Great New England Hurricane of 1938 remembered on 75th anniversary

PLYMOUTH, N.H. It slammed into land and rapidly moved north, destroying buildings, altering coastlines, ripping apart forests and shocking a population that had never experienced a hurricane.

17 Photos

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 plowing up the Northeast coastline at 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 21, 1938.

A weather station in Massachusetts recorded sustained winds of 121 mph and gusts as high as 186 mph — a major storm by modern standards that dwarfs the land wind speeds recorded in storms Irene and Sandy, which also devastated parts of the Northeast in recent years.

"It was the strongest, the most devastating, the deadliest and the costliest for the region and still is," says Lourdes Aviles, a Plymouth State University meteorology professor in Plymouth, N.H., who this month published the book "Taken by Storm, 1938: A Social and Meteorological History of the Great New England Hurricane."

The hurricane was the death knell for many mills and factories that had barely survived the Great Depression. It stripped 4 million bushels of apples from orchards, killed livestock and felled millions of trees, according to Aviles' research. Bridges and dams were destroyed, and rail travel was halted for weeks.

The hurricane's death toll varies from 500 to 800, depending on the source. Aviles adopts the Works Progress Administration's count of 682. Tidal surges as high as 26 feet were recorded, and Rhode Island suffered the most casualties.

The storm was notable not only for the death and destruction it spawned, but also the forward speed that gave it one of its nicknames. It hit Long Island, N.Y., and southern Connecticut moving at an amazing 47 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Despite the recent woes brought by Sandy and Irene, any similar storm in the future will beset a population that has no appreciation of what a true hurricane is, Aviles says.

"No matter what storm you think about in the last century," she says, "nothing here compares with 1938."

View the original article here

Great New England Hurricane of 1938 remembered on 75th anniversary

PLYMOUTH, N.H. It slammed into land and rapidly moved north, destroying buildings, altering coastlines, ripping apart forests and shocking a population that had never experienced a hurricane.

17 Photos

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 plowing up the Northeast coastline at 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 21, 1938.

A weather station in Massachusetts recorded sustained winds of 121 mph and gusts as high as 186 mph — a major storm by modern standards that dwarfs the land wind speeds recorded in storms Irene and Sandy, which also devastated parts of the Northeast in recent years.

"It was the strongest, the most devastating, the deadliest and the costliest for the region and still is," says Lourdes Aviles, a Plymouth State University meteorology professor in Plymouth, N.H., who this month published the book "Taken by Storm, 1938: A Social and Meteorological History of the Great New England Hurricane."

The hurricane was the death knell for many mills and factories that had barely survived the Great Depression. It stripped 4 million bushels of apples from orchards, killed livestock and felled millions of trees, according to Aviles' research. Bridges and dams were destroyed, and rail travel was halted for weeks.

The hurricane's death toll varies from 500 to 800, depending on the source. Aviles adopts the Works Progress Administration's count of 682. Tidal surges as high as 26 feet were recorded, and Rhode Island suffered the most casualties.

The storm was notable not only for the death and destruction it spawned, but also the forward speed that gave it one of its nicknames. It hit Long Island, N.Y., and southern Connecticut moving at an amazing 47 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Despite the recent woes brought by Sandy and Irene, any similar storm in the future will beset a population that has no appreciation of what a true hurricane is, Aviles says.

"No matter what storm you think about in the last century," she says, "nothing here compares with 1938."

View the original article here

Great New England Hurricane of 1938 remembered on 75th anniversary

PLYMOUTH, N.H. It slammed into land and rapidly moved north, destroying buildings, altering coastlines, ripping apart forests and shocking a population that had never experienced a hurricane.

17 Photos

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 plowing up the Northeast coastline at 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 21, 1938.

A weather station in Massachusetts recorded sustained winds of 121 mph and gusts as high as 186 mph — a major storm by modern standards that dwarfs the land wind speeds recorded in storms Irene and Sandy, which also devastated parts of the Northeast in recent years.

"It was the strongest, the most devastating, the deadliest and the costliest for the region and still is," says Lourdes Aviles, a Plymouth State University meteorology professor in Plymouth, N.H., who this month published the book "Taken by Storm, 1938: A Social and Meteorological History of the Great New England Hurricane."

The hurricane was the death knell for many mills and factories that had barely survived the Great Depression. It stripped 4 million bushels of apples from orchards, killed livestock and felled millions of trees, according to Aviles' research. Bridges and dams were destroyed, and rail travel was halted for weeks.

The hurricane's death toll varies from 500 to 800, depending on the source. Aviles adopts the Works Progress Administration's count of 682. Tidal surges as high as 26 feet were recorded, and Rhode Island suffered the most casualties.

The storm was notable not only for the death and destruction it spawned, but also the forward speed that gave it one of its nicknames. It hit Long Island, N.Y., and southern Connecticut moving at an amazing 47 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Despite the recent woes brought by Sandy and Irene, any similar storm in the future will beset a population that has no appreciation of what a true hurricane is, Aviles says.

"No matter what storm you think about in the last century," she says, "nothing here compares with 1938."

View the original article here

Great New England Hurricane of 1938 remembered on 75th anniversary

PLYMOUTH, N.H. It slammed into land and rapidly moved north, destroying buildings, altering coastlines, ripping apart forests and shocking a population that had never experienced a hurricane.

17 Photos

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 plowing up the Northeast coastline at 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 21, 1938.

A weather station in Massachusetts recorded sustained winds of 121 mph and gusts as high as 186 mph — a major storm by modern standards that dwarfs the land wind speeds recorded in storms Irene and Sandy, which also devastated parts of the Northeast in recent years.

"It was the strongest, the most devastating, the deadliest and the costliest for the region and still is," says Lourdes Aviles, a Plymouth State University meteorology professor in Plymouth, N.H., who this month published the book "Taken by Storm, 1938: A Social and Meteorological History of the Great New England Hurricane."

The hurricane was the death knell for many mills and factories that had barely survived the Great Depression. It stripped 4 million bushels of apples from orchards, killed livestock and felled millions of trees, according to Aviles' research. Bridges and dams were destroyed, and rail travel was halted for weeks.

The hurricane's death toll varies from 500 to 800, depending on the source. Aviles adopts the Works Progress Administration's count of 682. Tidal surges as high as 26 feet were recorded, and Rhode Island suffered the most casualties.

The storm was notable not only for the death and destruction it spawned, but also the forward speed that gave it one of its nicknames. It hit Long Island, N.Y., and southern Connecticut moving at an amazing 47 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Despite the recent woes brought by Sandy and Irene, any similar storm in the future will beset a population that has no appreciation of what a true hurricane is, Aviles says.

"No matter what storm you think about in the last century," she says, "nothing here compares with 1938."

View the original article here

Video: September 11, 2001 remembered, 12 years later

Colo. voters oust two pro-gun control state senators in recall 2:32 September 11, 2013

Colo. voters oust two pro-gun control state senators in recallTwo Colorado lawmakers, Democratic State Senate President John Morse and Senator Angela Giron, who voted for stricter gun aws were recalled from office.The two Democrats were targeted by gun advocates, including the NRA. CBS News' Barry Petersen reports.

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Monmouth U president Gaffney remembered as leader who gave, earned respect

WEST LONG BRANCH — During a recent three-hour standoff in Long Branch between authorities and a man waving a machete, one Twitter user suggested it was ?time for Admiral Gaffney to get back into action and take this guy down.?

Let student and alumnae chatter about him on social media tell it, Retired Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, who steps down this week as Monmouth University president, is alternately viewed as superhero or father figure.

One user on the social media platform suggested in a recent tweet that Gaffney, 67, who served in the post for 10 years, be ?re-elected.? Others express love for the university?s outgoing leader.

But Gaffney ? for more than three decades ? has been leading his troops. He said his time at Monmouth University was no different.

?Why would you do the job, if you didn?t like the students?? Gaffney asks. ?They are why we are here.?

If Gaffney is a sort of superhero, then his super power might be ?The Gaffney Grip? or ?The Gaffney Shake,? as Gaffney?s distinctive handshake is known around campus and the community. Some people say they train before they meet him but few say they are able to stand their ground as he clasps your hand while simultaneously pulling you closer by way of your elbow.

?He wants to show you he means what he says and then he grabs your elbow,? Lillian C. Borrone said of the handshake. Borrone served with Gaffney on the U.S. Ocean Policy Commission and suggested he take the Monmouth position. ?It (the handshake) is a good way to show you respect and to steer you in the right direction.?

That is Gaffney?s operating mantra, say his friends and colleagues: to get respect, you need to give respect.

?He has wonderful relationships with the trustees, faculty and, most importantly, the students,? Borrone said. ?They see these great qualities of loyalty, integrity and commitment and his ability to deliver on all these things.?

Gaffney received $639,060 from the university and another $58,082 from the university and other sources for a total of $697,142, according to 2010 IRS records, the most recent available for Monmouth University.

Gaffney left his mark on the suburban private campus, changing it in virtually every way, from additional programs and partnerships with international schools to campus additions such as the $57 million multipurpose activity center that was constructed debt-free.

?I think things are getting a little bit better every day,? Gaffney said. ?Financially, we are solid.?

Gaffney is devoted to the university?s sports teams, even taking over as announcer of its track and field events.

?Here is a man who has to have been the most accessible anywhere as a college president for the media when it came to discussing his school?s athletic programs,? said Tony Graham, the recently retired Asbury Park Press reporter who has covered Monmouth athletics on and off since 1969.

?From a reporter?s viewpoint but also from a personal one, he was special,? Graham said.

Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider recalled how Gaffney dove in to help resolve an off-campus housing issue that a decade ago troubled many city residents.

?It was his style to do things with a big grin,? the mayor said. ?You know, he went to the naval academy, served his country overseas but when you talked to him, he was a pretty down-to-earth guy.?

His student-centered philosophy often was introduced when each fall, Gaffney, in short sleeves and casual dress, appeared at the dorms to help incoming students drag in boxes of belongings, sometimes to the puzzlement of parents. Gaffney rarely disclosed his identity.

?You are the heroes here,? he said to graduates in May.

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