Hurricane and Flood - September 1938

The following was presented by Mr. Harrison as the closing address of a symposium on the effects of the hurricane and floods of September 21, 1938 on transportation, power and communication utilities. The symposium was held in New York at the Winter Convention of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Thursday, January 26, 1939. After the close of the meeting a motion picture on the hurricane prepared by the Bell System for the information of its own employees was shown. HE experiences of the telephone companies are naturally much the same as those already described. The aftermath tally showed that more than one-half million telephones were put out of service--in the New England States about thirty per cent of the telephones in that area. Through the destruction of toll lines, the storm temporarily cut off telephone communication with the outside from over two hundred towns. The total damage to telephone plant was in the neighborhood of ten million dollars. The story of restoration--the immediate provision of emergency services--the handling of emergency supplies in unprecedented quantities--the augmenting of forces locally to supplement the normal forces --and the mobilization of forces from other areas--all are replete with engineering interest and are very intriguing, but it would not be appropriate to take the time to tell the story here. A few facts will give you a sketchy idea of the situation. As to materials: 3,500,000 feet of lead covered cable 54,000,000 feet of paired wire 7,000,000 feet of steel strand for guys and supporting cables As to mobilization of forces: Local construction forces were expanded from 3,000 to 5,000.