The 1938 hurricane first was reported in the vicinity of Puerto Rico
on Sept. 18, 1938. It passed within 200 miles of Florida and then tracked
North at a speed of 40mph. The Florida Weather Bureau had termed this
storm a hurricane, but when it was handed off to the Washington station
the severity was lost. Several reasons were stated afterwards, but the
result was that no warning was sent to Long Island. The hurricane arrived
on Fire Island in the afternoon on Sept. 21 on rising tides. Winds were
measured at 120 mph with a storm-surge of 10ft on the ocean and 13 to 15
ft on the Bay. Fortunately this storm hit at the end of the summer-season
and the Island was relatively empty. Nevertheless, many people were
killed. Please refer to a
Saltaire Survivor Account of what it is like to experience a
hurricane.
Damage reported per Community
Village
Houses
Lost
Houses
Damaged
Houses
Survived
Kismet
22
2
1
Saltaire
90
15
60
Fair Harbor
70
0
8
Lonelyville
14
3
2
Ocean Beach Seaview
4
4
700
Point O'Woods
0
8
125
Cherry Grove
65
0
20
Total
265
32
922
Source: Fire Island 1650's - 1980's Madeline C.
Johnson
