[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF BOURNE'S HIGH WATER MARK SIGN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 31, 2012

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the unveiling of 
the high water mark sign in Bourne, Massachusetts, commemorating the 
hurricane that struck the northeastern United States on September 21, 
1938. This storm was among the most powerful tropical cyclones ever 
recorded in the region.
  Striking with virtually no warning, the hurricane devastated the 
unprepared Northeast and resulted in over 500 deaths and over 1,700 
injuries. In the upper Buzzards Bay region, the hurricane produced a 
storm surge of 11 to 13 feet across. This resulted in significant 
financial damages, including the total destruction of 2,600 boats and 
almost 9,000 homes, as well as severe damage to businesses, roads, and 
railroads. In addition to record-setting gusts and devastating floods, 
the hurricane severed power lines in Connecticut, sparking catastrophic 
fires.
  The 1938 hurricane serves as a sobering reminder of the raw power of 
nature, and of the constant need to safeguard our coasts against these 
deadly storms. We must never forget the contributions and sacrifices 
that public safety officials make daily to protect us from disaster, 
and we must never forget the need to support their critical endeavors. 
Preparedness is every bit as necessary now as it was in 1938, and we 
neglect the danger posed by tropical storms at our own peril.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in remembering the lives lost on 
September 21, 1938, as well as reaffirming our commitment to protecting 
our nation from the ever-present threat of natural disasters.