’s landing in southern New England on Aug. 31, Hurricane Edna barreled over Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket on Sept. 11. Strong winds ruined 40 percent of apple, corn, peach and tomato crops throughout New England. “Carol” was the first Atlantic hurricane name to be retired because of the severity and damage of the storm.
The Old North Church in Boston is pictured without its steeple, following damaged inflicted by Hurricane Carol.
People make their way along a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Carol on Cape Cod.
Hurricane Bob
One of the costliest storms in New England history, Hurricane Bob caused $1.5 billion in damages around the region. After the storm touched down on Aug. 19, 1991, 60 percent of residents in southeastern Massachusetts lost power. Spots in Martha’s Vineyard Nantucket lost up to 50 feet of shoreline from erosion.
A man holds on to a pole in downtown Boston during Hurricane Bob on Aug. 19, 1991.
Children play on a fallen over chair on the beach in Falmouth, Mass., on Aug. 23, 1991.
Superstorm Sandy
In more recent memory, Superstorm Sandy broke records for storm surge and tide levels in the Northeast. Sandy caused $70 billion in damages across the Eastern Seaboard when it made landfall in October 2012. Though New York and New Jersey were hit hardest, 600,000 Connecticut residents lost power during the storm.
Public works crews remove a large tree from power lines and traffic lights after Hurricane Sandy passed through the area in Needham, Massachusetts.
This Oct. 30, 2012 photo shows a house destroyed during Superstorm Sandy on Fairfield Beach Road in Fairfield, Conn.
Follow the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Twitter and Facebook page for warnings and tips on how to prepare for storms.
