January - "Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938" by R.A. Scotti - Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles

"Sudden Sea" by R. A. Scotti

Sudden Sea by R. A. Scotti
Call Number: 363.34 Scotti
It was the Perfect Storm. But instead of raging far out in the Atlantic, the Great Hurricane of 1938 left a wake of death and destruction across seven states. It battered J. P. Morgan's Long Island estate, wiped out beach communities from Watch Hill to Newport, flooded the Connecticut Valley, and flattened Vermont's prized maples.Traveling at record speeds, the storm raced up the Atlantic Coast, reaching New York and New England ahead of hurricane warnings and striking with such ferocity that seismographs in Alaska picked up the impact. Winds, clocked at 186 mph, stripped cars of their paint. Walls of water 50 feet high swept homes and entire families out to sea. Sandwiched between the Great Depression and World War II, the storm had a profound impact upon a generation. 'The day of the biggest wind has just passed,' the newswires read the next day, 'and a great part of the most picturesque America, as old as the Pilgrims, has gone beyond recall or replacement.' Drawing upon newspaper accounts, the personal testimony of survivors, forecasters, and archival footage, SUDDEN SEA recounts that terrifying day in gripping detail. Scotti describes the unlikely alignment of meteorological conditions that conspired to bring a tropical cyclone to the Northeast. A masterful storyteller, Scotti follows the trajectory of that awful wind-and recovers for posterity the lost stories of those whose lives, families, and communities were destroyed by the Hurricane of 1938.

Historical Context:
- How does the author provide historical context for the time period leading up to the Great Hurricane of 1938? What social, economic, and environmental factors influenced the region?
Personal Stories:
- The book includes personal stories of individuals affected by the hurricane. How do these personal narratives enhance the reader's understanding of the impact on communities and individuals?
Meteorological Understanding:
- Discuss how the book explains the meteorological aspects of the hurricane. What scientific information is provided, and how does it contribute to the narrative?
Government Response:
- Explore the response of government authorities to the hurricane. How did local, state, and federal agencies handle the disaster, and what were the challenges they faced?
Community Resilience:
- How do communities respond and recover in the aftermath of the hurricane? Discuss instances of resilience, cooperation, and rebuilding.
Impact on Economy:
- Examine the economic impact of the hurricane on the affected regions. How did the destruction of infrastructure, homes, and businesses influence the local and regional economy?
Comparison to Modern Disasters:
- Draw parallels between the Great Hurricane of 1938 and more recent natural disasters. In what ways have emergency response, technology, and public awareness evolved over the years?
Media Coverage:
- Discuss how the media covered the hurricane during and after the event. How did media representations shape public perception and understanding of the disaster?
Environmental Impact:
- Explore the environmental consequences of the hurricane. How did the storm affect landscapes, ecosystems, and natural resources?
Emergency Preparedness:
- Reflect on the lessons learned from the 1938 hurricane regarding emergency preparedness. In what ways did the disaster prompt changes in policies, building codes, and public awareness?
Human Connection to Nature:
- Analyze the book's exploration of the human connection to nature. How does the narrative convey the power and unpredictability of natural forces, and how did people perceive their relationship with the environment?
Legacy of the Hurricane:
- Consider the lasting impact of the Great Hurricane of 1938 on the affected communities and the broader region. How did the disaster shape collective memory and influence future disaster preparedness?

The Great Hurricane of 1938, also known as the Long Island Express, was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck the northeastern United States in September 1938. Here is a timeline of key events related to the hurricane:

September 10-12, 1938: Formation and Approach
- The hurricane originated in the Atlantic Ocean and began to intensify. It moved towards the United States, gaining strength.
September 21, 1938: Landfall on Long Island
- The hurricane made landfall on Long Island, New York, with sustained winds estimated to be between 115 and 120 miles per hour. The storm surge coincided with high tide, leading to widespread coastal flooding.
Destruction Along the Coast:
- The storm brought devastating storm surges, high winds, and heavy rainfall. Coastal communities in Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts were severely affected.
Communication and Warning Challenges:
- Communication and meteorological technology in 1938 were not as advanced as today. As a result, the hurricane took many by surprise, and there were limited warning systems in place.
Loss of Life and Property:
- The hurricane caused significant loss of life and property. Many coastal homes were destroyed, and the storm surge inundated low-lying areas.
Inland Impact:
- The hurricane continued inland, causing widespread damage across New England and beyond. Heavy rainfall led to inland flooding, and the storm's strong winds caused extensive tree damage.
Emergency Response:
- In the aftermath of the hurricane, emergency response efforts were mobilized. Rescue and relief operations were launched to assist affected communities.
September 22, 1938: Continued Impact
- The storm continued to bring heavy rain and strong winds as it moved further inland. The system eventually weakened and dissipated.
Long-Term Impact:
- The Great Hurricane of 1938 had a lasting impact on the affected regions. It prompted changes in weather forecasting, emergency preparedness, and building codes to better mitigate the impact of future hurricanes.
Legacy:
- The 1938 hurricane remains one of the most powerful and destructive storms in the recorded history of the northeastern United States. It is often cited in discussions about hurricane preparedness and response.

This timeline outlines the key events surrounding the Great Hurricane of 1938, a historic and impactful weather event that left a lasting mark on the affected communities.

R.A. Scotti has written books that delve into various historical subjects, offering readers insights into different periods and events. While specific details about her personal life might not be widely available, her writing reflects a passion for historical research and storytelling.

One of her notable works is "Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938," in which she explores the devastating hurricane that struck the northeastern United States in 1938. The book combines historical narrative with personal stories to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the hurricane on communities and individuals.

R.A. Scotti's writing is characterized by meticulous research and a commitment to bringing historical events to life for her readers. Her works often appeal to those interested in both narrative storytelling and a deeper exploration of historical contexts.

The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Call Number: 910.452 Junger
In October 1991, three weather systems collided off the coast of Nova Scotia to create a storm of singular fury, boasting waves over one hundred feet high. Among its victims was the Gloucester, Massachusetts-based swordfishing boat the Andrea Gail, which vanished with all six crew members aboard. "Drifting down on swimmers is standard rescue procedure, but the seas are so violent that Buschor keeps getting flung out of reach. There are times when he's thirty feet higher than the men trying to rescue him. . . . [I]f the boat's not going to Buschor, Buschor's going to have to go to it. SWIM! they scream over the rail. SWIM! Buschor rips off his gloves and hood and starts swimming for his life." It was the storm of the century, boasting waves over one hundred feet high a tempest created by so rare a combination of factors that meteorologists deemed it "the perfect storm." When it struck in October 1991, there was virtually no warning. "She's comin' on, boys, and she's comin' on strong," radioed Captain Billy Tyne of the Andrea Gail off the coast of Nova Scotia, and soon afterward the boat and its crew of six disappeared without a trace. In a book taut with the fury of the elements, Sebastian Junger takes us deep into the heart of the storm, depicting with vivid detail the courage, terror, and awe that surface in such a gale. Junger illuminates a world of swordfishermen consumed by the dangerous but lucrative trade of offshore fishing, "a young man's game, a single man's game," and gives us a glimpse of their lives in the tough fishing port of Gloucester, Massachusetts; he recreates the last moments of the Andrea Gail crew and recounts the daring high-seas rescues that made heroes of some and victims of others; and he weaves together the history of the fishing industry, the science of storms, and the candid accounts of the people whose lives the storm touched, to produce a rich and informed narrative. The Perfect Storm is a real-life thriller that will leave readers with the taste of salt air on their tongues and a sense of terror of the deep.
The Great Deluge by Douglas Brinkley
Call Number: 976.335 Brinkley
In the span of five violent hours on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed major Gulf Coast cities and flattened 150 miles of coastline. But it was only the first stage of a shocking triple tragedy. On the heels of one of the three strongest hurricanes ever to make landfall in the United States came the storm-surge flooding, which submerged a half-million homes--followed by the human tragedy of government mismanagement, which proved as cruel as the natural disaster itself.
Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson
Call Number: 976.4139 Larson
At the dawn of the twentieth century, a great confidence suffused America. Isaac Cline was one of the era's new men, a scientist who believed he knew all there was to know about the motion of clouds and the behavior of storms. The idea that a hurricane could damage the city of Galveston, Texas, where he was based, was to him preposterous, "an absurd delusion." It was 1900, a year when America felt bigger and stronger than ever before. Nothing in nature could hobble the gleaming city of Galveston, then a magical place that seemed destined to become the New York of the Gulf. That August, a strange, prolonged heat wave gripped the nation and killed scores of people in New York and Chicago. Odd things seemed to happen everywhere: A plague of crickets engulfed Waco. The Bering Glacier began to shrink. Rain fell on Galveston with greater intensity than anyone could remember. Far away, in Africa, immense thunderstorms blossomed over the city of Dakar, and great currents of wind converged. A wave of atmospheric turbulence slipped from the coast of western Africa. Most such waves faded quickly. This one did not. In Cuba, America's overconfidence was made all too obvious by the Weather Bureau's obsession with controlling hurricane forecasts, even though Cuba's indigenous weathermen had pioneered hurricane science. As the bureau's forecasters assured the nation that all was calm in the Caribbean, Cuba's own weathermen fretted about ominous signs in the sky. A curious stillness gripped Antigua. Only a few unlucky sea captains discovered that the storm had achieved an intensity no man alive had ever experienced. In Galveston, reassured by Cline's belief that no hurricane could seriously damage the city, there was celebration. Children played in the rising water. Hundreds of people gathered at the beach to marvel at the fantastically tall waves and gorgeous pink sky, until the surf began ripping the city's beloved beachfront apart. Within the next few hours Galveston would endure a hurricane that to this day remains the nation's deadliest natural disaster. In Galveston alone at least 6,000 people, possibly as many as 10,000, would lose their lives, a number far greater than the combined death toll of the Johnstown Flood and 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. And Isaac Cline would experience his own unbearable loss. Meticulously researched and vividly written, Isaac's Storm is based on Cline's own letters, telegrams, and reports, the testimony of scores of survivors, and our latest understanding of the hows and whys of great storms. Ultimately, however, it is the story of what can happen when human arrogance meets nature's last great uncontrollable force. As such, Isaac's Storm carries a warning for our time.
The Storm of the Century by Al Roker
Call Number: 976.4139 Roker
On the afternoon of September 8, 1900, two-hundred-mile-per-hour winds and fifteen-foot waves slammed into Galveston, the booming port city on Texas's Gulf Coast. By dawn the next day, the city that hours earlier had stood as a symbol of America's growth and expansion was now gone. Shattered, grief-stricken survivors emerged to witness a level of destruction never before seen: Eight thousand corpses littered the streets and were buried under the massive wreckage. Rushing water had lifted buildings from their foundations, smashing them into pieces, while wind gusts had upended steel girders and trestles, driving them through house walls and into sidewalks. No race or class was spared its wrath. In less than twenty-four hours, a single storm had destroyed a major American metropolis--and awakened a nation to the terrifying power of nature.

Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles: January - "Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938" by R.A. Scotti

"Sudden Sea" by R. A. Scotti

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