A storm brews off the coast of Africa. It’s early September, in 1938. No one is to know the
path of destruction this would bring. But, with each passing day the storm grows stronger, until it is
a hurricane with 75 mile per hour winds. The Great Hurricane Of 1938 was one of the most
powerful and impactful storms that eastern United States has seen, because of its weather
conditions, other conditions, and impacts.
The weather conditions of this hurricane were off the charts, literally. Barometers were
dropping, recording the lowest, and most dangerous pressures. Four days of pouring rain start off
the storm, causing the rivers to be swollen and overflowing. Twelve to fifty foot flooding was seen,
as well as thirty to fifty foot waves in Long Island, New
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The five hundred mile wide storm had a fifty mile diameter eye, and left a path of
destruction.
In addition, other conditions were a factor in the terrible ferociousness of the great
hurricane. Human error played a major role in these conditions. The National Weather Bureau
predicted the storm was going to turn out to sea, as many hurricanes had before it. But, one junior
forecaster disagreed. He mapped the storm perfectly, and was ignored. Two hours before the storm
hit, there was no warning sent out even though it had been spotted off the shore of New Jersey.
There was no senior forecaster on duty at the time of the hurricane, who could have corrected the
mistakes. The east coast was unprepared for the tragedy that would soon strike. It was all a
surprise, and to blame is human error and other conditions.
Impacts are numerous for a storm of this size. 153 out of 179 houses were destroyed on
Westhampton beach. $400 million were spent in damage. That’s $6.7 billion in today’s money.
63,000 people were left homeless. 682 people died, 433 of which were from Rhode Island. Crops
were flattened, and livestock was killed. Forests were obliterated. 275 million trees were