Millions of Americans living along the Northeast coastline have been warned to prepare for a potentially catastrophic hurricane disaster.
Meteorologists for AccuWeather issued the alert on Tuesday, saying the region has not seen a major hurricane landfall in more than 70 years, making it ‘climatologically overdue.’
Lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said the region has not experienced a direct Category 1 hurricane landfall, or stronger, in over three decades.
‘Typically, every 15 to 20 years on average, a hurricane will strike New Jersey northward into southern New England,’ DaSilva added.
‘A major hurricane, so that’s Category 3 or higher, for the Northeast is every 60 to 70 years or so.’
AccuWeather predicted the storm could be on par with the Great New England hurricane of 1938, which killed 700 people and caused up to $450 million in damage
If a storm of that magnitude were to strike today with similar wind speeds, storm surge and flooding, meteorologists estimated it could cause up to in damage and economic loss, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in US history.
Chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said: ‘The Northeast is climatologically overdue for a direct hurricane landfall. This kind of storm will happen again in New England; it’s just a question of when. People have to be prepared.’
This is a developing story… More updates to come
One of the last major storms to hit the Northeast was Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 (pictured)
Meteorologists warned that the next disaster would be on par with the Great New England hurricane of 1938, which killed 700 people and caused up to $450 million in damage (pictured)
The Great New England Hurricane was one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history when it struck Long Island and Southern New England on September 21.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revealed that the storm produced sustained wind speeds of 121mph, with a maximum recorded gust of 186mph.
Porter, who is a Connecticut native, said the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 destroyed more than 8,900 homes, 2,600 boats and two billion trees in the Category 3 hurricane.
The population of the northeastern US during the 1938 hurricane was approximately 16.7 million people, compared to the more than 57 million who live in the region today.
‘If the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 were to happen today, AccuWeather experts estimate the total damage and economic loss would reach $440 billion,’ Porter said.
‘To put that staggering price tag into perspective, AccuWeather estimates the total damage and economic loss from Hurricane Katrina was $320 billion, adjusted for inflation today.’
The last direct hurricane landfall in the Northeast occurred more than 30 years ago, when Hurricane Bob slammed into Rhode Island on August 19, 1991, with sustained winds topping 100mph.
The storm swept through New England, unleashing deadly storm surge, widespread power outages, and over $1.5 billion in damage, equivalent to $3.46 billion today.
Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey on October 31, 2012. AccuWeather warned that an even worst storm is overdue in the region
AccuWeather also highlighted Superstorm Sandy, which hit New Jersey on October 29, 2012, causing widespread coastal damage, blizzard conditions in the central Appalachians, and extended power outages.
‘AccuWeather experts estimate the widespread damage, extended power outages, travel impacts and business disruptions from Sandy caused an estimated $210 billion in total damage and economic loss,’ the weather outlet shared in a press release.
Hurricane experts are now urging residents, businesses, and emergency officials across the Northeast and New England to stay prepared for potential tropical storms and hurricanes this year and beyond.
DaSilva, a Rhode Island native, warned that many in the region wrongly assume hurricanes are only a threat to the Southeast or Gulf Coast.
The last direct hit came more than three decades ago when Hurricane Bob roared into Rhode Island with sustained winds over 100 mph on August 19, 1991 (pictured)
‘A lot of people in the Northeast don’t take hurricanes seriously because they haven’t had one since 1991,’ he said.
‘They think of bad storms as Nor’easters, but hurricanes are much worse.’
