Photos Show the Devastating 1938 Hurricane That Changed New Bedford

One of the biggest storms on record hit the SouthCoast 88 years ago today.

Not only did the storm have an immediate impact with a devastating loss of life and property, but there were also some lasting implications that even affect the way New Bedford handles major storms to this day.

It was called the Great New England Hurricane, and it descended upon the SouthCoast on September 21, 1938. To this day, it remains one of the most destructive storms in New England history.

Plenty of Cameras But Little Warning

By the time 1938 rolled around, cameras for home use had become much more widespread, which allowed many people to take photos during and after the monster storm.

The one thing that was still developing was the science of meteorology, which means that people didn't receive as much notice about storms that were headed their way.

How Strong Was the Hurricane of 1938

When the Hurricane of 1938 hit the SouthCoast, it had scaled down to a Category 3 storm, but that doesn't mean it wasn't alarmingly strong.

The storm turned deadly, with steady winds clocking in at 115-120 miles per hour. Wind gusts climbed to an astonishing 183 miles per hour. A storm surge of 12 to 16 feet inundated the SouthCoast.

Much like Hurricane Bob in 1991, boats were strewn about on the streets like discarded toys. Water from the Atlantic Ocean slapped past stone walls to overtake homes and destroy roads. When it was all said and done, there was property damage in the neighborhood of about 3.5 billion of today's dollars.

How Many People Died in the 1938 Hurricane?

More importantly, there were 682 people who lost their lives during this deadly hurricane. The damage to New Bedford was so destructive that city and state leaders knew something had to be done.

Why New Bedford Built a Hurricane Barrier

The 1938 hurricane became a defining moment in New Bedford's modern history. It was the aftermath of the 1938 storm that convinced the city that a hurricane barrier needed to be built.

Hurricane Carol in 1954 was the last straw which finally got the project funded.

Construction started in 1962, and continued until the beginning of 1966. To this day, the hurricane barrier has one job: to protect the inner harbor in New Bedford's South End from future storms.

Whenever you hear about the New Bedford hurricane barrier, just know that it's a direct legacy of what happened on this very date 88 years ago.