Shock 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 item is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

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

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

Write a review Reviews

Downloaded 5,481 times Average Rating:

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.

Shotlist

Safety, Danger Lurks