Multiple weather reports are foreshadowing the effects of Hurricane Irene and comparing it to the effects of the Great New England Hurricane– one of the most powerful and destructive storms ever to hit the northeast (southern New England in particular). Man, I really hope history won’t repeat itself because these photos are NOT cool! Hit the jump to see pics and read more details about the storm!
The storm now bearing down on the Northeast, Irene, has drawn comparisons to the one from way back then which, according to the National Weather Service, killed nearly 600 people and injured 1,700.
Around 8,900 houses across southern New England were destroyed. More than 15,000 others were damaged.
It brought its wrath first to New York’s Long Island, then to Milford, Connecticut. It sped northward at 60mph. Tides were already higher than normal – as they are now with Irene headed this way.The Great Hurricane produced tides from New London, Connecticut, east to Massachusetts’ Cape Cod that were between 18ft and 25ft, the weather service says. Communities along the Narragansett Bay were devastated.
Storm surges of 12ft to 15ft destroyed most of the homes along the coast there. A surge of nearly 20ft left Providence drowning in water. Years later, the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier would be built to try to shield the capital city from repeat devastation.
For those who lived through the Great Hurricane – and many of them have since died – Irene’s impending arrival has brought some of the memories back.
