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U.S. Work Projects AdministrationShock Troops of Disaster: The Story of the New England Hurricane (1938)

WPA workers mobilize to help New England recover from the effects of the disastrous 1938 hurricane.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: U.S. Work Projects Administration
Sponsor: U.S. Work Projects Administration
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Weather: Hurricanes

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: earthworm - - May 18, 2009
Subject: Not Quite
Having grown up on Southeastern Mass. seacoast I couldn't wait to see the video. I must admit that I was quite disappointed that it was a New Deal propaganda film. After talking to members of the family that lived through the hurricane they all said that there was no real help from the government in our area. People picked up, dried out and rebuilt without the government being involved. In more populated areas there may have been more government influence, but not where we lived.

Reviewer: jazzfan - - February 1, 2009
Subject: Was This The Storm of the Century?
PBS did a show on this a few years ago. It was excellent and I wish I had a copy. Also, whenever I come home from the Newport Jazz Festival I make it a point to bring home some of the local brew, Newport Storm, an excellent beer which is named after this storm.

Reviewer: babysprite - - February 1, 2009
Subject: after watching this
I'm even more ashamed of how badly we responded to the hurricane Katrina disaster.

Reviewer: pheret - - January 7, 2008
Subject: what has happened to my government?
if we could do this in 1938 couldn't we, SHOULDN'T we, be able to have done it with katrina?

Reviewer: Spuzz - - September 19, 2004
Subject: At least the bathhouse was spared!
This gripping film, with the most eye catching title anywhere, is about the WPA action when a hurricane whipped into the New England Coast around 1938. This was back when Hurricanes had no names, so it's difficult to look up history about this particular storm. Anyways, AMAZING footage shown of houses, churches, the highway, you name it, being destroyed. Luckily, the WPA came right in and began cleaning up. It's just amazing to actually see how time consuming and labor enducing it is to clean up from a storm such as this. We always hear of 'clean up' procedures. But after the tv cameras go, and clean up begins, what happens? This will give you some idea. A MUST SEE on this site!

Reviewer: Steve Fleckenstein - - December 30, 2002
Subject: Terrific Historical footage
Terrific historical footage of coastal hurricane damage. Anyone considering building or purchasing a home on the seashore should first be encouraged to see this clip.

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