Great New England Hurricane Devastates Region
In September 1938, a powerful hurricane formed off the coast of Africa and raced northward along the U.S. East Coast with little warning, as forecasting technology and communication were limited during the Great Depression era. The storm, later known as the Long Island Express, intensified rapidly and made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Long Island, New York, on September 21, with sustained winds exceeding 115 mph and a forward speed that amplified its destructive power. It then struck Connecticut and swept through southern New England, generating massive storm surges, flooding, and winds that toppled trees, destroyed homes, and sank ships. Approximately 600 to 700 people perished, thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed, and property losses reached hundreds of millions of dollars, equivalent to billions today. The disaster exposed gaps in weather prediction and emergency response, prompting long-term improvements in forecasting and coastal preparedness.
Why it matters: The hurricane remains one of the deadliest and most destructive storms in New England history, reshaping coastal landscapes and communities for decades. It led to advancements in the U.S. Weather Bureau's tracking capabilities and influenced modern hurricane preparedness policies. The event highlighted the vulnerability of the Northeast to tropical systems and contributed to the development of better warning systems still in use today.