The "The Unnamed Storm of 1944" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Walking 96th Street in Stone Harbor, NJ before supper.  Arrived a few hours ago and after unloading our car and waiting out the last remnants of a cold front that swept through the area, Carol and I walked into town to enjoy the sights and smells of this coastal city.  Stopped into a Realtors office and picked up a few local publications and headed back to the house that my brother and sister-in-law have rented for the week. 

Homes destroyed during the storm.

Leafing through the "Seven Mile Times" and found a story that was both interesting and remark- able.  Seems that 70 years ago today the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 tore up the north-eastern coast of the United States with Category 2 fury and caused over $36 million ($300 million in today's dollars) in damage in New Jersey.  Many people in Cape May County who are still alive today weren't even familiar with the word hurricane, since they had never experienced one in their lifetime.  Storm surge was 9.6 feet with 40-foot waves and gusts to 125 mph.  

Cape May County damage.

The technology that we are so accustomed to today didn't exist in the 1940s and there was no storm-tracker communi- cations, no 911 and no Doppler Radar.  Houses were destroyed and looting was prevalent.  One interesting fact I read about the unnamed storm was the fact that we were in the midst of WWII and "radio silence" had to be maintained about strategic information such as weather for fear that German U-boats would attack the east coast.  The storm hit the shore cities about 5:00 pm and the seven mile area of Stone Harbor and Avalon, NJ were covered over with water in 10-15 minutes.  The Sea Isle City, NJ boardwalk was swept away in 15 minutes as were the fishing piers in Avalon and Stone Harbor.  But the cities recovered rapidly.  

Repairs being made after the storm.

Power outages were repaired by the following day and the local newspaper was back in business the following day.  What is most amazing was that the town had no prior warning of the approaching storm.  There wasn't time for any evacuations and nine people lost their lives.  Tough to imagine that people didn't have time to head to the store to buy all the bread and milk and empty the shelves and to board up their windows with plywood.  People today don't realize how lucky they are to have weather broadcasts and predictions as well as cell and smart phones to keep them informed.  After we got back to the rental unit, I walked to the top level and looked out over the sea.  It was angry from the recent front that moved through, but it was hard to imagine how scared the people of this community must have been 70 years ago today.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.