Hurricanes and Storms

August 27, 1991

Hurricane Bob Brings Harvest of Sorrow

Penelope Wilson
The shock waves of last week’s storm are still rippling through Island fields as farmers anxiously watch their crops to see the extent of the damage.
Hurricanes and Storms
Hurricane Bob
August 30, 1991

The Changing Island Face: A Storm’s Surgical Srike

Rachel Orr
Usually the brush is so think this time of year one can hardly bushwhack from the shore to the remnants of the Menemsha Hills brickworks.
Hurricanes and Storms
Hurricane Bob
Beach grass

1991

August 23, 1991

Hurricane Losses Top $5.5 Million; State Seeks Relief

W. C. Platt
Hurricanes and Storms
Hurricane Bob

Martha’s Vineyard officials estimate Hurricane Bob cut a $5.5 million path of destruction when it tore through the Vineyard Monday afternoon. Civil defense directors rushed preliminary figures to Boston Wednesday in time for acting Gov. Paul Cellucci’s request that the President declare the state a national disaster area.

Town leaders received notice from the state Wednesday that they had just 24 hours to compile the first damage report, which set the preliminary cost of cleanup and repair of public facilities at $2.5 million.

August 23, 1991

Recovery from Hurricane Begins, Day by Day

Paula Delbonis
Hurricanes and Storms
Hurricane Bob

The main commercial centers of the Vineyard had power restored by late yesterday as Islanders began the slow process of hurricane recovery, and Commonwealth Electric Company officials said they expect 80 per cent of the power to be restored to the six towns by the weekend.

August 21, 1991

Passage of Hurricane Through Harbor Leaves a Broad Trail of Wrecked Boats

Tom Dunlop
Hurricanes and Storms
Hurricane Bob
It was the Vineyard’s first resort season hurricane and Edgartown harbor paid dearly for its popularity Monday afternoon.
 
The last great tropical storm to wrack the Edgartown harborfront came in 1944. Then, the town was still mostly a fishing village, and the lumber on the beaches was made up of timber piers and the shacks of working men.
 
August 21, 1991

Damage in Millions; Worst Destruction Is Seen on Harborfront

W. C. Platt
Hurricanes and Storms
Hurricane Bob
The earliest hurricane in New England history roared up the East Coast Mon­day, plowing across Martha’s Vineyard with harbors full and seasonal popula­tion at its peak. Hurricane Bob lashed the Island with winds officially clocked at 98 miles per hour and reported in places as high as 110.
 

1985

October 1, 1985

Hurricane Gloria Slams Westward; Vineyard Damage Is Minimal

Hilary Stout
Hurricanes and Storms
Hurricane Gloria swept past the Vineyard Friday, veering west and north and carrying less force than predicted, but nonetheless left splintered trees and toppled power lines in her wake.
 
The storm, billed as potentially one of the most dangerous in history, caused no serious injuries on the Vineyard and only minimal property damage, Island officials reported.
 
By Saturday evening most of the felled tree branches were cleared or pushed to the side of roads and electricity was restored to Island homes.
 

1976

August 10, 1976

Furious Hurricane Belle Blows in; the Vineyard Battens Down

George W. Adams
Hurricanes and Storms
High winds, high tides, and heavy rains battered the Island last night as hurricane Belle swept destruction across New England.
 
Packing winds 100 miles per hour or better and rainfall in excess of five inches, and traveling at 25 miles per hour, the hurricane was a powerhouse, even if it was little - only 75 miles across.
 

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