Amagazinebythepeople Storm’62
ispublishedbythesamefolkswhobring youtheCoastalPointeveryFriday. Visitusat coastalpoint.com
SusanLyons, Publisher
DarinJ.McCann, Editor
darin.mccann@coastalpoint.com
M.PatriciaTitus, NewsEditor
BobBertram, ArtDirector
ShaunLambert, TechnicalDirector
SusanMutz, AdvertisingSales
JaneMeleady, AdvertisingSales
JaneJohnson, AdvertisingSales
MonicaScott, Reporter
RyanSaxton, Reporter
MariaCounts, Reporter
LauraWalter, Reporter
R. ChrisClark, Photographer
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COVER: Manyofus werenothereinMarch of1962whenthearea wasstruckbyahorrible nor’easter.Forthose whowere,destructive imageslikethisarestill freshintheirminds.
Onthesurface,thetaskofputting togetheramagazinefocusedona stormthattookplace50years agoisnotaneasyone,particularlyfora publicationthathasonlybeeninexistence foreightyears.Wehavenovastarchivesof oldstoriesorphotosfromwhenthestorm of1962struckourlittleseasidecommunity,andouronlystaffmemberwhowas actuallyherewhenthestormhitwastoo youngatthetimetoreallyremembermuch ofit.
Itappearedadauntingtaskatfirst, andwestartedcompilingnamesoffamilies andindividualswhoweknewwouldhave clearmemoriesofthenor’easter,hoping againsthopethatwecouldgetenoughinformationandphotosfromthemtoproperlytellthestory ofthestorm. Fingerswerecrossed,tosaythe least.
Butafunnythinghappened. Notonlydidthosepeoplehavea truewealthofknowledgeconcerning thestormandthearea,buttheyalso gotusintouchwithotherswhohad theirownvividmemoriesofthe
eventssurroundingthestorm,andbreathtakingphotostoillustrateboththedamage causedbyavengefulMotherNature,and thecommunityeffortinrebuilding.
Aswordstartedtocirculatethatwe wereputtingthistogether,webeganreceivingunsolicitedsubmissionsfrompeople whoweren’tevenonourradarwhenwe beganthisjourney.Wewereblownaway bythephotographsandmemoriesthat peopleweresowillingtoshareinthispublication.
Yes,webeganthisjourneywiththe ideaofchroniclingthestormof1962onits 50thanniversary,andwefeelasifwe’ve donethat.Butthisturnedintosomething muchmore.
Itturnedinto your magazine—your collectionofmemoriesandphotos.Thisis atapestry wovenbyyourneighbors,your friendsandyourrelatives.Itisaninside lookintowhatlifewaslikeherebeforethe storm,duringitswrath,theeffortstoregainnormalcyandwherewearetodayin termsofstormpreparation.
Thanksforthememories...
—DarinJ.McCann,Editor
“Lifewas easygoing,
Cuba.JohnGlennhadorbitedtheearth,becoming thefirstAmericantolookdownatcloudsforming below.
Astheworldspunoutside,coastalSussex CountywasstillaquietplaceinMarchof1962.
Agallonofgasolineaveraged30centspergallon,whileafirst-classpostagestampcost4cents.
InSussexCounty,civicleadersweremeeting aboutthedualizationofRoute113,thenonlytwo lanes. Route1—today,alsoknownasCoastal Highway—wasknownasRoute14,atwo-lane roadthatlinkedbeachtownsalongthecoast. Thosebeachtownswerecomfortablysettled,
Agallonofgasoline averaged30cents pergallon,whilea first-classpostage stampcost4cents.
JaneHickmanTribbitt sharesaballwithhercousinsin1958Bethany Beach.Above,thetownasitappearedin1955.
buttheywerenotpackedwithtoday’smany homes,businessesandvacationers.SouthBethany wouldnotbeincorporatedforanothersevenyears. SussexCounty’spopulation—measuredatmore than197,000peopleinthe2010Census—had
Stormof’62
onlybeen73,195inthe1960Census.Itwould growslightly,to80,356,by1970.
Eachtownhaditsownschooldistrict,sochildrenreceivedtheirentireundergraduateeducation atoneschool.Localschoolboardsandadministratorshadjustbegunconsideringtheconsolidation ofLordBaltimore,JohnM.Clayton,Roxanaand Selbyvilleschoolsintoonedistrict.
InMarch1962,studentswerestillhuddled overtheirclassroomdesks,manylikelydreaming ofsummervacation,whentheycouldflocktothe beach withothervacationers.Delawarehadbeen quietlyestablishedasavacationdestination— somethingenhancedwiththeconstructionofthe singlespanoftheChesapeakeBayBridgeadecade prior.Untilsummerarrived,though,studentsquietlytappedtheirpencilstotherhythmof“The Twist,”whichChubbyCheckerwasrockingon nighttimeradio.
In1962,thebeachduneswerewildandnatural,notyetmanmade.Theworststorminrecent historywasahurricane—alreadydistantinmost peoples’ memories,havinghappenedbackin1933. PartoftheBethanyBeachboardwalkhadbeen destroyedinthestorm.
Backthen,theoceanwasvisiblefromthe boardwalk,andapersoncouldstandfullyunder
Whenyouwent tothebeach, youknew everybodyon thebeach.It waslocalatits best.Whata greatplaceto growup!
KennethEvans
theboards.Thebeachwaslongand,duringlow tide,KennethEvansrecalled,peoplecouldwalkfar outintothesea,andwaterwouldstillonlymeet theirwaists.
Everyonewentto“MainBeach,”aslocals calledtheBethanycoast.Thestrongswimmers would swimoutaquarter-milewithawatermelon. Thewinnerwaswhoevergotthewatermelonback toshore.Therewerenootherrulestothecompetition,andEvanssaidthewatermelonsrarely reachedshoreinonepiece.
“Whenyouwenttothebeach,youknew everybodyonthebeach,”Evanssaid.“Itwaslocal atitsbest.Whatagreatplacetogrowup!”
ClaireLaytonrecalledspendingallofhertime withfriendsatthebeach,inschoolsportsorat church,wheretheysangintheyouthchoir.
FreddieTaylorrememberedracingcarsanywherethetwostatetroopersassignedtothearea weren’t.
“That’sallwehad,”Taylorsaid.“Weraced. Andwehadnodrugsthen.Beerwaseasytoget. Lifewaskindasimple.Everybodykneweverybody.”
Peoplelivingorstayingneartheshorecould hangoutattheBethanyBeachBowlingAlley,party inMillsborodancehallsordrivetomovietheaters
“Thedevastationwasunbelievable. Itlookedlikeamonsterhadcome outoftheocean,kickedand stompedeverythinginitspath.It wascompletedevastation.Itwas incredible,thedevastation.”
FreddieTaylor
inanyofthesurroundingtowns.
DuringthefirstweekinMarch,Debbie ReynoldsandAndyGriffithstarredin“TheSecond TimeAround,”whichwasplayingattheCapitol TheatreinOceanCity,Md.Anticsandhilarity aboundedforMickeyRooneyandBuddyHackett in“Everything’sDucky,”whichwasplayingatthe —nowhistorical—ClaytonTheatreinDagsboro. GlennFordturnedBetteDavisintoaNewYorksocialiteinFrankCapra’s“PocketfulofMiracles”at theBallTheatreinMillsboro.
Basic groceriescouldbepurchasedatsmall nearbyshops,suchasJake’s(nowG&E)inOcean View,orJim’sGroceryandTingle’sI.G.A.inFrankford.Otherwise,almosteveryoneshoppedinSelbyvilleorDagsborowheretheonlynearbybanks werelocated.
Tuesday,March6, beganasanormal rainyday.Knownfor itsunseasonable springtime,Sussex Countywascoldin itslaststretchof winter,andthe weatherforecast calledfor precipitation.
ThelunchspecialataSelbyvillerestaurant cost99cents,andaloafofbreadmightcost28 cents.Postofficesoperatedoutoffamilyhomesor generalstores.
Inaruralareawherefarmingwasthecenter oflifeandthebroilerindustrywasthriving, Selbyville’sweeklynewspaper,theDelmarvaNews, hadasectiondevotedentirelytochickens.
Tuesday,March6,beganasanormalrainyday. Knownforitsunseasonablespringtime,Sussex Countywascoldinitslaststretchofwinter,and theweatherforecastcalledforprecipitation.Thermometershoveredatthefreezingpoint,sorain wasexpectedonthecoast,andabandoficyair wouldbringsnowjustafewmilesinland.
Butwarmairwasrisingfromthesouth,conflicting withthenorthernwinterchill.Thetwo frontswouldsoonmeetintheMid-Atlantictoform a1,000-milelongnortheasterlyattack.The nor’easterof1962hadarrived.
StorybyLauraWalter
Vines Creek Professional Center ~ Dagsboro
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‘Astorm likenoother’
OnMarch5,1962,alow-pressuresystemdevelopedoff theshoreoftheAtlanticcoastandmovednorth.
waysandaftertwoorthreedaysleaves.But,inthisparticular case,thewindsneverbackedofftoallowthetidestogoout.”
“Youknow,downherealongthecoastline,you’realways gettingnotifications,”saidFenwickIslandresidentBruceScott, whowas16atthetimeofthestorm.“Whenanor’eastermoves in,youalwaysknowit’sgoingtobetwoorthreedays.That’sjust whathappenseverytime.
“Wejustthoughtitwasgoingtobeanormalnor’easter, wherethewaterintheoceancomesuponthebeachquitea
BudandNancyPalmatary,whoatthetimeofthestorm livedinBethanyBeachwiththeirtwoyoungchildren,saidthey hadnoideahowbadtheimpendingstormwouldbe.
“Therewasnowarningliketheyhavetoday,”saidBud Palmatary.“Ileftandwenttoworkandhadnoidea.”
“Iwashomeallday,”recalledNancyPalmatary.“Anditwas rainingandblowing,butIdidn’tthinkanythingofit.My brotherlivednextdoor,andhecameandknockedonthedoor
andsaid,‘We’vegotto evacuate.’”
“Itcamesofast! Youcouldalmostwatch it,”addedDeeBennett. “Oneofmygirlfriends hadwaterintheir house,andshesaidit happenedlikealmost15 minutesandboom… Youjustdidn’thaveany timetogetoutandtake anythingwithyou.”
LauraHickman— whosefamilylivedin BethanyBeach,atFifth StreetandAtlanticAvenue,andwhowasinthirdgrade atthetime—saidthat,eventhoughsheknewtherewas astormcoming,shewasn’tafraidbecauseherparents, RayandSally,didn’tseemworried.
“Irememberthedayofthestorm,forsomereason theyletusoutofschoolearlybecauseitwasraining reallyheavily…AndIremembermymompickedme up,andsomeneighborsfromFourthStreetdecidedto godownandlookattheinlet…Ijustrememberseeing howroughtheoceanwas.”
Hickmansaidherfamilyandneighborshaddecidedtoeatanearlydinnerbut,beforetheycouldsit
Somepeople lostsovery,very much.Thehouses wereturned aroundbackwards andsideways.
WandaPowell
Ellen Rice moved to the Delaware coast at 13, two months after the Storm of ’62. Beckoned to paint by “the energy, force, sheer power”of the ocean and the beauty of her new surroundings, within a decade she’d carved out a career that was to eventually gain an international following.
New Exhibit March 3-31
“The Stormy Beauty of the Delaware Coast”
downtoeat,they noticedwaterwas comingoverthe largeduneinfront oftheirhouse.At thatpoint,Hickmansaid,she begantoworry, becauseherparentshadcalledfor hergrandparents topickherup, alongwithher sister.
“Thefoamin thewaterwasstartingtocomedownthe duneandrundownthestreet,andIrememberhaving theselittlerubberbootsonthatkidshave,thatyouput overtopofyourshoes,”recalledHickman.“Iremember goingtotheircar,anditwentovertopmybootsandgot mylegsallwet.
“Thatwasreally,reallyscaryforme,knowingthat that’showdeepitwasalreadyandwewereleavingmy parents.ItwasstartingtogetdarkandIwasthinking, ‘HowaretheygoingtogetbacktoOceanViewwhenit lookslikewateriscomingdownnow?’”
“Westayedaftermyparentstookthegirls,”recalled SallyHickman.“Idroveourcaroutandgotstuckinthe
“The Last Watch” depicts the last commander of the Indian River Coast Guard Station looking out to sea the day the station was decommissioned after the Storm of ’62. Read the story at ellenrice.com/printsindex.php
Ellen painted “Rehoboth”in 1962 at age 13.
COURTESYTHEHICKMANFAMILY
Alotofpeopledon’trealize,during thatstorm,thelittletownofSouth Bethanycompletelylostawholerow ofhouses,andthestreetthat’sthere nowisthenextstreetbackfrom whereitusedtobe.Allthosehouses werecompletelylost,completely gone.Abouttheonlythingyoucould seeleftwouldmaybebeapilinghere orthereorapartofapiece ofchimney.That,tome, isquiteastounding.
MarkBennett
R R E N ’ S S T A T I O N
A family dining tradition for over 45 years.
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“Let our family serve yours.”
I’vealwayshadagreatrespectfortheseaandwhatitcando.I’velivedbythe seaallmylife.IworkedontheseaforseveralyearsintheMerchantMarines. I’veseenalotofstorms,andI’vealwaysknownthefuryitcanhave,butIalso knewthatafterthefurytherewouldbepeaceagain.Ihaveagreatdealof respect…Youcan’tstopa20-footwallofwater,Idon’tcarewhatyoudo. Ora10-footwallofwater,ora6-footwallofwater. Whenitcomes,there’snothingstoppingit.
MarkBennett
water.ImadealeftontoPennsylvaniaAvenueandthe currenttookme.AndwhenIgotoutIwaswaistdeepin water...Itwasscary.”
SallyHickmansaidsheandRaywereabletogeta ridebacktoherparent’shousewithnearbyneighbors whowerealsoevacuatingthetown.
LauraHickmansaidsheandhergrandparents waitedforherparentsuntiltheygotworriedenough thathergrandfatherwentbacktoBethanyBeachto searchforthem.Herparentsarrivedathergrandparents’ homenotlongafterward.
“Sothenmygrandfatherwasmissing,lookingfor them,”sherecalled.“Hehadparkedhiscarontheother sideofRoute1,whichwasstillhighground,andhe wadeddownPennsylvaniaAvenueandFifthStreet.ButI guessatthattimeitwaswaistdeepatthatpoint,andhe realizedthathecouldn’tgoanyfartherandhewentto goback,”saidHickman.
“Hypothermiahadalmostsetin,”shesaidofher grandfatherwhenheturnedback.“Theneighborswho weregoingtohavedinnerwithushappenedtobedrivingbyonelasttimebeforetheywereleavingandhap-
penedtoseeaglintofglass,anditwasmygrandfather’s glasses.Itwasamiraclethattheyrescuedhimand broughthimback.Hewasjustblue.”
DeeBennett’shusband,Mark,then21,experienced thestormoffshore,stationedonasupertankeroffthe coastofNorthCarolina.
“IwasworkingintheMerchantMarinesatthetime duringthatparticularstorm…wasiteverrough,”herecalled.“Itwasastormlikenoother.”
RogerHitchens,whovolunteeredwiththeMillville firecompany,recalledfirecompanyvolunteersgoing hometogettheirpersonalboats,sotheycouldrowout tohomesandhelprescuepeople.
“Wewouldpickpeopleupbyboatandbringthem backout.Wewouldbringtheiranimalsandeverything else.Wehadtogobyboatfromthatpointthereon,becauseithadbackedupthroughthecanal.Thenit backedupfeedingbacktowardthebeach.”
DorisCollins,whowas26,waslivingwithherhusband,Bill,andtwochildrenonKentAvenue.
“Wewerenotnotifiedofanystormatall.Itwasa surprise,”recalledCollins.“Ihadgottenupat6inthe
BethanyBeach underwaterafter thestorm.
morning,withmybabies,andMr.Dolbycalledmeon thephoneandhesaid,‘Doris,canyouswim?’Ithought, ‘Thismaniscrazy!’Isaid,‘Yeah,why?’Hesaid,‘Well,get outyourwaterwingsandlookoutthewindow.’
“Frommykitchenwindow,wecouldlookright downGibsonAvenue,andyoucouldseethewater comingfromthecanal.Youcouldactuallyseeitmoving.”
Collinssaidthatsheandherchildrenevacuated theirhomesoonafterthat,butherhusbandstayedbehindtocheckontheirstore,Bill’sSportswear,which waslocatedonPennsylvaniaAvenue,whereSedona restaurantisnowlocated.
“Wehadhip-bootson,itwassodeep.Itwasupto ourwaists,thewater.Andyouwerefightingthetides,” saidBillCollins.“Wewentdowntheretocheckonour merchandise,becausewehadjustgottennewmerchandiseforthestore.Andwegotdownthere,gotinthe store—thenextthingweknewthewaterwascoming inallaroundthebaseboards,likesomeonehadturned onafaucet.”
Collinssaidheandhisfriendquicklytriedtomove thestoremerchandiseashighoffthegroundasthey couldbeforeevacuating,buttheylaterfoundoutthat theireffortswerefornaught.
“Nexttimewegotdowntoourstore,wehadtogo byboat,andthewaterinsideofourstorewasrightclose
to6-footdeep.Wehadmovedallthemerchandiseas highaswewouldget—uponcountersandtables.But bythetimeithadgotthatdeep,thecartonsthathadall ofourmerchandiseinthemcollapsed.Wejusthada storefullofwet,muddy,sandy—younameit—new merchandise.”
DeeBennettwasdrivingtothebeachonMarch7 fromWilmington,tospendaweekendatherparents’ cottageonPennsylvaniaAvenueinBethanyBeach.
“WewerecomingdownthroughDover,andwe couldn’tbelieveallthewaterwesaw,”sherecalled.“And thenwegotalittlefartherdown,andweweregoingto comethroughRoute26inDagsboro,andwecouldn’t comethroughtherebecausetheareacalledVinesCreek wasentirelyflooded.TherewasaTasteeFreezthere, andthewaterwasallthewayuptothemiddlewayof it.”
Dr.KelvinRamseyoftheDelawareGeologicalSurveysaidthereasonthestormwassodevastatingwasbecauseitwasslow-moving.
“WhathappenedintheMarch’62storm—Ibelievetherewasahigh-pressuresystemtothenorththat sloweddownthestorm,”heexplained.“So,ratherthan ahalfaday—onetidalcycle—thisstormactuallyaffectedthecoastlineforfive[cycles].
“Foreachtidalcycle,youhavethenormaltidalwatersthatarebuildingup,”Ramseyexplained,“andthey
werenotallowedtheir normalcourseofflowingbackoffshore.”
Ramseysaidthat thecombinationofthe windsandbuildingtidal cyclescreateda“worstcasescenarioforthe Delawarecoast.”
“InMarch’62,you hadthosefivetidalcycles, withwavesandthewind, sotheentireAtlanticbarrier wasknockeddown.Fora periodoftime,itwasabig openbodyofwater.So everythingalongthecoast wasprettymuchdestroyed.Itwasbad.Wecannoteven fathomhowbaditwas.”
poles.Thewaveswere thattall.Itwasterriblelooking.”
ClarksvilleresidentHermanKoenig saidheandhiswife, Ruth,drovetothe beachandjustsatin theircartowatchthe stormtakeitstollon theemptyhouses.
Mostresidentsjustwaitedoutthestormintheir homesorrelatives’homesfurtherinland,untilthey couldgocheckouttheresultingdamage.
“Wejusthadtowaitandwaitandwaitthosedays ofthestormout,notknowingwhatwashappening,” saidLauraHickman.“Wehadonemancomeuptothe housewhosaidthathe’dbeenclosetothebeachand saidthateverythingthatwasontheoceanfrontwasflat asapancake.Ofcourse,thatmadeeveryoneupset,becausethatwould’vemeantourhouse.”
WandaPowell,wholivedinOceanViewatthe timeofthestorm,saidthatwaterhadcomeintothe backpartofherfamily’sproperty.
“Thewateractuallycameuptothebackofour property…TheoceanwasasfarupastheAssawoman Canalbridge,”sherecalled.“Welostourpower,butwe hadafireplace,soweroastedhotdogsinthefireplace andthekidshadmarshmallows,andsotheyhada reallygoodtime.”
Manyresidentswholivedinlandwentouttotryto surveyhowbadthestormwasgetting.
“WerodedowntoQuillen’sPoint,”saidBillCobb. “Wewentuponthehill—beforetheyhadtheVFW. Whenyoulookedoveratthebeachroad—thosetelephonepoles—thefoamwasblowinghigherthanthose
AChevytrucksits halfwayunderwater indowntown BethanyBeachin theaftermathofthe stormof’62.
“Theocean waveswerebeating uphousing,and youcouldsee housesfall,”herecalled.“Therewereaboutthreerows ofhousesinSouthBethanyjustwashedtotallyaway, propertyandall.Thewholebeachjustmovedin.”
“WeweresittingwherethereusedtobeaTastee FreezintoBethanyBeach.Wesatthereandwatched thosehousesfallintotheocean,justliketheywerelittle toys—justcrumbledrightupandfellintotheocean.”
Itwasn’tuntildaysafterthestormthattheNational Guard,whichhadbeenenforcingmartiallaw,allowed beach-townresidentstoreturntotheirpropertiestosurveythedamage.
MarkBennett,whoreturnedhomeafterthestorm hit,rememberedhelpinghisfather,formerBethany BeachPostmasterSidneyBennett,coordinatethetown’s clean-upefforts.
“AsfarasBethany,whentheseascameover,they bustedthroughtheboardwalkandbustedthroughthe duneline,allthatsandwaspushedwiththewaterand thestreetswereprobablyacouplefeetdeepwithsand thathadtoberemoved.Nottomentionthedestroyed homesanddebris.Itwasquiteamess.Itwasunreal.It wasreallyunreal.”
DorisCollinssaidthatthestormhaddestroyedso muchthatdebrislitteredthestreets.
“MyfatherandmotherlivedinFenwickinatrailer, andmyhusbandrandowntogetthembeforeitgottoo bad.AndtheHolidayHousewascompletelydestroyed, andoneoftheirrefrigeratorswasallthewayuprightby ourhouse.Myfatherputonwadersandwalkedoutto
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it,becausehewantedtoseeiftherewasabeerintherefrigerator.”
Thedebriswasnotonlytubsorcoolers—but wholehousesthathadbeendisplacedinthestorm.
LauraHickmanrememberedvisitingafriend’shouseon CampbellPlace,wherethestormhaddepositedanentirecottage.
“Alittlecottagehadactuallyfloatedintotheirback yardandremainedthereforthesummer…Weusedto gointhereandplayandpretendthatitwasourhouse. Andallthepictureswerestillonthewall…Everything wasinthecabinetsandtheclosets.Itjustgotupoffits foundationandfloatedtoanotherlocation.”
Hickmansaidshealsorememberedreturningto Bethanyandseeinghowthestormhadchangedthetopographyofthebeachtown.
“Idorecallcomingbackfromthestormandjust noticinghowflateverythingwas,fromwherethe housesstoodandthewrecksofhouses—justoutto theoceanwascompletelyflat,asflatascanbe.”
DeeBennettsaidthestormhadfilledherparents’ apartmentwithmud,andtheycouldseethehigh-water marksonthewallsofthehouse.
“Whenwegotinthere,inordertotrytogetridof themud—therewasaboutaninchandahalfofmud alloverthefloor—weactuallytookseawaterthatwas leftoutside,withbuckets,andsplasheditalloverthe
Andallthe pictureswere stillonthe wall… Everythingwasin thecabinetsand theclosets. Itjustgotupoff itsfoundation andfloatedto anotherlocation.
LauraHickman
floor,tryingtogetridofthemud,beforewecouldtry andcleanitup…Itwasamess.…Itwasamess!”
ArtAchilles,whowas15atthetime,didn’treside inBethanyBeach,buthejumpedatthechancetosee thetown,post-storm,firsthandwhenhisfriendoffered himtheopportunity.
“HayesGrapperhaus—whosefatherownedthe oldDelmarvaNews—sawFreddyTaylorandmyself andsaid,‘Hey!Youguyswanttogodown?I’mworking withmydad.We’regoingtotakesomepicturesand notesfortheDelmarvaNews.’And,ofcourse,we’re15 yearsold—absolutelywewantedtogo!”herecalled.
“WegodowntotheAssawomanCanal,andwe wereabletogetonaNationalGuardtankandwewent downtothebeach.Whenyou’re15yearsold,youdon’t realizethatitisthestormofthecentury.Thedestruction wasjustincredible.”
“Thestormitselfwashorrible,”saidDorisCollins, “butafterthestorm,thewaypeopleinthiscommunity justpitchedintohelpeverybodywasjustunbelievable. Wehadpeoplecometoourdoorandwedidnotknow whotheywere—theywouldtakesomeofourruined clothesfromthestoreandtakeithomeandwashitand bringitback.”
Manycommunitymemberspitchedinandhelped withthecleanupfollowingthestorm.Thefirecompany helpedbyusingtheirpumpenginetohoseoutthe
mud-andsand-filledhomes.
“Iwasalsoamemberofthefirecompanythen,” saidBillCollins.“Wehadanoldfireengineandwe wouldgotohouses—theywerejustcompletelynothingbutmud.We’dcomeinandwewouldtakethefire hoseandwashthehousesdowninsidetogetthemud out.”
“Thefirecompanyliterallyperformedaserviceby cominginandhosingyourhouseoutforyou,”added BillPusey,“becauseithadaninchofthisnicerivermud init.Anditwouldcakeupandbehardonthetop,and youwouldsteponitanditwouldcrackthroughand you’dsliporfall.”
Duringthestorm,sandwasdisplacedthroughout thetown,movedfromthebeachanddepositedon roadsandinhomes.
“WehadsomuchsandinourhousethatIcould standonthepileofsandandtouchtheceiling,”recalled NancyPalmatary.“Ihadasewingmachinethatwasina case,andwhenwetookittoSearstogetfixed,allthis mudandwaterwashedout.”
“Thefirstfloorofourhousewasjustfilledwith sand,fromthefloortotheceiling.Theyhadtotakea conveyerbeltandhaulallofthatsandoutofthere,” addedLauraHickman.
Betweenthedestructionofhomesandthemovementofthesand,muchofwhatresidentsmighthave
Duringthestorm, sandwas displaced throughout thetown,moved fromthebeachand depositedonroads andinhomes.
Wehadsomuch sandinourhouse thatIcouldstand onthepileof sandandtouch theceiling.
NancyPalmatary
onceusedaslandmarkswasgone.
“Youwouldwalkdowntothebeachandyou wouldactuallygetlostbecauseallofthehouseswere completelydestroyed—Imeantherewasnothingleft ofsomeofthem.Youlostyourperspective.Youdidn’t knowwhereyouwere,”saidDorisCollins.
Intheweeksfollowingthestorm,bulldozersalso cameintotheareatohelptomovethesandoffthe roadsandbacktowardthebeach.
“Irememberwalkingfrommyhousedownto PennsylvaniaAvenuetocatchthebus,anditseemedto methey’dhadbulldozersintheretomovethesand.But justlikesnow,therewerepilesofsandoneithersideof theroadthatwerewayhigherthanIwas,soitwaslike walkingthroughatunnel,”saidLauraHickman.
Althoughthestormonlylastedafewdays,its effectspermanentlychangedthefaceoftheDelaware coast.Andthosewholivedthroughitwillsurelynever forgetthestormofthecentury.
“Itwasaninterestingthingtolivethrough,”said Pusey.“Andit’soneIhopeIdon’thavetolivethrough again.”
StorybyMariaCounts
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Top left, Fourth Street in Bethany. Below left, one of the many refrigerators left strewn about the area in streets and yards after the storm. Bottom left, the remains of the Bethany Beach boardwalk. Below, some damaged homes in Fenwick Island. Bottom right, Dee Bennett’s father, Myron Mezick, shows the water mark on his family’s Bethany Beach apartment’s outdoor shower.
The nor'easter that struck our community in 1962 left a lasting impact on all those who experienced its power, as evidenced by the stories and photographs that people have held on to tightly for 50 years. We'd like to thank those who told their tales and submitted their photos to us so they could be shared with all of you.
COURTESY JACK COOPER
COURTESY HICKMAN FAMILY
COURTESY JACK COOPER
COURTESY DEE BENNETT
COURTESY DEE BENNETT
At left, two Bethany Beach homes. Below left, Fenwick Island, looking south. Bottom left, the Seaside Inn in Fenwick. Top right, the Indian River inlet, looking toward the ocean. Bottom right, Roland Scott, Bruce Scott’s grandfather, standing by what was left of the family’s cottage.
COURTESY CLAIRE LAYTON
COURTESY SCOTT MUMFORD
COURTESY ROBERT LEWIS
COURTESY SCOTT MUMFORD
COURTESY BRUCE SCOTT
“Thewaterjustkept
coming.Thetidejust didn’tgoout.Everybody waskindofinahaze:‘It can’tgetanyhigherthan this.’Somebodytilted theearththerightway”
KennethEvans
Above,aconveyorhelpsremovesandfrominsidethe Hickmanhome.Topofpage,thebuildingnexttothe AddySea.Atright,anunidentifiedbeachhome.
COURTESYJACKCOOPER
COURTESYLAURAHICKMAN
COURTESYLEROYACHILLES
Rescuingtherescuers
InMarchof1962,JackCooperwasaseniorin highschool.HelivedonKentAvenuein BethanyBeachwithhisfamily,whohosted then-mayorJimmyPoppinintheirhomeduring theheightofthenor’easter.Herecalledhisfamily homebeingoneofafewthatdidn’thaveanywater initafterallwassaidanddone.But,duringthe storm,adventurousCooperwasoutrescuingNationalGuardsmenfromtheirpostintown.
HeandfellowclassmateRupertSmithtooka boatdownKentAvenueandwentbySidneyBennett’shouse.BennettwasBethany’spostmaster,and hishousedoubledasthepostoffice.Cooperrecalls beingtoldbythechiefofpolicethatheshouldn’t beoutinhisboat,butthenheheardthatthere werenineNationalGuardsmenstrandedintheir truckindowntownBethanyBeach.
“RupertandIthoughtitwouldbeneattogo bythereandlookatthem,”hejoked.
Hesaidtheywenttothetruck,whichwasata fillingstation,nearwherethepresent-dayYuppy Puppysits,andrescuedtwoguardsandtwoor threedogs.TheytookthembacktoBennett’s house,andBennettsuppliedthemwithdry clothes.
“Iwentbackdownbymyselfandgotfour moreinmyboat.Andwegotabout20yardsaway,
ThehomeofSidneyBennettalsowasthe BethanyBeachPostOffice.Thehomehassincebeen movedinlandnearClarksville.
JackCooper
andawavehitourboatandweflippedover.We startedswimminginland,”Cooperrecalled,toward thepresent-dayRoute1,“butJesse(oneofthe guardsmen)couldn’tswim,soIgotaholdofhim. Hehadbootson,andabigfurjacket,andthe waterwasabout7-feetdeep.Thenwesawanice house floatingbyandgotuponthatandfloatedon overtothedualhighway,wherewecouldtouch.”
Coopersaidthey,too,wentinto
Seafood, Steaks
Brick Oven Pizzas
forthem,aswell.Heeventuallywastakentothe LordBaltimoreSchool,althoughCooperdoesn’trememberhowhegotthereorwhenthenormal schoolyearresumedafterthebuildingwasno longerneededasashelter.Hisparents,Ruthand MiltonCooper,didn’tknowhehadbeenoutand aboutuntil“acoupleofweekslater.”
Coopersaid,thattheyfoundhisboatabout twoweekslater,washedupbehindthefirehouse.
MarkBennett,Sidney’sson,recalledhelping
Cooperhelpedwith thecleanup,aswell, shovelingsandout ofhousesfor25 centsanhour.
Boatwasapopularmodeoftransportationinthedays afterthestorm.Cooperandafriendfloatedtosafety withhelpfromanicehouseliketheoneatleft.
his dad—whowasalsothestreetscommissioner —coordinatethesandcleanup,withbulldozers andgrazersanddumptrucksand“whateverelse wecangetaholdof.”
Cooperhelpedwiththecleanup,aswell,shovelingsandoutofhousesfor25centsanhour.
Thatsummer,hesaid,thingswere“justlike nothingeverhappened,”buthesaidhedidn’t thinkthe“stormofthecentury”changedpeople’s viewsonweatherorstormwarningsingeneral.
“Idon’trememberitbeingabigdeal(beforehand), butitdidgetbig.”
StorybyMonicaScott
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Itwasa timedifferent
JhadyettohearMartinLutherKingJr.’s“IHave aDream”speech.Wal-Marthadopeneditsfirst storein1962—televisionscost$250andsleeper couchescost$39.Floor-lengthmirrorscost$4, andfive-piecedinettesetscostabout$60.
And,needlesstosay,lotsofchangeshavehappenedinourneckofthewoodssincetheMarch 1962storm.
Atthetime,beachfrontlotscost$11,000. Condominiumsnowstandwhereabowlingalley once stoodandinplaceoftheSeasideHotel,which wasalsodestroyedinthestorm.
ThefamousHolidayHouse,whichwas“apile ofrubble”afterthestormandwasre-builtintime forthesummerof1962,isnowMango’s.
Justin’sBeachHousenowsitsonthesiteofa homeonRoute26thatbelongedtoDonaldWilgus,aprominentnameinlocalrealestate.Bethany Beachnowhassewerservice.NearbyAssateague Islandisanationalpark.Therearenowhigh-rise buildings inOceanCity,Md.,andtheformerRoute 14isnowRoute1.
Butevenasidefromtheaforementionedsignificantchangesthathavehappenedsincethe“storm
ofthecentury”50yearsagothisMarch,therewas theimmediateaftermathBethanyBeachhadtodeal withfollowingthelate-winternor’easter.
Manyofthepeoplewholivedyear-roundin BethanyBeach—possibly20orsofamilies,by someestimates—stayedthereforatleastoneday ofthestormbeforeheedingevacuationorders.
RogerHitchens,who livedonCentral Avenueandwasa volunteerwiththe MillvilleVolunteer FireCompanyand amemberofthe NationalGuard, recallsrescuing peoplebyboatinthe midstofthestorm.
Weatherforecastsnotbeingwhattheyare today,theyknewsomerainwascomingandthat therewassnowtothewest,buttherewasnoreasontothinkthestormwouldbeanythingspecial.
Butspecialitwas.
RogerHitchens,wholivedonCentralAvenue andwasavolunteerwiththeMillvilleVolunteer FireCompanyandamemberoftheNational Guard,recallsrescuingpeoplebyboatinthemidst ofthestorm.
Infact,hehasmemoriesofpickinguppeople fromthesecond-storywindows ofhomesindowntownBethanywheretheBlueSurfMotel,nowcondosandshops,waslaterlocated.Althoughthe boatswerenotfirecompany-issued,manyofthe menusedtheirpersonalboatstohelpintherescue efforts.
Afterward,manyofthelocalfiretruckswere usedtowashoutsandandmuckfromthehomes
Atleft,lookingacrossRoute14(nowRoute1)down GarfieldParkwayandouttotheAtlantic.Above,looking intheoppositedirection—westdownRoute26.
andhotelsintownthathadsurvivedthestorm. HitchenswasthenactivatedasaNationalGuardsmanandwasstationedatLordBaltimoreSchool— although,hesaidwithalaugh,thatthatpart “wasn’tasexciting.”
MargaretYoung,whohasbeenafull-time BethanyBeachresidentforsomeyearsnow,usedto comeforsummersinthe1960sand1970s.She wasbusygivingbirthtoherfirstchildduringthe storm,butherparentsrelayedtoherthatwhen theycametoBethanytocheckonthefamily’ssummer cottage,theyhadtoshowtheirdeedtothe NationalGuardtoprovetheywere,infact,thetrue homeowners.
“TheNationalGuardwouldn’tletpeoplein unlessyouwerehomeowners,forfearoflooting,” sheexplained.“Wewereverylucky.Ourcottage wasinthe100blockof2ndStreet,betweenAtlanticandPennsylvania,soitwasalittlewaysaway fromoceanandthebay,”Youngadded,notingthe baywatersthattothisdaycomeintotownviathe LoopCanal.
“It wasinthebestpossibleareaitcouldhave
Storiesof refrigerators becomingtorpedoes werecommon amongthepeople recallingtheaftermath oftheStormof ’62and,insome cases,theyeven recalledother housesfloatingby thatdiddamageas theypassed.
“Thewaterwascomingover Route14,anditwascoming— notfromtheocean—butfrom thebay,throughthewoods.And everytimeIlookeddown,it wasgettingclosertothedoor”
MarieKnox
beenontheoceanside,”sheadded.“Still,there was3feetofwaterinthehouse.Itwasabasic summercottage—therewasnothingofvaluein thehouse,sowewereveryfortunate.”
OnethingthatstuckoutforYoung’sfamily washowoneoftheporchpostswasdamaged.
“Alltheappliancesfromthehousesgot washedfartherintothestreets,anditgothitbya refrigerator,”sheexplained.
Besidesthat,thehousewasingoodshapeand was cleanedoutquicklyoncethewatersreceded.
Storiesofrefrigeratorsbecomingtorpedoes werecommonamongthepeoplerecallingtheaftermathoftheStormof’62and,insomecases,they evenrecalledotherhousesfloatingbythatdid damageastheypassed.
InthecaseofJackCooperandsomeNational Guardsmen,anicehouseturnedouttoactuallybe alifesaver.(seepage23)
LoisDolby—alocalrealestateagentwho livedatthecornerofpresent-dayKentAvenueand Route26,inahousethatwasjustrecentlytorn down, some50yearslater—said,whentheyreturnedtotheirhouseafridgehadcomethrough theirdrivewayandstooduprightintheiryard.BeforetheyleftonWednesday,shesaid,theycouldsit
infrontofasmallalcoveintheirhouseandsee wavescrashing.
“Myhusbandsaid,‘Herecomesaboat.’”
Thatnight,sherecalled,thewaterandthe windoutsidemadethehousesoundlikeavacuum cleaner,andtheyleftearlythenextmorning.
EllaandMyronMezickusingdustpans tocleantheflooroftheirBethanyBeachapartment. Thewaterlineisvisibleonthewallbehindthem. Onehouse acrossthe streethad waterthreequartersofthe wayupthe
Whentheyleft,thewindwasblowingsohard theycouldhardlywalk,andwaterinsidethehouse wasjustabovethebaseboardheater,orabout10 incheshigh.
Dolby’shusbandhadbeenmovingthecarout ofthewater’sreachinsteps,fartherandfarther down KentAvenue,sowhentheywerereadyto
leave,theywalkeddownthestreettogetinit. Amazingly,shesaid,itseemedtobeamatterof chanceastohowmuchwaterahousegotinside.
“Onehouseacrossthestreethadwaterthreequartersofthewayuptherefrigerator,andone househadnothing,”sherecalled.
DonaldWilgushimselfrecalledgoingback downtothebeachafterstayingathisgrandmother’shousenearLordBaltimoreSchool,taking thebackwaydownJeffersonBridgeRoad—by boat.
“I sawthatsomeonehadlaunchedaboatover thedualhighway,sothewaterwasthatdeep.It wasamotorboat,notarowboat,”heemphasized.
Uponreturningtotheirhome,theDolbys cleanedupthemudthatwasleftinsidetheir house,andLoisDolbywasquicktopointoutthat, eventhoughitwaslikenothingtheyhadeverseen before,therewasanairofgratitude.
“Itcould’vebeenalotworse,”shesaid.
TheDolbyshousedaNationalGuardsmanfor aboutsixweeks,andbulldozershadtobeusedto push theaccumulatedsandback.
Youngalsorecalledstoriesthatsaidthatsome AmishandMennonitescamedowntohelpwith thecleanup,andMarylandnewspapersreported thatprisonerscametohelpwiththecleanupof
sandanddebris.
DeeBennett,whowas21atthetimeand whoseparentshadahouseatFifthStreetand PennsylvaniaAvenue,remembersthewatereven camethroughDover.OncetheygottotheVines Creekarea,theBennettscouldn’tevengetby,becauseofwaterthere,andtheycouldn’tgetbySelbyvilleorLordBaltimoreinOceanView,either, because“waterwasallthewayupintheyardof theschool.”
Shesaiditwasn’tuntilthatFridaythatthey couldgettotheirhouseand,whentheydid,all they couldseewassand.
“Oh,whatamesswesaw…Youcouldn’tsee anyroad.Iwouldsayithadtobeabout2or3feet ofsandintheroad.”
AccordingtoaUniversityofDelawarereport fromthe40thanniversaryofthestormin2002, sanddepositsfromthestormaveraged3to4feet indepth,and“somedepositswereashighas6 feet.”
Dolbyremembersitlookedlikesnow.
BennettrecalledhelpingtofeedtheNational GuardsmenattheLordBaltimoreSchoolcafeteria intheaftermathofthestorm.
“A lotofthemwerelocalguys,”shesaid.“It wasreallyfunny—afterwefedthem,wewouldsit aroundandplaycards.”
TheUniversityofDelawarereportedthat 1,932homessustaineddamagefromtidalflooding inDeweyBeach,BethanyBeachandFenwickIslandcombined,and“waveaction”destroyed28of 29oceanfronthomesinBethanyBeach,“aswellas
Bennett recalledhelpingtofeedthe National Guardsmen attheLord Baltimore Schoolcafeteriaintheaftermathofthe storm. Alotofthem werelocal guys.Itwas reallyfunny —afterwe fedthem,we wouldsit aroundandplay cards.
everyoceanfronthomeinSouthBethany.”The stormhadwipedthetowns’beachesallbutclean. Damageestimates,accordingtotheUDreport (in 1962dollars)included$50millionforpublic andprivatepropertydamage,$20milliontorepair beachesanddunesand$20millioninpersonal propertydamage.
ThenearbyWallopsIslandNASAlaunchfacilitysustainedonemilliondollarsindamage,and ChincoteagueandAssateaguewereunderwater, leavinghundredsofthousandsofdeadchickensto rotafterthewaterreceded,addinganotherpoststormreasontoevacuate.
DolbysaidshewenttoworkatHickmanReal Estate in1969.Theyhadabuildingwiththree apartmentsinitthatshemanaged.Evenseven yearslater,shesaid,inthelowerapartment—the onethathadfilledupwithsandinthestormof 1962—sandwouldstilltrickleoutofitsknottypinewalls.
DavidWilgus—whosefamilyownedthe bowlingalleyontheboardwalk—saidthat,even thoughthereisafamouspictureofseveralofhis familymembersandinsuranceagentsfromPennsylvaniaonthesiteofthebowlingalleypost-storm, because ofthelackoffloodinsurance,thebowling alleywasatotalloss.
But,inretrospect,itwasnotalosswithouta silverlining,astherealestateandinsurancepartof thebusinessstartedtogrowafterthestorm,asdid realestateandtheareaingeneralinthefollowing decades.
“Ittookawhileforthingstoleveloff,”said DonaldWilgus.“Alotofpeoplesoldthingsthey probablywishtheyhadn’tnow.Ourfamilybought anoceanfrontlotinwhatisnowSouthBethanyfor $11,000 afterthestorm.”
And,notunlikeafterthestormsoftoday,once thesandwasputbackandthewatersreceded,the peopleoftheareacleanedup,re-builtwhere neededandgotreadyforthesummerseason. Touristsandsummerpeoplesoonarrived,andit wasbacktobusinessasusual.
StorybyMonicaScott
Stormof’62
DeeBennett
BethanyFireCompany
TheStormof1962wasadevastatingnor’easterthat caughttheMid-Atlanticcompletelybysurprise.While thelate-summerhurricaneseasonhadoftenbeena wearyoneforthecountry’seasternseaboard,thecharacteristics,behaviorandpotentialthreatsofnor’easterswerenotwelldocumentedorwell-trackedpriortotheMarchstormof’62.
Unfortunatelyforthoselivingandowningpropertyinthe area,DelawareandsurroundingMid-Atlanticstateslearnedof thepotentialperilsofthesestormsthehardway.Butastime hasgoneon,we’velearnedtotakenewprecautions,intermsof
protectingourselvesfromsimilardevastation.
“Fiftyyearsago,”saidGlenGillespie,deputydirectorof DEMA(theDelawareEmergencyManagementAgency),“there weresignificantdifferencesintermsofprofilingthecoastline andtheAtlanticregions.Overtheyears,withdifferentstorms thathaveimpactedtheDelawareshoresandfederaldeclarationscomingin,we’veestablishedaprotocolandruleswith FEMA(theFederalEmergencyManagementAgency)anddevelopedaprocessofreimbursementtoeliminatecostsfordamagesthatoccuronthecoastline.”
Itisacommonbeliefthathurricanespackmore ofapunchthannor’eastersand,typically,forthe Caribbean,upthroughFloridaandtowardtheOuter BanksofNorthCarolina,thatisthecase.But,because ofDelaware’sgeographicallocation,setasitisalong theDelawareBay,nor’easterscanbejustasdevastating,oftenbringingheavyprecipitation,severeflooding,coastalerosionandhurricane-forcewinds.
“Whenyoulookatthetwosystems—hurricanesandnor’easters—theybehavealmostidentically,”saidEdwardDurst,DEMAoperationsofficer. “Bothcanbringalotofdamagealongthecoastof DelawareastheymovetowardNewEngland.The sametypeofplanninggoesintoeachone,becausethe aftermath—thecorrosion,erosionandcoastaldamage—isalmostexactlythesame,sothesamepreparationsarerequired.”
Becauseofthevastseasonduringwhichnor’eastersstrike—anytimefromOctoberthroughApril, whenmoistureandcoldairareabundant—theycan oftenbeaccompaniedbyblizzardconditions,dependingonthetimeofyear.
Infact,thesnowstormsthatDelawarereceived duringthe2009-2010winterseason—asfootupon footofsnowfellfasterthanroadscouldbecleared— wereattributedtomultiplenor’eastersmergingtogetheroffthecoastline.
Ascold,dryArcticairmovesdownfromthe north,itconvergeswiththewarm,moistairbeing movedupalongtheGulfStream.Nor’easterscan originatefromstormsurgesintheGulfofMexico,but asGillespieexplained,othersfollowpathssimilarto someofthestrongesthurricanesinrecordedhistory.
“Thebiggestthingthathelpsusprepareforthese kindsofstormsnowadaysistechnology,”hesaid. “Whatwehavenow,intermsofpinpointingstorms andaccuratelyforecastingapathandlandfall,islightyearsaheadofwhatwehadthen.Today’stechnology isevenalotmoreadvancedthanwhatweused10 yearsago,andit’sconstantlyimproving.
“In1962,wedidn’thavethesatellitecapabilities thatwe’reaccustomedtonow,”hepointedout. “Today,weareabletocarefullymonitoranypotentiallythreateningstormsystem,whetherit’soriginatingintheCaribbeanoroffthecoastofAfrica.”
Inadditiontosatellitephotographyandfootage, reportsfromships,planes,buoysandaerialdrones
Wealwayshadthe storms.Therewere alwaysthreatsof hurricanes.Wejust didn’tdwellon beingafraid.
WandaPowell
Stormof’62
canallhelptrackaweatherpatternasitdevelops. Priortoandthroughouthurricaneseason—particularlybetweenearlyJunethroughlateNovember— tropicalandsubtropicalconditionsoffthecoastof Africaarecarefullymonitored.
“Onceastormstartstoformandmoveacrossthe Atlantic,”saidGillespie,“DEMAandFEMAcarefully examineinformationprovidedbytheNationalHurricaneCenter,intermsofitslocation,size,intensity and,inparticular,thepotentialdirectionofthestorm. Asittravelsacrosstheocean,itmaytakeaneastern turn,backintotheAtlantic,whereitwilllikelyhead northandbreakapart,oritmaybeprojectedtomake landfallonthecoast.”
Duringthenor’easterseason,similarconditions canyieldstormsthattraversetheAtlanticOcean, thoughthemajorityofthesestormsoriginateaslowpressuresystemsintheGulfofMexicoorthe CaribbeanSea.
Oncethestormmovesupthecoastandisinterceptedbythecoolerairfromthenorth,itcanchurn offthecoastlinefordays,andsometimesweeks,ata time.Andthegreaterthetemperaturedifferencebetweenthetwoairmasses,themoreseverethestorm canbecome.
Insomecases,severalsmaller,weakerstormscan moveuptheMid-Atlanticseaboardatonetimebefore theyaremetbytheArcticair.Suchstormscanconverge,formingalargerstorm,bringingdangerous surgestothecoastline,torrentialrainorsnowand devastatingwinds.
Suchwasthecasewiththeso-called“Perfect Storm”of1991,whichbeganasanor’easterbeforeit absorbedHurricaneGraceandanotherlow-pressure systemoffthecoastofNewEnglandandNovaScotia, becominganevenlargerhurricane.Theimpactofthe stormanditseffectonthecommercialfishingvessel AndreaGailwerechronicledinthebook“ThePerfect Storm,”whichwaslateradaptedintoafeaturefilm.
Asinformationonimpendingstormsisanalyzed bytheNationalHurricaneCenterandorganizations suchasFEMAandDEMA,smallersubsidiariesand agenciesarenotifiedandaddressed.
“Oncewehavetheinformationthatweneed concerningthestorm’sprogress,”saidGillespie,“we areabletocoordinateappropriatedisciplines.Wecan accuratelyforecastastorm’sintensityanditspotential
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arrival,butthat’sjustpartofit.Afterthat,it’sourduty togetthisinformationouttofirst-respondersand, fromthere,theyimplementtheirappropriateemergencyplans.”
TheRedCross,emergencymedicalservices,lawenforcementagencies,firedepartmentsandmunicipalofficialsareamongthosecontactedfirstbyDEMA inpreparationforanimpendingstorm.Emergency evacuationroutesareplanned,homeownersarenotifiedandevacuationsheltersareestablished.
Thetrickle-downeffectisputintomotion,once informationabouttheincomingstormisknown.
“DEMAwillgetusampeduponcetheyknow what’sahead,”saidR.C.Evans,firechiefoftheMillvilleVolunteerFireCompany.“Ifastormissettohit onaFridayorSaturday,we’reusuallystartingour preparationbythebeginningofthatweek,with weatherupdatestothepublic.ByWednesday,we’re workingwithotherlocalfireandpolicedepartments tohaveallthepersonnelweneedonhand.”
Atthelocallevel,volunteersatfirecompanies havetheirownresponsibilities.
“Wehavetotakeeverythingintoconsideration whenweprepare,”saidEvans,“thewind,rain,flooding.Wefindouthowmanyofourvolunteersare available,andweassemblestand-bycrews.Anyof ouractivevolunteerscanhelp,aslongastheirfamiliesaretakencareof.Oncewehaveanideaofour manpower,wereadyourselves.”
Itmadeyouaware ofhowpowerful MotherNatureis asfaraswind andwater.Imean, theoceancanbe likealakeoneday andthenextday itcanbesostrong, nothingcanstopit. Itdoeswhat itwants.
LauraHickman
Stationsarestockedwithwaterandfood,andgas tanksaretoppedoff,inpreparationfortheworst.If stationscanprovidewater-rescueservices,necessary apparatusisretrievedbeforethestormhits.Buteven intheworstofstorms,there’ssometimeslittlethatcan bedoneoutsideofwaitingitout.
“Whenalargestormhitsourcoast,”saidEvans, “unfortunately,there’slittlewecandointheearly partsofthestorm.Forthesafetyofourcrewandregulations,wecan’tputourselvesatriskoutthereif windsaresustainedat70or80milesanhourout there.Butafteritdiesdown,weassessourpriorities ascallscomein.”
“Inmostcases,”Gillespieadded,“timeisofthe essence.Whentheskiesareovercast,it’srainingand thewindsarepickingup,that’snotthetimetostart takingaction.Inordertoeliminatethethreatofloss oflifeandpropertydamage,it’sourresponsibilityto notifylocalagenciesdaysinadvance.”
Althoughthecoastlinecanbeanappealing, breathtakinglocationforyear-roundresidentsand seasonalvisitors,themeteorologicalriskscannotbe takenlightly.
“Byputtingthesetwopiecestogether—tracking theweatherpatternandcoordinatingandnotifying thedifferentorganizations—that’swhereoursuccess ismeasured,”saidGillespie.“Whenyoubuildtowns alongacoastline,youarevulnerabletotheconditions. Youhavetotakeasmuchprecautionaspossible.
“Roadways,bridgesandotherstructurescanbe replaced.Peoplecannot,”heemphasized.“Ourhighestconcernispublicsafety.Ourknowledgeand trackingoftheforecastandworkingwiththeright agenciestohavetherightpreparationsinplan— thosearethecomponentsthatweneedtohavein place.”
AsfarasDEMA’sroleduringimpendingstorms, representativesandcoordinatorsworkcloselywithorganizationsincludingFEMA,theNationalHurricane CenterandtheNationalWeatherService,abranchof theNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA).
“Underastateofemergency,”saidGillespie,“the stateis[DEMA’s]primaryorganization.Therearefour jurisdictionsthatwehelpnotify:thethreecounties— NewCastle,KentandSussex—andtheCityof Wilmington,andeachhastheirownemergencymanagementcenter.Theselocalmanagementagencies havesimilartechnologytotracktherisksthatcome ourway.”
DEMA’sheadquarters,locatedinSmyrna,ispositionedcentrallyinthestate,toofferthemostconvenientpositiontocoordinateaid,ifrequired.
“Wehelpfacilitateourstate’sassetsuntiltheyare completelyexhausted,”saidGillespie.“Ifneeded,we thenturntothefederalgovernmentforassistance.We aidlocalorganizationsasmuchaswecanintheireffortstorespondtoandrecoverfromthestorm.”
take-care-of-yourselfkindofpeople, take-care-of-yourneighbors.Idon’t rememberanybody wakingupthenext dayandasking [whatthegovernmentwoulddo]. Theywereusedto takingcareof themselves.
KennethEvans
TheStormof’62hadalastingimpactontheAtlanticshore.Inall,40liveswerelost,sevenin Delaware.Structureswereflooded.Firststoriesof homesandbusinesseswerelitteredwithdebrisand filledwithfeetofsand.Roadwaysresembledriversas buildings,carsandboatsweresweptawaybythe floodwaters.Winds,wavesandrecord-hightidesforeveralteredtheshapeofthecoastline,promptinglegislatorstotakeactionthroughtheformofbeach replenishmentandconstructionofprotectivedunes alongtheshore,withagoalofpreventinganotherdisasterofthe1962storm’smagnitude.
Thedamageleftinitswakewassopowerfulthat theU.S.WeatherBureaucoinedit“TheGreatAtlantic Storm.”Othersremembereditas“FiveHighStorm,” afterresearchindicatedthatitlingeredofftheAtlantic Coastforthedurationoffivehightides.Themost damagecameonWednesday,March7,onAsh Wednesday,whichearneditanothername—“The AshWednesdayStormof’62.”
Buthoweverit’srecalled,there’snodoubtthat theStormof1962willforeverberememberedasone ofthemostdevastatingnaturaldisastersthatthestate ofDelawareandtheMid-Atlanticseaboardexperiencedinthelastcentury.But,asnewinnovationsand technologyarise,theobjectiveoneveryone’smindis toavoidthesamefatethattheregionsaw50years ago.
StorybyRyanSaxton
DNREC’sDivisionofWatershedStewardship willsponsoraworkshoponWednesday, March7,commemoratingtheStormof’62 onthe50thanniversaryoftheeventthatwreaked havocalongthestate’scoastandratedasoneofthe mostdestructivestormsinDelaware’srecordedhistory.
“DelawareCoastalVulnerabilityandSustainability—1962to2062”willtakeplaceattheRehoboth BeachConventionCenter,beginningat8:30a.m. Lecturespertainingtothestormanditsaftermath— includinghowitinfluencesmanyof today’senvironmentalandeconomicdecisions— willbepresented throughouttheday, and“TheStormof ’62—Delaware’s SharedResponse,”a 55-minutefilmproducedbyDNREC, willbescreened.CosponsoringtheworkshopwithDNRECare theDelawareSeaGrant ProgramandtheCityofRehobothBeach.
Lecturetopicsincludecoastalvulnerability, coastaldevelopmentandeconomy,meteorological predictions(includingsea-levelrise),floodingand inundation,andcoastalsustainabilityentailing beachmanagementandflood-resistantdevelopment practices,thelatterpresentedbyTonyPratt,administratorofDNREC’sShoreline&WaterwayManagementSection,andMichaelPowell,alsoofthe section.
Exhibitsfeaturing1960sphotographsand memorabiliafromthestormfromcoastalcommunitiesandhistoricalsocietiesalsowillbeondisplaythroughouttheday.Hazardmitigationand stormpreparednessinformationwillbeavailable fromDEMA,FEMAandotherpreparednessand responseorganizations.
Allworkshopactivitiesarefree,butseating islimitedandreservationsarerequired.Toregister,competeandsubmittheonlineregistrationformathttp://goo.gl/GZaxQorcontact MichelleScorzielloat(302)645‐4346.Attendeesareaskedtoprovidetheirownlunchif theyplantostayforthe“Stormof’62”film, whichwillbeshownat2:30p.m.
67 years~
The growth story of Wilgus Associates can be traced back to its origins as a staff of one in a one-room insurance of ce located on the boardwalk in the Bethany Beach Bowling Alley.
William F. Wilgus Jr., once a state senator, started the Wilgus Insurance Agency in 1945. He worked as a bookkeeper for a poultry and insurance rm doing business as Truitt & Steelman, located in Dagsboro. Wilgus purchased the insurance portion of the business from Truitt & Steelman for $1,000. This young insurance company prospered and in 1956, Gerald W. Wilgus joined his father’s business.
January of 2002 brought about many corporate changes at Wilgus Associates. Gerald of cially retired from the business. Michael became president while David continued as Wilgus’ secretary~treasurer.
Tim Hill, who had originally joined Wilgus Associates in 1985 as a Rental Agent, took over the reigns of the young Property Management Department in 1988. Under Tim’s guidance, Wilgus’ Property Management Department is the area’s leader in Year Round Rentals, Property Maintenance and virtually all levels of HOA services. In July, 2006, Tim Hill became vice president of Wilgus Associates.
Gerald Wilgus’ business career began in 1943 when, at the age of 7, he began setting up pins in the family-owned and operated Bethany Beach Bowling Alley, which was built by his grandfather, T.G. Walston, in 1930. Gerald continued as the manager of the bowling alley until it was destroyed during the storm in March of 1962.
To ll the void left by the bowling alley’s destruction, Gerald and his older brother Donald expanded the family insurance business to include real estate sales in 1965. Three years later, the business was reorganized and became Wilgus Associates, Inc.
It was during the 1980s that Gerald’s three children each graduated from the University of Delaware and joined the company to become the third generation to work at the family business. Michael initially joined the company as a clerk in the Summer Rental Department, advanced on as a rental agent, sales agent and eventually, real estate broker. David began his career at Wilgus in the Insurance Department as an agent and progressed to become the company's insurance broker. Melanie headed the Appraisal Division for a number of years.
The rst representative of the fourth generation in the Wilgus family began at the family business in June of 2006. Kylie Wilgus Givens, a graduate of Goldey Beacom College, continues to work in many areas of the company.
Without the dedicated staff and the loyal customers over the past 67 years, Wilgus Associates would not have prospered and realized the success that is enjoyed today.
Honesty, professionalism, and integrity continue to be the basis on which this company conducts business. To each of you that has done business with us, whether many years ago or just last week, we thank you.
At left, a drawing of the bowling alley by Ann Wilgus. Below, a young Gerald Wilgus working in the bowling alley kitchen. Above, William F. Wilgus reviewing the storm’s aftermath. At right, David and Michael Wilgus.