By Beth David, Editor
So far, this part of the world has not seen any hurricanes or big storms this hurricane season. Concord, Mass., had a tornado touch down last week, that caused a lot of damage, some injuries, but no deaths.
But 25 years ago, Hurricane Bob devastated the region, including Fairhaven.
According ML Baron (www. westislandweather.com):
“Hurricane Bob was one the costliest hurricanes in New England history. The second named storm and first hurricane of the 1991 Atlantic hurricane season, Bob developed from an area of low-pressure near The Bahamas on August 16. The depression steadily intensified, and became Tropical Storm Bob late on August 16. Bob curved north-northwestward after becoming a tropical storm, but re-curved to the north-northeast after becoming a hurricane on August 17. Bob brushed the Outer Banks of North Carolina as it moved north-northeastward on August 18 and August 19, and intensified into a major hurricane (Category 3+ Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) shortly thereafter. After peaking with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), Bob weakened slightly as it approached the coast of New England.
“Bob left extensive damage throughout New England, totaling to approximately $1.5 billion (1991 USD, $2.42 billion 2011 USD) in damage. In addition, seventeen fatalities were reported in associated with Bob. The damage and fatalities that were reported were a result of high winds and rough seas.”
Locally, houses were moved completely off their foundations, the West Island causeway was out of commission for about two weeks, and the island had no power for about 14 days, too.
For more of ML’s reporting on Hurricane Bob, visit http://www. westislandweather.com/hurricane bob1991.htm
Bob in Brief
August 19 marked the 25th anniversary of Hurricane Bob.
The Category 2 system delivered a surge of about seven feet, which was enough to put the West Island causeway completely under water. Wind gusts exceeded 100 MPH. The barometer bottomed out at 28.48 inches at 2:57 PM that Monday.
Bob’s destruction cost over $1.6 billion (in 1991 dollars) in Southeastern MA.
Click to download the entire 8/18/16 issue: 08-25-16 AnimalOpenHouse
