My father's side of the family settled in Provience around 1910 and were there for this hurricane. My paternal grandfather (1907-2003) typed up an account of what he experienced & saved the Providence newspapers about the hurricane--I still have them all, yellow w/age. There aren't too many people around any more who remember this hurricane or how bad it was. Thanks for the upload!
The only thing I had ever heard of this hurricane was that it damaged Katharine Hepburn's house in Connecticut. Never knew it caused so much damage as Hurricane Irene. My prayers go out to the people affected by Hurricane Irene.
Irene is nothing more than a tropical storm compared to this one eyed monster. I thought it was a ct4 though my grandparents used to camp at the Charlestown Breachway in RI and then we started going around the late 60's but I can remember at low tide seeing concrete stairs from some of the mansions that got destroyed
I am from Connecticut and I shudder because my grandfather was killed by a 1938. It somehow got into the house in the night and tore the place up. It bit him and he died before a doctor could arrive.
I don't understand? Where are all the freeloaders crying that the government isn't doing enough or are working too slow? No looting or gangs and thugs trying to steal and kill?............Times were different back then and so were people! We control our own destiny!
@maggstx Wow dude way to be classy. It's a complete tragedy and yr taking political jabs. I don't mind my tax dollars going to help a town devastated by a hurricane. Maybe cuz I have a thing called a heart. We're all in this together and being a cold hearted isolationist will get us nowhere
Just imagine if a storm like that hit today. Its so much more built up now, the damage would go onto the Billions. At least back then they had the WPA, today, day laborers will come enmasse. I am dreading the next time a big hurricane come to LI.
@PinePowerLI Unfortunately it probably will. History (and weather) is destined to repeat itself, and New England is long overdue for a strong (Cat 3 or greater) hurricane. In 2010 the U.S. was lucky. No direct landfalls on U.S. soil. However 2011 is supposed to be another active year. The Northeast is running out of time...
This is a great video, showing lots of footage of the recovery. Another factor about this storm was that it came in on the high tide, so flooding was great. Whole sea-side communities along the coast were swept away.
My great grandparents were in Providence as the flood came in about 3:30PM that day. They watched from the second floor in a building downtown (from the Outlet I think) as the water rose up and flooded the ground floor to the ceilings. It is interesting to see what happened on film!
my grandmother was in providence that day . took her a day to get home on foot to east providence. my grandfather was asked to go to providence to moor a ship he worked on (providence line) he lost his 1936 plymouth in the drink
my grandmother was in providence that day , i think it took her a day to get home on foot to east providence , my grandfather was asked to go to providence to try and moor a ship he worked on , a providence line ship . he lost his car ,i think it was a 1936 plymouth lost in the drink
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danw1374 3 months ago
My father's side of the family settled in Provience around 1910 and were there for this hurricane. My paternal grandfather (1907-2003) typed up an account of what he experienced & saved the Providence newspapers about the hurricane--I still have them all, yellow w/age. There aren't too many people around any more who remember this hurricane or how bad it was. Thanks for the upload!
wlhardy 4 months ago
Rhode Island WOOH
jackel785 5 months ago
The only thing I had ever heard of this hurricane was that it damaged Katharine Hepburn's house in Connecticut. Never knew it caused so much damage as Hurricane Irene. My prayers go out to the people affected by Hurricane Irene.
astralagosto 6 months ago
@americancomrade
There wasn't much technology to warn people in this time either.
profoak1 6 months ago
I have the original news book with all the pictures of the disaster. What made this the worst was because no one was prepared.
americiancomrade 6 months ago
Irene is nothing more than a tropical storm compared to this one eyed monster. I thought it was a ct4 though my grandparents used to camp at the Charlestown Breachway in RI and then we started going around the late 60's but I can remember at low tide seeing concrete stairs from some of the mansions that got destroyed
PLev43 6 months ago
three : different hurricane structure very fast moving hurricane only lasted a couple of hours
thyczko2 6 months ago
what category hurricane was it?
nicgriffin46 6 months ago
I am from Connecticut and I shudder because my grandfather was killed by a 1938. It somehow got into the house in the night and tore the place up. It bit him and he died before a doctor could arrive.
TheGreatOldOnes 6 months ago
My father always told me about this storm in 1938, I think were due for another one
pfcwar5150 6 months ago
Looks Like Irene is going to be a repeat..
Rthomassc 6 months ago
I'm hoping Hurricane Irene will be another Hurricane of 1938!!!
craigjonesslipknot5 6 months ago
@craigjonesslipknot5 mee toooo::)
niyazov96 6 months ago
that is so sad poor city!!!!!!!!
cureforthecurse 8 months ago
The storm was moving north at appox.70 mph...and when it slammed into the NE
...it registered on a siesmograph in Sitka Alaska...50 foot waves...top wind gusts at 186 MPH....and nobody knew it was coming...
beatlejim64 9 months ago
nyc has hurricane great
gho2t9933 1 year ago
I heard this storm missed NYC by 75 miles.
98bigbutt 1 year ago
You people gotta remember that it wasn't just New England that got hit. That's why it was called the "Long Island Express".
GTAIVman 1 year ago
My mom was born in the middle of that hurricane. I didn't realized just how bad it was until now.
bissells 1 year ago
I don't understand? Where are all the freeloaders crying that the government isn't doing enough or are working too slow? No looting or gangs and thugs trying to steal and kill?............Times were different back then and so were people! We control our own destiny!
maggstx 1 year ago
@maggstx Wow dude way to be classy. It's a complete tragedy and yr taking political jabs. I don't mind my tax dollars going to help a town devastated by a hurricane. Maybe cuz I have a thing called a heart. We're all in this together and being a cold hearted isolationist will get us nowhere
SonicYouth5469 1 year ago
Just imagine if a storm like that hit today. Its so much more built up now, the damage would go onto the Billions. At least back then they had the WPA, today, day laborers will come enmasse. I am dreading the next time a big hurricane come to LI.
PinePowerLI 1 year ago
@PinePowerLI Unfortunately it probably will. History (and weather) is destined to repeat itself, and New England is long overdue for a strong (Cat 3 or greater) hurricane. In 2010 the U.S. was lucky. No direct landfalls on U.S. soil. However 2011 is supposed to be another active year. The Northeast is running out of time...
spindalis79 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
70 years ago today .
bearcub410 3 years ago
Greatest natural disaster to ever hit us in New England..Sept.21,1938. Top winds were measured at 186 mph!!!!!!!!!!!!
beatlejim64 3 years ago 7
This is a great video, showing lots of footage of the recovery. Another factor about this storm was that it came in on the high tide, so flooding was great. Whole sea-side communities along the coast were swept away.
rogernma 3 years ago
its like when i play sim city;
hurricane + flood + fire
gonepishing 3 years ago
My great grandparents were in Providence as the flood came in about 3:30PM that day. They watched from the second floor in a building downtown (from the Outlet I think) as the water rose up and flooded the ground floor to the ceilings. It is interesting to see what happened on film!
juni0r75 3 years ago 7
katherine hepburn was almost killed by this storm!
jimmyhd1969 4 years ago 2
Top wind gusts were 186 mph!!!!!
beatlejim64 4 years ago
my grandmother was in providence that day . took her a day to get home on foot to east providence. my grandfather was asked to go to providence to moor a ship he worked on (providence line) he lost his 1936 plymouth in the drink
bearcub410 4 years ago 2
my grandmother was in providence that day , i think it took her a day to get home on foot to east providence , my grandfather was asked to go to providence to try and moor a ship he worked on , a providence line ship . he lost his car ,i think it was a 1936 plymouth lost in the drink
bearcub410 4 years ago 2