WHEN LONE WAY CORRIDOR RETURNED, HE WAS A NATIONAL HERO.

THERE WERE ADVANCES IN SCIENCE LIKE THE MODEL FOR THE NEW OBSERVATORY AT LOS ALAMAR.

THERE WERE DUBIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS IN AVIATION.

AND THERE WERE OTHER DIVERTING AND REASSURING RITUALS.

>> THE CHINESE.

>> I LOVE THE CHINESE.

THREE YEARS AGO I WAS IN SINGO PINGO.

>> NO, NO, NO, NO.

I'M SPEAKING OF A THEATER.

>> OH.

>> DICK GRAUMAN'S CHINESE.

>> OH, IS HE REALLY?

HE DOESN'T LOOK IT.

>> NO.

>> BUT THERE WERE STRANGE VISITORS TO AMERICAN WATERS AND OVERSEAS OMENS OF WHAT WAS TO COME.

EVERYWHERE THERE WERE TROOPS AND MILITARY DISPLAYS.

HITLER WAS THREATENING TO TAKE OVER THE LAND IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND THE FIRST REFUGEES FOR WHAT WAS TO BE A LONG WAR HUDDLED AROUND COOKING FIRES IN CENTRAL EUROPE.

IN THE FAR EAST, JAPAN HAD BEGUN THE BOMBING OF CHINA.

IN ROME, MUSSOLINI'S ORATORY FILLED THE SQUARES WITH CHEERING, SWORD-WAVING CROWDS.

PRIME MINISTER CHAMBERLAIN OF ENGLAND FLEW TO MUNICH.

HE WAS TO RETURN WITH A BITTER AND SHORT-LIVED PEACE.

AT HOME, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S CABINET MET IN FREQUENT EMERGENCY SESSIONS TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS.

BUT ALONG THE EAST COAST BEACHES THE WORLD WAS PEACEFUL ENOUGH.

RED SAILS SPANKED IN THE BREEZE, THE BOATS DESCRIBING LAZY, REPETITIVE ARCS IN THE OCEAN.

FATHERS PLAYED WITH THEIR MOVIE CAMERAS, AND THEIR FAMILIES LOVED AND CLOWNED FOR PROSPERITY.

AT EXCLUSIVE WATERING PLACES LIKE BAILEY'S BEACH IN NEWPORT, THOSE WITH MONEY AND THE LEISURE TO ENJOY IT, FACED THE CAMERA JUST AS SELF-CONSCIOUSLY IF A BIT MORE STYLISHLY.

THE EVENTS IN EUROPE WERE LATER DESCRIBED BY WINSTON CHURCHILL AS A GATHERING STORM, BUT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER IN THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC, A VERY REAL STORM WAS DEVELOPING.

WITHIN A FEW HOURS ON THE AFTERNOON OF SEPTEMBER THE 21ST, IT WOULD CHANGE THESE BEACHES INTO SCENES OF HORROR AND TRAGEDY.

THE GREAT HURRICANE WOULD CLAIM MANY OF THESE LIVES AND RADICALLY ALTER THE FACE OF NEW ENGLAND.

>> WE HAVE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE IMAGE OF THE EARTH SPINNING SILENTLY BENEATH US FROM SPACE.

THE WHIRLPOOLS AND AT EASE OF THE ATMOSPHERE FORMING AND DISPERSING LIKENESS.

TODAY DURING THE HURRICANE SEASON, THE SLIGHTEST DISTURBANCE IN THE TROPICAL WEATHER PATTERNS IS MONITORED AND TRACKED AND BECOMES A PART OF THE REASSURING CHATTER OF ELECTRONIC JOURNALISM.

BUT IN THE 1930S, THERE WAS NO EARLY WARNING SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RADAR, NO WEATHER SATELLITE ORBITING OVERHEAD, AND NO DINNERTIME TELEVISION WEATHERMAN TO ALARM OR REASSURE US.

IF A HURRICANE FORMED, WE GOT OUR INFORMATION ABOUT ITS POSITION FROM THE SKIRTS OF THE STORM, FROM THE SHIPS WHO WERE TRYING THEIR BEST TO AVOID IT.

WE THUS KNEW MORE ABOUT WHERE AN APPROACHING STORM WASN'T THAN WHERE IT WAS.

THE HURRICANE OF 1938 WAS FIRST REPORTED ON SEPTEMBER 18TH MOVING TOWARD FLORIDA AT A LEISURELY 12 MILES AN HOUR.

DURING THE COMING WAR, AMERICAN SOLDIERS WOULD NAME STORMS AFTER THEIR WIVES OR SWEETHEARTS, BUT THE WEATHER SERVICE DID NOT ADOPT THE PRACTICE UNTIL THE '50S.

SO THIS STORM, ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE ON RECORD, HAD NO NAME.

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PARTICULAR STORM WAS TO BE SO DEADLY, WE HAVE TO LOOK BRIEFLY AT HOW HURRICANES LIVE AND DIE.

NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT TRIGGERS A HURRICANE, BUT ONE CAN OCCUR WHEN A VERTICAL BREAK IS FORMED IN THE BAND OF EASTERLY WINDS BLOWING ACROSS THE HOT EQUATORIAL SEAS.

A LOW PRESSURE AREA FORMS AND DEEPENS.

THE TRADE WINDS TURN IN ON THEMSELVES AND SPIRAL UPWARD.

IF THIS MOTION INTENSIFIES, THE RESULT MAY BECOME A HURRICANE, A HUGE FLAT SPIRAL OF WINDS PUMPING HEAT UPWARDS THROUGH A CALM EYE.

IN CROSS-SECTION, IT IS AS COMPLEX AS A CHAMBERED SEASHELL AND IS FULL OF TROUBLE AS AN APARTMENT HOUSE.

RAIN FALLS IN BANDS.

LIGHTENING PLAYS CONSTANTLY THROUGH THE STRUCTURE, ALL OF IT QUIPPED BY TURBULENT WINDS.

THE HURRICANE WINDS CIRCLE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE SO THEY ARE STRONGEST WHERE THEIR DIRECTION IS THE SAME AS THE HURRICANE'S AS IT MOVES FORWARD.

HERE, THE FORWARD SPEED OF THE HURRICANE IS ADDED TO THE VELOCITY OF ITS OWN SCREAMING WINDS.

EVEN MORE DANGEROUS ARE THE WAVES AND TIDES GENERATED BY THE HURRICANE.

THESE TOO ARE WORSE ON THE RIGHT LEADING SHOULDER OF THE STORM.

THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN IS SUCKED UPWARD JUST SLIGHTLY UNDER THE HURRICANE LIKE LIQUID IN A STRAW AND IS PUSHED ALONG IN A DOME OR SWELL AS THE HURRICANE ADVANCES.

IF THE HURRICANE HITS THE COAST, THE RISING CONTINENTAL SHELF LIFTS THIS VAST DOME OF WATER INTO A TOWERING SURGE THAT MAY BE 20 FEET HIGH WHEN IT CROSSES THE SHORELINE.

THESE SATELLITE LOOPS SHOW THE TRACK OF A HURRICANE WHOSE PATH IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE 1938 STORM.

THE HURRICANE MAKES A FAINT TOWARD FLORIDA AND THEN TURNS NORTHWARD ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST.

HERE, A HURRICANE MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ITS SPEED TO ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN TURN NORTHEAST OUT TO SEA.

WHAT WAS UNUSUAL ABOUT THE 1938 STORM WAS THE SPEED IT GAINED.

THIS STORM WAS ROLLING NOW AT NEARLY 60 MILES AN HOUR, AND IT HAD TURNED NORTH.

IT WAS RACING STRAIGHT FOR NEW ENGLAND.

WHAT WERE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND WORKED ALONG THE NORTHEAST COAST DOING TO PREPARE?

VIRTUALLY NOTHING.

IN NEW ENGLAND, TROPICAL STORMS WERE RARER THAN PALM TREES, AND THE LAST REALLY POWERFUL HURRICANE TO HAVE STRUCK THE AREA HIT MORE THAN 100 YEARS BEFORE.

THAT WAS THE GREAT GALE OF 1815.

THERE WAS NOBODY ALIVE WHO REMEMBERED IT.

EVEN IF THERE HAD BEEN ACCURATE WARNINGS OF THE STORM'S APPROACH, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A RARE MAN THEN WHO WOULD HAVE HEARD OR BELIEVED THEM.

>> IN THOSE DAYS THEY NEVER USED TO LISTEN TO WEATHER REPORTS.

IN FACT, I DON'T EVER REMEMBER MY FATHER LISTENING TO A WEATHER REPORT.

THEY LOOKED AT THE SKY IN THE EVENING BEFORE AND TAPPED THE GROUND IN THE MORNING AND SEE WHAT THE SUNSET LOOKED LIKE AND TAKE IT FROM THERE.

NOWADAYS, IF THEY DON'T GET A WEATHER REPORT, WHY EVERYONE SCREAMS THAT THE WEATHER BUREAU ISN'T ON THE BALL OR THE COAST GUARD ISN'T ON THE BALL.

I THINK IF THEY HAD WARNED THE PEOPLE OF THE HURRICANE AT THAT TIME, THEY WOULD HAVE JUST CONSIDERED IT ANOTHER LINE STORM AND LET IT GO AT THAT.

TAKE IT AS IT COMES WHEN IT GETS THERE.

>> WE WEREN'T USED TO KEEPING OUR RADIOS ON.

WE WEREN'T LOOKING FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY SAID THERE WAS WARNINGS, BUT EVIDENTLY THEY WEREN'T ANYTHING THAT ANY OF US WOULD BE HEARING.

AS I SAY, WE NATURALLY EITHER HAVE TELEVISION OR RADIO GOING ON TELLING US NOW, BUT IN THOSE DAYS YOU JUST TUNED IT IN AT NIGHT.

SO I'M NOT CERTAIN THEY HAD A RADIO.

I DON'T THINK THEY EVEN HAD A RADIO.

>> AT 8:30 ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 21ST, THE HURRICANE CENTER WAS OFFICIALLY REPORTED SOMEWHERE EAST OF CAPE HATTERAS; AT NOON TIME, EAST OF VIRGINIA.

HIGH TIDES AND GALE WINDS WERE EXPECTED IN CONNECTICUT LATE THAT EVENING.

IN FACT, THE STORM WAS HUNDREDS OF MILES FURTHER NORTH AND ROARING LIKE A FAST CAR TOWARD THE COAST.

HERE WAS THE DANGER.

ON THIS SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPH, YOU CAN SEE THAT NARRAGANSETT BAY IS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT INDENTATION IN THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE NORTH OF PHILADELPHIA AND IT WAS HERE THAT THE TERRIBLE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HURRICANE WOULD STRIKE.

THE LONG ARMS OF THE BAY HOLDING AND SQUEEZING THE AWFUL STORM SURGE EVEN HIGHER.

MOST VULNERABLE OF ALL WERE THOSE DELICATE WHITE LINES, THE BARRIER BEACHES OF SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS CROWDED WITH HUNDREDS OF SUMMER HOMES AND COTTAGES.

LATE IN THE MORNING, THE AIR WAS STILL CLEAR.

SOME FISHING BOATS HAD PUT OUT.

AT MIDDAY, PICNICS TOOK PLACE AS SCHEDULED.

SOME OF THOSE WHO WENT SWIMMING, HOWEVER, NOTICED SOMETHING.

THE WATER WAS SURPRISINGLY WARM.

IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON, THERE WAS A FAINT YELLOWISH TINGE TO THE SKY, AND THE WIND BEGAN TO PICK UP.

NOW, IN THE HARBORS AND BAYS OF NEW ENGLAND, SMALL TREES BEGAN TO SHAKE AND BOATS AT ANCHOR BEGAN TO TOSS UNEASILY.

AT 2:00, ANYONE WHO HAPPENED TO LISTEN TO A RADIO WOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TROPICAL STORM WAS SOMEWHERE AT SEA OFF NEW JERSEY, BUT BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE.

THE GREAT HURRICANE HAD ALREADY STRUCK LAND.

>> WIND AND RAIN LASHED THE JERSEY COAST AND NEW YORK CITY, FLOODING THE STREETS AND RUPTURING STEAM PIPES.

HUNDREDS OF MILES NORTH IN WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, THE WINDS WHIPPED THE USUALLY CALM WATER OF A RESERVOIR INTO A CHOP AND DASHED WAVES UP THE EMBANKMENTS.

AT FIRST THE RISING WIND AND WAVES WERE CURIOSITY, AND MANY PEOPLE LEFT SAFETY TO DRIVE TO THE SHORE TO WATCH WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE AN EXCITING SURF.

SOME NEVER RETURNED.

HIGH TIDE WAS EXPECTED IN THE LATE AFTERNOON.

AND THAT WEDNESDAY WAS CLOSE TO THE EQUINOX, THE DAY THAT SUN AND MOONS COMBINED TO CREATE THE HIGHEST TIDES OF THE YEAR.

RIDING IN ON TOP OF THE BELLYING SWELL OF THIS DOUBLE TIDE WAS THE GREAT STORM SURGE OF A HURRICANE.

WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOW WATER, THE OCEAN WAS ALREADY AT HIGH TIDE LEVELS, THE WATER RISING ALMOST VISIBLY MINUTE BY MINUTE.

SMALL BOATS POUNDED THE SHORE OR BROKE THEIR MOORINGS AND WENT SCUDDING INLAND OVER SUBMERGED LAWNS AND FIELDS.

AT WEEKAPOG AND AT POINT JUDITH, TWO TOWNS ON RHODE ISLAND'S SOUTHERN COAST, ELLA REWICK AND JACK WESTCOTT WERE TRYING TO KEEP THE DRIVING WATER OUT OF BEACHFRONT HOMES.

>> WELL, I HEARD A CRASH UPSTAIRS SO I WENT UP TO INVESTIGATE AND I FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE LARGE WINDOWS HAD BEEN BLOWN IN IN ONE OF THE BEDROOMS.

AND I TRIED TO FIX IT, YOU KNOW, GET SOMETHING TO HOLD UP AGAINST IT, BUT THE WIND WOULD BLOW EVERYTHING DOWN.

SO I JUST HAD TO GIVE UP AND I WENT DOWN THE STAIRS AND BY THAT TIME, THE WATER WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE DINING ROOM AND I THOUGHT IT WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS.

AND I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW DOWN THERE AND I SEE WHAT SEEMED TO BE LARGE BLACK BIRDS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE ROOF SHINGLES COMING OFF.

AND AS I WAS WAITING THERE, I HEARD A KNOCK AT THE BACK DOOR.

I WENT TO THE DOOR AND TRIED TO OPEN IT, BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH SUCTION IN THE HOUSE THAT IT WOULDN'T -- IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN IT.

AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL LATER THAT THE POLICE WERE GOING FROM HOUSE-TO-HOUSE NOTIFYING PEOPLE TO GET OUT.

>> WE CAME HOME FROM THE STORE AROUND 3:30 THAT DAY AND WENT IN THE HOUSE AND MY FAER WAS HOME.

HE SAID IT'S QUITE A STORM.

HE WENT FISHING THAT MORNING.

IN FACT, THE WHOLE FLEET DID.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY BAD WEATHER REPORTS.

DIDN'T HAVE MANY WEATHER REPORTS IN THOSE DAYS ANYWAY.

AND WENT INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND THE WATER WAS FALLING THROUGH ALL OF THE SOUTH WINDOWS.

SO I WENT IN THE KITCHEN AND GOT SOME PANS TO CATCH THE WATER TO KEEP THE FLOORS FROM GETTING WET.

AND THEN WE COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE WATER.

SO WE ROLLED THE RUG BACK.

MY FATHER WENT TO THE FRONT DOOR AND LOOKED THROUGH THE DOOR, AND SAID, "MY GOD, THE BREAKERS ARE ON THE PORCH.

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE."

>> SO I GRABBED MY RAINCOAT AND MY HANDBAG AND I GOT OUT OF THERE.

AS THEY SAY, THE WIND WAS BLOWING SO HARD THAT I PRACTICALLY HAD TO ALMOST WALK ON ALL FOURS, SO I BENT WAY OVER.

IF I HADN'T, I WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOWN INTO THE POND.

I COULDN'T WALK UPRIGHT.

AND LATER MRS. BECKHAM TOLD MRS. TAYLOR THAT SHE SAW THIS, BUT SHE THOUGHT IT WAS A HUGE DOG AND SHE PAID NO MORE ATTENTION TO IT.

>> THE SEA POUNDED AT BULKHEADS AND BREAKWATERS.

TWENTY MILES INLAND, PEOPLE COULD TASTE SALT IN THE DRIVING RAIN AND MANY ALONG THIS COAST BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS NO SIMPLE NOR'EASTER.

THEN THE SCREW TIGHTENED.

THE WIND LITERALLY SCREAMED AS ITS SPEED ROSE 60, 80, 120 MILES AN HOUR ON THE SOUTH COAST.

IN THE BLUE HILLS OBSERVATORY OUTSIDE BOSTON THE INSTRUMENTS BLEW APART, BUT RECORDED THE SPEED OF THE GUSTS THAT DESTROYED THEM: 186 MILES AN HOUR.

THE OCEAN POURED OVER THE BEACHES AND OPENED BREACH WAYS ACROSS THE SAND ISOLATING MANY COTTAGES AND HOMES.

PEOPLE REALIZED THAT THEIR LIVES WERE IN DANGER AND THAT IT WAS TOO LATE NOW TO ESCAPE.

THEY MOVED FROM ROOM TO ROOM, FLOOR TO FLOOR IN THEIR HOUSES AS THE WALLS BROKE AROUND THEM.

ALL THEY COULD DO WAS TO HANG ON.

>> I WENT UPSTAIRS.

MY FIRST MEMORY UPSTAIRS WAS BEING DADDY, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS TRYING TO HOLD UP THE FRONT DOOR WHERE THE WATER WAS JUST CASCADING AGAINST IT.

IT WAS JUST BEING PUSHED FLAT ON TOP OF THEM.

AND I REMEMBER THE WAVES BREAKING.

AND PRIOR TO THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE WINDOWS HAD BEEN GOING AND THE WATER WAS AT THAT LEVEL.

THEN WE WENT UP TO THE SECOND FLOOR WHERE WE GATHERED IN A ROOM THAT WAS SITUATED AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.

IT WAS MY FATHER'S.

I DO REMEMBER A SIDE VIEW LOOKING OUT THIS WAY.

THIS WAS THE HOUSE WHERE THE ANESTERS LIVED, RIGHT NEXT TO US.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY SINGLE OLD HOUSE.

AND I REMEMBER VERY DISTINCTLY SEEING THE COOK WHO WOULD ALWAYS MAKE ME BLUEBERRY MUFFINS OUTSIDE ON THE PORCH AND SHE GOT HYSTERICAL, AND I DO REMEMBER A WAVE COMING TOWARDS THE PORCH.

AND SHE JUMPED INTO THAT WAVE, AND HER LIFE WAS LOST.

I ALSO REMEMBER STANDING AT THAT WINDOW AND SEEING THAT HOUSE GO, SEEING THE WAVE BREAK OVER THE HOUSE AND THE WHOLE HOUSE GO.

>> NO ONE COULD STAND IN THE WINDS, SCUTTLING ON ALL FOURS OR LYING FLAT ON THE GROUND, THOSE WHO LOOKED OUT SEAWARD SAW A TERRIFYING SIGHT.

THE STORM SURGE HAD ARRIVED.

A HUGE PULSE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE OCEAN HAD BEEN TOPPED WITH REAL, BREAKING WAVES, 10, 15, AND 20 FEET HIGH.

THE WIND HAD SLICED OFF THE CREST OF THE WAVES AND THEY BECAME LIKE ROLLERS, RUNNING ON A SEA THAT WAS ITSELF 10 FEET HIGHER THAN IT HAD BEEN FOR 120 YEARS.

THE SURGE AND THE HUGE BREAKERS WASHED OVER THE COAST WITH FRIGHTENING SWIFTNESS.

BUILDINGS CAME APART LIKE FLIMSY CARDBOARD BOXES, AND THE WATER RUSHING INLAND WAS A HEAP OF TIMBERS, CARS, BITS OF WALLS, MATTRESSES, ROOFTOPS, SHEDS, AND THOUSANDS OF PLAYING CARDS.

>> WHEN WE REACHED THE THIRD FLOOR, BASICALLY THE HOUSE BEGAN TO WASH AWAY UNDER US.

IN FACT, IT WAS.

IT WENT OUT FROM UNDER US, AND THERE WE WERE ON THE THIRD FLOOR WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE ROOF WHICH EVENTUALLY WENT OFF.

IT BROKE OFF.

IT WENT OFF TO THE SOUTH.

THERE WAS A PIPE THAT WAS COMING UP.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS THERE.

I THINK TO HOLD THE ROOF.

MY FATHER HOOKED HIS LEG AROUND THAT PIPE AND HELD ON.

EVERYBODY HELD ON TO EACH OTHER.

I BEING THE LITTLEST WAS NEXT TO MY FATHER AND UNDER HIS COAT, AND I CAN REMEMBER VERY VIVIDLY THE COUNT OF "1-2-3 DUCK."

AND A WAVE WOULD BREAK OVER US.

"1-2-3 DUCK."

AND A WAVE WOULD BREAK OVER US.

IT SEEMED TO ME THAT IT WENT ON FOREVER, BUT I GUESS IT REALLY DIDN'T.

WE FLOATED ACROSS -- WELL, MY PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE GOING.

THEY REALLY THOUGHT WE WERE HEADED TO BLOCK ISLAND AND I CAN REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT WHEN THEY SPOTTED DENNIS' ROCK, WHICH IS A BUOY RIGHT OUT HERE.

AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT.

NOW I KNOW.

AND IT MEANT THAT WE WERE IN THE BAY AND WE WERE HEADED FOR SHORE.

WE WEREN'T BEING PUSHED OUT INTO THE OCEAN.

>> FURTHER UP THE BAY, COMPRESSED BY THE NARROWING SHORELINE, THE WAVES WERE LESS HORRIBLE, BUT THE WATER WAS RISING EVEN HIGHER.

BOAT HOUSES AND YACHT CLUBS SHUTTERED, COLLAPSED, OR LIFTED FREE AND SANK.

AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY IN PROVIDENCE, THE WATER RAN AN INCREDIBLE 14 FEET ABOVE NORMAL HIGH TIDE.

IT ROLLED OVER THE BANKS OF THE RIVER AND RUSHED INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AS OFFICE WORKERS WATCHED FROM SECOND STORY WINDOWS IN DISBELIEF.

SIDEWALKS, THEN CARS, THEN TROLLEYS DISAPPEARED UNDER THE WAVES.

THEIR ROOFS LIKE A SERIES OF LILY PADS IN A POND.

THE LOCAL WIND WAS DANGLING AND BLARING OF BURGLAR ALARMS AND CAR HORNS AS THEY SHORTED OUT.

ROOF SHINGLES AND SHARDS OF GLASS SWEPT BY LIKE SHRAPNEL.

INLAND RIVERS AND STREAMS, ALREADY FILLED FROM THREE DAYS OF RAIN DURING THE WEEK, CRESTED AND OVERFLOWED.

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT BECAME A CLUSTER OF ISLANDS AS MEN WITH SANDBAGS WORKED FEVERISHLY INTO THE NIGHT TO PROTECT WHAT THEY COULD.

IN TIVERTON AND NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, IN WESTPORT, FAIRHAVEN, NEW BEDFORD, AND WOODS HOLE, MASSACHUSETTS EVEN SEAS, BRUTAL WINDS, AND WATER THAT KEPT RISING.

>> ELLA REWICK HAD CRAWLED FROM HER COTTAGE AND HAD TAKEN SHELTER WITH SOME WORK MEN IN THE WEEKAPOG INN, A HUGE RAMBLING BUILDING ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE OCEAN.

>> THE ROOM THAT I WAS IN WAS IN THE BACK OF THE INN.

YOU COULDN'T SEE THE OCEAN FROM IT, NOT THE -- YOU WEREN'T FACING THE OCEAN.

I COULD SEE ALONG TOWARDS QUANTICANSOG, BUT BEFORE THAT I HAD GONE DOWN TO ONE OF THE FRONT WINDOWS AND I SAW THIS HUGE WAVE COME BASHING AGAINST THE INN AND I THOUGHT WELL, THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH TO WATCH, AND DECIDED TO GO UP IN THE OTHER ROOM AND STAY THERE.

MR. WHEELER CAME IN AND THE FLOOR WAS BUCKLING UNDER ME, THE FLOOR KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN.

AND HE ASKED ME IF THAT WAS REALLY SO OR WAS HE THE ONLY ONE FEELING IT BECAUSE HE MAY HAVE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS A LITTLE BIT SEASICK OR SOMETHING.

AND I SAID, "MR. WHEELER, THAT IS REALLY HAPPENING.

THE FLOOR IS REALLY BUCKLING UNDER ME."

BUT STILL I FELT CALM ABOUT IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT WELL, IF IT DOES NOTHING BUT THAT, IT ISN'T TOO BAD.

>> ELLERY THOMPSON MADE HIS WAY FROM MYSTIC TO STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT TO TRY TO SAVE HIS FISHING BOAT.

>> I WAS HOME AROUND NOON TIME ON THE 21ST AND MY CAR WAS BROKE DOWN OVER IN DILLARD GREEN'S GARAGE AND STORAGE SO I TOLD MY MOTHER, I SAID, "I'M GOING TO TAKE THE BUS TO STONINGTON."

AND I WAS LUCKY TO EVER GET TO STONINGTON BECAUSE THE STORM KEPT INCREASING.

ON THE WAY OVER I COULD SEE THE MYSTIC RIVER WHERE THE SHORELINE FOLLOWED THE COAST IN.

AND I NEVER SAW SUCH A WHITE CAP.

I SAID, "I NEVER SEEN IT AS BAD AS THAT."

AND THERE WAS A PREGNANT WOMAN ON THE BUS AND LUCKILY SHE GOT OFF AT STONINGTON BECAUSE THAT WAS THE THING I KNEW ABOUT AND I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH.

BUT SHE GOT OFF AND WE CONTINUED ON.

I WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER AND THE BUS JUST MADE STONINGTON WHEN IT ALL HEMMED IN.

I GOT OFF AND I FIGURE I HAD TO CRAWL DOWN FROM THE GREEN INTO THE COFFEE POT RESTAURANT.

AND THE HURRICANE HADN'T STRUCK THEN.

ITS ROOF WAS GOING OFF.

OIL RIGS WERE TIPPING OVER.

MOST OF THEM GOING ABOUT 80 MILES AN HOUR.

SO WE GOT IN THERE AND A LIQUOR STORE HAD BROKEN OPEN THERE AND THE WHISKEY BOTTLES WERE ROLLING DOWN THE STREET.

SO SOMEONE DARTED OUT AND GOT ALL OF US A COUPLE, BROUGHT IT IN AND WE STARTED DRINKING FROSTY ROYALS TO TAKE THE PAIN AWAY.

AND THEN AT 3:00, I HEARD THIS UNGODLY SQUEAK.

THAT WAS THE HURRICANE, 170 MILES AN HOUR, YOU KNOW, RIGHT FROM 80 OR 90.

I GOT A PEAK OUT SO THE LANDLORD TOOK ME THROUGH HIS BUILDING SO I COULD PEAK OUT THE FRONT WINDOWS.

I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING SO HE HAD A DOOR THERE.

I COULD HAVE LOST MY ARM.

I OPENED THE DOOR AND STEPPED OUT, BUT WHEN I DID THE DOOR SLAMMED BEHIND ME AND NEARLY TOOK MY ARM OFF.

AND SO I WENT DOWN THE DOCKS.

I SAW THE BOATS GOING ONE BY ONE.

MY BOAT, "THE ELEANOR," HELD IT ON TO THE VERY LAST.

FINALLY, SHE LAY WAY OUT THERE WITH JUST ONE STRONG LINE.

FINALLY, THAT SNAPPED.

THE BUILDING WAS GONE.

EVERYTHING WAS GONE.

ALL BUT "THE ELEANOR."

SHE DARTED ACROSS THE SWIFT.

SHE STRUCK THE OTHER SIDE, ROLLED OVER THE BEAM END, AND THEN EVERYTHING ALL SPREAD OUT.

HER MAST WAS JUST ALL, YOU KNOW.

THE WAY SHE LIFTED UP, I THOUGHT SHE WAS GONE.

I THOUGHT SHE WAS SUNK, BUT SHE WASN'T.

>> THEN CAME THE FIRES, ONE IN PETERBOROUGH, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ANOTHER IN NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT WHERE FALLEN WIRES SPARKED FLAMES WHICH BURNT THE HEART OUT OF A BUSINESS DISTRICT BY MORNING.

NIGHT FELL AND THE SKY BEGAN TO CLEAR.

WITHOUT POWER OR TELEPHONES, THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE COAS WERE ISOLATED AND SURROUNDED BY CONFUSION AND RUIN.

WHOLE TOWNS HAD BEEN WASHED AWAY.

GALILEE WAS GONE.

WEEKAPOG WAS GONE.

WATCH HILL WAS GONE.

IN MANY CASES, THE RUMORS WERE TRUE.

FOR SOME OF THOSE WHO HAD SURVIVED ALONG THE COAST IT WAS WORSE, BRUISED AND WOUNDED, OTHERS IN BARNS AND STITCHES.

THEY COULD LOOK SOUTH AND SEE THE FLAMES FROM NEW LONDON AGAINST THE NIGHT SKY.

IT SEEMED LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD.

THE HEADLINES THE NEXT MORNING TOLD ONLY PART OF THE STORY.

THE REALITY WAS MUCH WORSE THAN ANYONE COULD YET IMAGINE.

ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND, THE GREAT WAVES HAD SCOURED THE BEACHES AT THE HAMPTONS AND AMACANZIN.

TRANSMISSION TOWERS WERE DOWN.

GIANT TREES HAD FALLEN.

ACROSS THE BAY IN CONNECTICUT, THE REST OF THE WORLD DISCOVERED THE WRECK OF "THE BOSTONIAN" OUT OF NEW YORK.

IT HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE THE DAY BEFORE.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM WITH THE TRACKS AWASH AND BEGINNING TO BUCKLE UNDER THE TRAIN, THE CREW HAD UNCOUPLED THE LAST CARS MINUTES BEFORE THEY SLID INTO THE BAY.

THE ENGINEER INCHED THE TRAIN FORWARD TOWARDS DRY GROUND DRAGGING POWER LINES AND POLES WITH IT AS IT WENT.

ONE LAST OBSTACLE, A HOUSE LYING ACROSS THE TRACKS, WAS NUDGED ASIDE BY THE ENGINE.

IT SANK OUT OF SIGHT TO WHAT WAS NOW DEEP WATER NEXT TO THE TRACKS.

ONE MAN WHO TRIED TO SWIM TO SAFETY THROUGH THE DEBRIS CHOKED WATER WAS STRUCK BY A FLOATING BEAM AND DISAPPEARED.

FISHERMAN ELLERY THOMPSON HAD FOUND HIS BOAT, "THE ELEANOR."

>> THE NEXT MORNING AFTER THE HURRICANE, NO ONE COULD DO ANYTHING AT NIGHT BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS BLACK.

YOU JUST HOLD UP WHEREVER YOU COULD.

IN THE MORNING I WENT OUT LOOKING FOR MY BOAT.

ONE OF THE RILEY BOYS PICKED IT UP IN INDEPENDENCE.

WE WENT UP THERE AND THE POWER CAR WAS RIGHT ALONG SIDE OF HER.

AND I WAS AMAZED BECAUSE ALL OF THE PLANKING HAD GIVEN AWAY FROM THE STEM.

THERE WAS A GRAND STEM.

IT WASN'T ONE BOAT IN THERE, WASN'T ONE FASTENED.

WHAT HAD BEEN KEEPING HER AFLOAT WAS JUST -- I DON'T KNOW.

THE PARTS OF THE WATER.

AND THE ONE GOOD -- ESSENTIALLY COULD HAVE BEEN LOST ON US PLENTY OF TIMES THE YEAR BEFORE.

I LOOKED THROUGH THE HOLE FOR TO SEE IF I COULD FIND A LARGE BOTTLE OF WHISKEY BECAUSE SHE WAS A NOTORIOUS RUM RUNNER IN THE 1920S.

>> NEW LONDON AND STONINGTON WERE CHOKED WITH WRECKAGE AND LITTERED WITH THE REMAINS OF A LARGE FISHING FLEET.

BUT THE WORST DESTRUCTION OF ALL OCCURRED ON THE SOUTHERN BEACHES OF RHODE ISLAND.

NAPATREE POINT HAD BEEN A DELICATE STRIP OF LAND STRETCHING WESTWARD FROM WATCH HILL.

THERE WAS LITERALLY NOTHING LEFT OF THE DOZENS OF SOLID HOMES.

MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WERE SWEPT ACROSS THE BAY TO SAFETY, BUT JUST AS MANY HAD DROWNED.

WEEKAPOG AND MISQUAMICUT BEFORE THE STORM.

ALL THAT WAS LEFT NOW WERE FRAGMENTS OF HOUSES.

NOT EVEN FOUNDATIONS REMAINED.

ON THESE BEACHES ALONE, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAD PERISHED.

THIS WAS THE WEEKAPOG INN FROM WHICH ELLEN REWICK HAD BEEN RESCUED, A GAPING HOLE TORN IN ITS SIDE.

CHARLESTOWN, GALILEE, SAND HILL COVE, THE SCENE WAS SURREAL.

SURVIVORS AND SIGHTSEERS STRAGGLED OVER THE PILES OF SAND AND DISCONSOLATE HOMEOWNERS SAT IN SHOCK ON WHAT USED TO BE THEIR FRONT STEPS.

SOMETIMES ONLY A PEDESTAL SINK OR BUREAU MARKED THE SITE OF THEIR HOUSES.

THE ARMS OF VICTIMS JUTTED FROM THE WRECKAGE, MANY WHO DROWNED IN THE INLAND PONDS HAD BEEN WEARING WADING BOOTS WHEN THEY DIED.

THEIR BODIES WERE FLOATING UPRIGHT IN THE WATER AND HAD TO BE SPOTTED BY AIRPLANE.

THE SEARCH FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WENT ON.

>> THAT AFTERNOON WE STARTED LOOKING FOR MY FRIEND WHO LIVED ACROSS THE ROAD.

HE WAS FOUR MONTHS YOUNGER THAN ME.

WE COULDN'T FIND HIM ANYWHERE SO THEY BROUGHT A FIREMAN FROM PROVIDENCE, PEACEDALE, WAKEFIELD.

EVERYONE WAS LOOKING FOR BODIES.

AND THE STOREKEEPER DOWN IN SAND HILL COVE, HE LOST HIS LIFE AND EVERYONE WAS LOOKING FOR HIM, BUT WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE BOY THAT WAS MY AGE PRIMARILY.

AND THEY SUGGESTED GO GET HIS DOG.

SO MY BROTHER WENT AND GOT HIS DOG AND WE STARTED OUT WHERE THE BIRD SANCTUARY IS NOW.

AND PRETTY SOON THE DOG STARTED DIGGING.

I WASN'T IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA AT THE TIME.

I WAS FARTHER AWAY LOOKING AT ANOTHER AREA.

AND THE DOG STARTED DIGGING AND THE FIRST THING HE CAME TO WAS THE BOY'S HAND.

HE WAS ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT INCHES UNDER THE SAND COMPLETELY BURIED.

IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE DOG, I DON'T THINK WE EVER WOULD HAVE FOUND HIM.

>> MANY TEENAGERS SAW DEATH FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT WEEK WHEN THEY HELPED TO DIG BODIES FROM THE SALT PONDS AND WRECKED HOUSES.

DOGS WHO HAD BEEN TIED DURING THE STORM HAD DROWNED OR GONE MAD TRYING TO FREE THEMSELVES.

THE DEATH COUNT CLIMBED.

THREE FULL DAYS AFTER THE STORM, BETWEEN THE MORNING AND EVENING EDITIONS OF "THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL," 60 ADDITIONAL BODIES WERE ADDED TO THE COUNT.

BY THE END, NEARLY 700 VICTIMS WERE DISCOVERED THROUGHOUT ALL OF NEW ENGLAND AND NEW YORK AND OVER 300 OF THEM WERE FROM RHODE ISLAND.

NARRAGANSETT PIER, A FEW MILES NORTH ON THE BAY, ONLY THE LANDMARK TOWERS REMAINED OF WHAT HAD BEEN A FORMIDABLE GRANITE SEAWALL AND ROAD.

THE WAVES HAD TAKEN BOTH APART AND STREWN HUGE CHUNKS OF RUBBLE ACROSS THE HOTEL LAWNS.

HOUSES WERE RIPPED APART, SMASHED, GUTTED, THEIR CONTENTS SPILLED ONTO THE ROAD.

EVEN THOUGH THE NATIONAL GUARD HAD BEEN MOBILIZED IN THE MORNING, IT HAD BEEN A LONG, DARK NIGHT FOR LOOTERS.

WHAT THE WAVES HAD NOT CARRIED AWAY, THESE SCAVENGERS HAD.

FURTHER UP THE BAY, TINY SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES WHICH USED TO ENJOY A VIEW OF THE WATER, NOW FOUND THEIR STREETS AND YARDS FILLED WITH DEBRIS.

AND IN PROVIDENCE, ALL THE WRECKAGE IN THE WORLD SEEMED TO HAVE COME TO REST.

BARGES SWALLOWED IN THE RIVER.

TUG BOATS HAD BEEN LIFTED HIGH ON THE PILINGS AND LUMBER YARDS HAD FLOATED AWAY AND REDISTRIBUTED THEMSELVES OVER THE DOCKS.

CARS HAD TUMBLED INTO THE RIVER AND OTHERS WERE SMASHED AND THEIR OCCUPANTS KILLED WHEN WALLS COLLAPSED ON TOP OF THEM.

THE ROOF OF THE TRAIN STATION HAD WHISTLED AWAY AND COME TO REST HERE, A HEAP OF TWISTED METAL.

THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE CITY, TREES AND CARS AND WIRES AND HOUSES LAY IN A TANGLE.

UP THE BLACKSTONE RIVER IN WOONSOCKET, BRICK FACTORIES AND STORES HAD BEEN BASHED IN AND THIS WATER TANK SHOWED HOW STRONG THE WIND HAD BEEN.

THE SMALLER TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN MASSACHUSETTS WERE WRECKED AND ONE COULD FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE STORM NORTHWARD BY THE TRAIL OF DOWNED TREES.

THE HURRICANE HAD ROARED THROUGH VERMONT, WEAKENING AS IT WENT FINALLY TO BLOW ITSELF OUT NEAR MONTREAL.

AND IN ITS WAKE IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND, THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF DOWNED TREES, HARD WOODS, SOFT WOODS, NEARLY 25% OF THE MAPLE TREES IN NEW ENGLAND DOWNED IN WIND DROVES.

IT WAS ESTIMATED LATER THAT 40,000 DEEDS TO WOODLAND PROPERTY WOULD HAVE TO BE RESURVEYED BECAUSE THEIR BOUNDARY TREES WERE NO LONGER STANDING.

AS OFTEN AS THESE SCENES, THE FALLEN TREES ARE REPEATED, ONE HAS TO REMEMBER THAT NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THEM ANYWHERE BEFORE.

THE REASON IS SIMPLE.

A MAJOR HURRICANE HAD NEVER BEFORE STRUCK AN AREA WITH THIS KIND OF PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE.

THE PICTURE POSTCARD IMAGES OF NEW ENGLAND, QUIET STREETS, STATELY OLD HOUSES SHADED BY EVEN OLDER TREES, ALL THIS WAS TRANSFORMED OVER NIGHT.

THE VILLAGE GREENS, PARKS, AND STREETS OF THE NORTHEAST WOULD NOT BE THE SAME AGAIN FOR GENERATIONS.

>> FOR SOME CITIES, THE DAY AFTER THE STORM THE TROUBLE WAS ONLY BEGINNING.

SWOLLEN STREAMS AND RIVERS STILL RAN AT FLOODS AS THEIR TRIBUTARIES FED THEM.

RESCUE WORKERS COMBED THROUGH THE FLOODED STREETS OF HARTFORD BY GONDOLIERS AS RESIDENTS LOUNGED AND WATCHED CALMLY FROM THE TENEMENTS.

THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO.

BARNS HAD CAVED IN FROM THE WIND, CRUSHING POULTRY AND HERDS OF LIVESTOCK.

THE RISING WATER MADE CASTAWAYS OF THOSE NIMBLE ENOUGH TO FLEE.

EVEN AS THE WATER ROSE IN THE RIVERS, REBUILDING AND SALVAGE HAD BEGUN ELSEWHERE.

BOYS AND MEN PICKED GAMELY THROUGH THE PILES OF DEBRIS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SALVAGEABLE.

IF THE DESTRUCTION WAS INCALCULABLE, SO TOO WAS THE FORTITUDE ONE NEEDED TO FACE THE JOB OF CLEARING AND HAULING.

IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO OWN A ROOFING COMPANY OR A SCRAP YARD OR A STEAM SHOVEL.

A RADIO, A BIRDCAGE, AND A SEWING MACHINE.

THERE WAS NO LOGIC TO THE OBJECTS ONE WAS LEFT WITH BY THE STORM ALTHOUGH JUST AS OFTEN THERE WAS THE CONSOLATION OF HAVING SAVED SOMETHING MORE SENTIMENTALLY VALUABLE.

THE REGION MOBILIZED TO HELP ITSELF.

MEN LONG OUT OF UNIFORM TOOK THEM UP AGAIN AS FIREMEN, POLICE, OR RESCUE WORKERS.

IN THE FISHING FLEET, THERE WAS A REMARKABLE NEW SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AMONG THE INDEPENDENT DRAGOMEN AND LONGLINERS.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT CAME FROM THE HURRICANE, IT SORT OF UPGRADED THE FLEET.

THE NEXT MORNING, THEY WERE ALL ON THE BOTTOM AND NATURALLY THEY HAD TO BE RAISED AND TAKEN TO A SHIPYARD.

BUT ONCE THEY GOT TO THE SHIPYARD, MOST OF THEM FIXED THEM UP FAR BETTER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE AND THEIR ENGINES WERE IN BETTER SHAPE, SO I THINK IT HELPED THE FLEET IN THAT RESPECT.

ANOTHER THING I KNOW IT PROVED THAT A LOT OF FISHERMAN, WELL, ONE BUNCH WILL WORK WITH ANOTHER BUNCH.

AND AT THIS TIME, NO MATTER WHO WAS YOUR FRIEND, WHO WAS YOUR ENEMY, EVERYBODY WAS ALWAYS HELPING SOMEBODY OUT.

THE WHOLE AREA WOULD BE WORKING ON ONE MAN'S BOAT AND THEN THEY'D GO OVER AND WORK ON ANOTHER MAN'S BOAT.

AND THE RED CROSS PROVIDED SOME OF THE FUNDS FOR THE MATERIALS TO FIX THESE BOATS.

SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INSURANCE IN THOSE DAYS.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT INSURANCE WAS.

THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT IF THEY DID KNOW.

>> BEFORE THE HURRICANE, A LOT OF FISHERMAN -- I'D FIND A SPOT TO FISH AND I'D PUT JUST A SHORT FLAG ABOVE THE SURFACE.

SOMETHING I COULD LOOK AND SEE WITH MY BINOCULARS AND NO ONE ELSE COULD SEE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF THAT.

GIVING SOMEONE FALSE TIPS.

BUT THAT ALL ENDED WITH THE HURRICANE.

EVERYONE HAD BANDED TOGETHER WITH COVER AND FROM THEN ON, YOU KNOW, AND THEN OF COURSE THE GOVERNMENT PUT THESE RADIO PHONES ON OUR BOATS FOR DEFENSE PURPOSES.

THEN THE WAR CAME.

SO A LEVEL OF COOPERATION AND WE LOOKED OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

>> THERE WAS HELP FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL.

>> IN THREE DAYS, AN ARMY OF 110,000 WPA WORKERS HAD BEEN SENT TO DO EMERGENCY STORM AND FLOOD DUTIES.

EVERY LITTLE MAN WITH A PICK ON THIS MAP REPRESENTS 1,000 WORKERS OF THE WPA.

MANPOWER TURNING FROM REGULAR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND SERVICES INTO THE REACH IN TIMES OF DIRE NEED.

THOUSANDS OF THESE WORKERS CAME BY RAIL.

SHARK TOOTHS OF DISASTER SOMEONE HAD CALLED THEM BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES IN RECENT YEARS, THEY HAVE PROVIDED THE HUMAN VENUE FOR GREAT TASKS OF RECONSTRUCTION.

>> THE TELEPHONE COMPANIES FACED ENORMOUS DIFFICULTIES.

NO HURRICANE HAD EVER HIT AN AREA AS POPULATED AS THIS NOR ONE SO CROWDED WITH INDUSTRY AND NEVER BEFORE HAD THE PROBLEM OF RESTORING SERVICE BEEN TIED UP LITERALLY WITH THOUSANDS OF DOWNED TREES.

TO THE LINEMEN, THE FALLEN ELMS WERE AN ADDITIONAL NUISANCE, BUT THEIR LOSS WAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST ENDURING OF THE STORM.

MOST SCARS ON THE LAND WOULD HEAL IN TIME.

IN THE WESTERN PART OF RHODE ISLAND, HOWEVER, ONE INDUSTRY WOULD BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED.

>> DURING THE '38 HURRICANE, YOU JUST NEEDED TO SEE THAT.

THESE TALL TREES ACTUALLY BLOWED OVER BY THE HEAVY WINDS.

WE HAD ABOUT 10 INCHES OF RAIN THAT FLOATED ALL THESE STUMPS IN THERE AND BLOWED THE TREES DOWN AND POLISHED THEM OFF.

WE HAD TO GO WORK AND GET THEM ALL OUT.

>> AFTER THE STORM WOULD BE PROBABLY 15, 20 FOOT HIGH.

THEY WERE CROSSED UP IN ALL KINDS OF DIRECTIONS.

YOU HAD TO CLIMB UP WAY UP ON THE TREETOPS SOMEWHERE AND THEN LOOK AT THE TOP OF IT.

YOU HAD TO START AT ONE END SOMEWHERE IF YOU COULD GET TO IT, AND BE ABLE TO GET THE LIMBS OFF IT AND PULL IT OVER AND GET DOWN FROM THE TOP.

YOU START WAY UP IN THE AIR.

SOMETIMES YOU'D BE UP IN THE AIR 15 FOOT CUTTING LINES OFF THE GROUND.

IN THEM DAYS ALL YOU HAD WAS SAWS AND AXES.

THERE WAS NO CHAINSAWS.

>> 400 MILLION BOARD FEET OF TIMBER DOWN IN RHODE ISLAND.

1.5 BILLION BOARD FEET DOWN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

AFTER THE STORM, THE GOVERNMENT HAD MOVED IN TO SALVAGE AND BUY VIRTUALLY ALL THE DOWNED TIMBER.

AND WHEN PIERS AND BULKHEADS AND RAILROAD TIES AND MATERIALS FOR MILITARY BASES WERE NEEDED IN 1941, THE GOVERNMENT HAD AN ENORMOUS AND FORTUITOUS SUPPLY OF LUMBER ALREADY STOCKPILED.

FOR SOME PEOPLE IN THE REGION, THE MEMORY OF THE 1938 STORM HAS BEEN ECLIPSED BY ANOTHER SERIOUS HURRICANE IN 1954, BUT ELLERY THOMPSON COMPARES THE TWO STORMS.

>> NO COMPARISON.

I LIVED THROUGH THE HURRICANE OF CAROL OF 1954 WHERE THE BOATS GOT AWAY FROM THE DOCKS AND THEY HAD A JOB.

AND THE BIG FEET COMING UP THE HARBOR AND EVERYTHING, BUT YOU COULD WALK AROUND.

IT WASN'T BLOWING ANY HEAVY AUTOMOBILES OVERBOARD.

AND THAT WAS A PICNIC DAY ACCORDING TO 1938.

1938 DOWN THERE IN THE COLD WATERS IN THE WATCH HILL BEACHES, NONE OF THEM LIVED.

CARS, HEAVY CARS BLOWN OVER LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY WENT OVERBOARD.

HOUSES CARRIED RIGHT AWAY.

OH, NO, NOTHING.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF GALES IN 40 YEARS.

NOTHING COMPARES WITH '38.

DON'T LET THEM TELL YOU THEY CAN EITHER.

>> NEVERTHELESS, TWO HURRICANES WITHIN 20 YEARS PROMPTED THE STATE TO CONSIDER WAYS TO PREVENT MORE DAMAGE.

IN THE EARLY '60S, THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CONSTRUCTED A MASSIVE HURRICANE BARRIER JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

SANTO AMATO, CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE, IS CONFIDENT THAT THE SYSTEM OF DIKES, GATES, AND PUMPS WOULD PROTECT THE CITY IN ANOTHER STORM.

>> THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, IN THEIR WISDOM, HAD GONE ALONG THE ENTIRE COAST AND TRIED TO DEVELOP THIS TYPE OF BARRIER IN THE MOST POTENTIAL AREAS THAT MIGHT BE VULNERABLE TO THESE STORMS.

AND I THINK THEY HAD DONE AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD JOB ALONG THIS COAST TO PREVENT A SIMILAR SITUATION THAT HAPPENED IN 1938.

THE BARRIER HAS BEEN TESTED ON A DRY RUN TYPE SITUATION AND ALSO IN A NUMBER OF SITUATIONS WHERE THE WATER WAS ANTICIPATED TO CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

AND IT WORKED.

IT WORKED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL IN ALL INSTANCES.

IT HAD NEVER BEEN TESTED FOR THE AMOUNT OF WATER IT'S DESIGNED TO REMOVE OR WITHHOLD, BUT ACCORDING TO THE ENGINEERS AND MANY, MANY OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE TESTED A SIMILAR TYPE SITUATION, IT IS AND WILL WORK, WE HOPE.

>> THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAD PLANNED ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO PROTECT OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE, BUT IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THEY WILL EVER BE BUILT.

THE ENGINEERS BUILT TWO LARGE SCALE MODELS OF THE BAY AT THEIR TESTING FACILITIES IN VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI.

WIND, WAVE, AND TIDE CONDITIONS WERE THEN CREATED IN SCALE TO SIMULATE THE STORM SURGE OF THE 1938 HURRICANE.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OLAND BEACH SECTION OF WARWICK.

TO HURRICANE PROOF ONE OF THE MAJOR BAYS IN THE NORTHEAST, IT WAS AN AUDACIOUS IDEA EVEN BY THE STANDARDS OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

BESIDES THE COMPLICATED BARRIER AT FOXPOINT IN PROVIDENCE, THE CORPS WANTED TO BUILD THREE HUGE RUBBLE BREAKWATERS ACROSS THE WEST PASSAGE, THE EAST PASSAGE, AND BLOCKING THE MOUTH OF THE SAKONET RIVER.

FIRST, THEY HAD TO CONVINCE THE NAVY THAT THE WARSHIPS OF THE ATLANTIC FLEET BASED IN QUONSET AND NEWPORT COULD NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE BREAKWATERS AND HIGH SEAS.

THE CORPS HAD A MORE DIFFICULT TIME CONVINCING RESIDENTS OF THE AREA WHEN PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE HELD.

NOT THE LEAST OF THE OBJECTIONS WAS THE FEELING MANY HAVE THAT THE CORPS HAD UNDERESTIMATED THE AFFECT THE MAMMOTH BREAKWATERS MIGHT HAVE ON THE COMPLEX NATURAL SYSTEMS OF THE BAY, NOT TO MENTION ITS NATURAL BEAUTY.

ANOTHER HURRICANE WOULD FIND THE PEOPLE LIVING SOUTH OF THE PROVIDENCE HURRICANE BARRIER JUST AS EXPOSED AS THEY WERE IN 1938 AND 1954.

THEIR SAFETY WOULD DEPEND ON HOW PREPARED THEY WOULD BE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND POSSESSIONS BEHIND AND EVACUATE WHILE THEY STILL HAD THE CHANCE.

NEIL FRANK, THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IN MIAMI, MUST COPE WITH THE PROBLEM IN PRAGMATIC TERMS.

>> BECAUSE WE CANNOT FORECAST PRECISELY WHERE A HURRICANE IS GOING TO GO, THEN WE KNOW THAT WE MUST OVER-WARN.

WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU TO TAKE ACTION MORE TIMES THAN ACTION IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED.

NOW, WE ESTIMATE THAT EVERY TIME WE PUT A HURRICANE WARNING UP, IT'S $25 MILLION OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS TO TAKE THE PRECAUTION.

WE DO NOT PUT WARNINGS UP LIGHTLY.

IT'S A VERY AWESOME DECISION TO SPEND $25 MILLION.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO WARN YOU UNLESS THERE IS A THREAT.

NOW, UNDER-WARNING -- THE ERR IN UNDER-WARNING IS GOING TO BE MAJOR LOSS OF LIFE.

WE REALIZE THAT OVER-WARNING IS GOING TO COST YOU DOLLARS.

BUT I'D A LOT RATHER BE ON THE OVER-WARNING SIDE THAN THE UNDER-WARNING.

IN NEW ENGLAND, WE HAVEN'T HAD A MAJOR STORM THERE NOW SINCE 1960.

HURRICANE DONNA MOVED ACROSS THE EASTERN PART OF LONG ISLAND IN 1960 AND THEN ON INTO THE SOUTH COAST OF NEW ENGLAND.

SO YOU SEE, THAT'S BEEN NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO.

AND A LOOF PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED TO THE COASTLINE SINCE THAT STORM AND NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO THE COASTLINE, HAVE A TENDENCY NOT TO REALLY BELIEVE THAT THINGS CAN BE AS BAD AS THEY CAN BE IN THE 1938 STORM.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET THEM TO MOVE SOMETIMES AND TO TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.

>> MANY BELIEVE THAT A HURRICANE MAY STRIKE AGAIN.

IF ONE CAN JUDGE FROM HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE HAVE RESETTLED MOST OF THE AREAS DESTROYED BY THE 1938 STORM, THE ANSWER MUST BE PROBABLY NOT.

THIS IS CHARLESTOWN BEACH BEFORE THE 1938 STORM.

THIS IS CHARLESTOWN BEACH AFTER THE HURRICANE.

AND THIS IS CHARLESTOWN BEACH TODAY.

THESE HOMES COST ABOUT $60,000 ON THE AVERAGE, BUT NO PROTECTION IS GUARANTEED EVEN FROM NORMAL WEATHER.

A HOMEOWNER MAY RETURN HERE IN THE SUMMER TO FIND THAT THE WINTER SEAS HAVE MADE SOME UNPLANNED ALTERATIONS TO THE SIZE OF HIS LOT OR THE INCLINATION OF HIS HOUSE.

FOR GEOLOGIST JOHN FISHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND THE BARRIER BEACHES ARE A LABORATORY.

LAST YEAR, HE AND HIS STUDENTS DISCOVERED A REMARKABLE RELIC OF THE HURRICANE'S PASSING.

A LAYER OF COURSE SAND AND LARGE PEBBLES LAID DOWN ON THE BEACHES WHEN THE STORM LEVELED THEM 40 YEARS AGO.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE LAYERS OF THE '38 HURRICANE.

WHEN THIS PIPE FLASHED THIS POINT, WAVES CAME ACROSS THE BEACH AND JUST SIMPLY CARRIED IT OVER AND DEPOSITED ON TOP OF THE DUNE.

IT'S BUILT UP SINCE THEN.

RIGHT DOWN THERE IS WHERE WE FOUND THE PEBBLES IS ALSO THE COURSE SAND LEVEL, AND THAT COURSE SAND HERE WAS DEPOSITED DURING THE HURRICANE.

FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COAST AND FOR THE NORTHEAST IT GIVES US A MEASURE OF HOW MUCH A DUNE WILL BUILD UP AFTER AN EROSIONAL PHASE SUCH AS A HURRICANE BECAUSE WE CAN DIVIDE THE 20 OR SO YEARS BETWEEN THE '38 HURRICANE AND THE '54 HURRICANE, BETWEEN THE '54 HURRICANE AND THE HEIGHT NOW IS 78.

AND COME OUT HOW MANY INCHES ARE BUILT UP EACH YEAR NATURALLY.

HOUSES WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DUNE GRASS TO GROW UNDER THE HOUSE, AND IN MANY PLACES THE HOUSES ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT THERE'S NO ROOM BETWEEN THE HOUSES FOR DUNE GRASS TO GROW.

AND SO WHEN THE WAVES COME IN, THEY SIMPLY ATTACH TO THE FRONT OF THE CLIFF, CUT BACK THE STALKS, AND THE HOUSES FALL IN.

NOW, IN THE CASE OF A NATURAL DUNE SUCH AS THIS, SURE THERE'S SOME UNDERCUTTING.

THERE'S SOME CLUMPING, BUT THE SAND ESSENTIALLY REMAINS HERE AND THEN THE SAND ALSO COMES IN FROM THE BEACH WHERE IT'S BEEN CARRIED OUT DURING THE STORM WAVES.

THE ONSHORE WAVES SUCH AS WE ARE HAVING TODAY, MOVES THE SAND ON TOP OF THE DUNE.

THE DUNE GRASS IS STILL THERE.

IT GROWS UP THROUGH THE DUNE AND IT REBUILDS THE DUNE.

IT MIGHT TAKE TWO OR THREE YEARS TO REBUILD THE DUNE, BUT NATURE WILL REBUILD THE DUNE.

NATURE ISN'T GOING TO REBUILD THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE IS DOWN AND IT'S TIMBERS.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

THE HOUSES HERE BEFORE THE HURRICANE OF '38, NOT VERY MANY WERE BUILT AFTER HURRICANE OF '38.

ONE THING THAT WE COULD TELL FROM THE HURRICANE WERE THOSE AREAS WHERE HOUSES SHOULD NOT BE BUILT.

>> A HURRICANE TEACHES US WHERE NOT TO BUILD.

IF THIS IS SO, IT IS A LESSON WHICH WE MAY NOT YET BELIEVE.

CERTAINLY FOR MANY, THE GREAT HURRICANE OF 1938 HAS BECOME A DISTANT MEMORY, AN EVENT WITH MYTHICAL ECHOES OF DANGER, OF HEROISM, SACRIFICE, AND COMMON LOSS.

BUT THE WIND AND WATER WHICH TURNED THE FAMILIAR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, THESE ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET.

THE PASSING OF 40 YEARS HAS NOT WEAKENED THE POWER OF THESE IMAGES TO REMIND US HOW FRAGILE WE WERE IN THE TEETH OF THE STORM AND HOW DURABLE AFTERWARDS.

>> I COULDN'T SLEEP FOR A WEEK.

I COULD SEE NOTHING BUT THOSE HUGE WAVES EVERY TIME I CLOSED MY EYES.

>> I WOULDN'T WORRY AT ALL.

THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN THERE THROUGH TWO OF THEM, TWO BAD ONES.

IT'S STILL HERE.

AND IF THE WATER COMES UP HIGH, I'D CRAWL UP THE STEPS ONE-BY-ONE, UP TO THE WOMAN'S AARTMENT ABOVE ME, OR STAND ON THE TABLE IN THE LIVING ROOM.

>> THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND, THOSE WHO REMEMBER THE HURRICANE ARE BOUND TOGETHER BY THIS SHARED EXPERIENCE.

THEY WERE WITNESSES TO SOMETHING TRULY AWESOME AND TOGETHER THEY SURVIVED.

@ >> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY A GRANT FROM THE RHODE ISLAND COMMITTEE FOR THE HUMANITY, AN AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITY, AND BY WSBE-TV.