Newly released Photos For the Anniversary Of the Storm of 62

The Delaware Public Archives Releases Series of Never Before Seen Storm of 62 Photos

On march 6th, 1962 a Nor’easter unlike ever seen before, ground up the east coast. Now known as the storm of 62 or the Ash Wednesday Storm, it devastated our little coastline of Delmarva. That storm today would cause unimaginable damage. Unfortunately the question isn’t if, but when will it happen again. The damage from Super Storm Sandy and other similar strength storms and even hurricanes are nothing compared to the storm of 62’s damage. Nor’easters are the worst storms we have to deal with not hurricanes.

It was forecast as a normal winter storm.  Tides were predicted at two to five feet higher than normal with flooding in low lying areas.  Gale force winds from a storm moving across the country that would head offshore.  A typical winter storm forecast much like the ones we have every year.  Little did anyone realize that it would run into another storm off the coast and would occur during the spring king tides.   The storm of 62 pummeled the east coast with sixty mph winds and destroyed a lot of property along the east coast for two solid days.  It is known as the worst storm in Delaware’s history and remembered today by everyone who was there.  The flooding was monumental for the back bay communities, roads turned into emergency boat ramps.  Large yachts washed into wooded areas and are still there today.  The beaches were hammered, all of the boardwalks were ripped apart.  Houses were either toppled over or just washed away completely.  Some were buried halfway to the roof in sand.

Every year we see the same pictures and look at the same old books and video shorts. I have one of these books, “The Storm Of 62 From Ruin To Recovery” and am waiting to see a different one a friend owns. Both of these books have about two hundred and fifty pictures and are mostly the same. Harry Aiken has some cool shots he took when he was there as one of several of the first crew members on scene. He worked for the department of highways or whatever DelDOT was called back then.

The Delaware Public Archives, a few days before the anniversary of the storm of 62, released a series of never before seen photos of the storm of 62. From their own collection both public and private. Over 500 photos in five albums at The Delaware Public Archives. These are all linked below and a video by the Delaware State Police.

The Storm of 1962 The Delaware Public Archives The DelDOT (Delaware Department of Transportation) Photograph Collection (332 photos)

The Storm of 1962 The DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control) Photograph Collection (21) photos

The Storm of 1962, Delaware The Harold W.T. Purnell Collection (62 Photos)

The Storm of 1962, Delaware The Delaware Public Archives The General Photograph Collection (44 Photos)

The Storm of 1962, Delaware The Frank B. Calio Photograph Collection (56 photos)


The Storm Of 62 Was 56 Years Ago

The Storm of 62

Film by the Delaware State Police from the Ash Wednesday Storm or Storm of 62