Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States (Hardcover)

by Rick Schwartz (Author), Al Karr (Editor), Kevin Myatt (Editor), Tracylee Hertzog (Illustrator) "Wind rain, storm surge and tornado..." (more)
Key Phrases: weather division, minimal hurricane, peak gust, New Jersey, Chesapeake Bay, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Most people think that hurricanes only affect the Gulf Coast and Southeastern states, but as Rick Schwartz grew up in New Jersey, he was fascinated by stories about big storms affecting places between Virginia and New York where, he was assured, "hurricanes don't happen." After years spent in vain seeking more information, he decided to conduct his own research and write the book he always wanted to read. The result is an enjoyable and useful volume, filled with accounts of hurricanes and nor'easters that ravaged the Middle Atlantic states. After briefly explaining what produces hurricanes and accompanying phenomena (e.g., storm surges and tornadoes), Schwartz presents descriptions of historical events beginning with the July 1609 storm that almost wiped out the newly established Jamestown colony. (This storm also inspired one of the Jamestown investors, an English playwright named Shakespeare, to write The Tempest.) Dozens of major storms in the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries are described, based on written accounts and, when possible, contemporary images. Four 2004 events (Frances, Gaston, Ivan and Jeanne) bring this nearly to the present. Schwartz also describes six major nor'easters that occurred since 1950, including the Ash Wednesday storm that devastated Jersey Shore communities; the 1991 "Perfect Storm," and the 1993 "Storm of the Century." For those living and teaching in these states, and anyone interested in comparing storm impacts from region to region, this is a must-have book. --Michael Passow, Bulletin of the American Meteorology Society, April 2008

The first thing that I noticed as I opened this lavishly illustrated black-and-white chronology of hurricanes in the Middle Atlantic States (which the author defines as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia) is the blurb on the cover jacket stating that "after waiting nearly four decades for a reference like this, Mr. Schwartz wrote it himself."" This book adds important historical context of tropical cyclone activity for a critical--and heavily populated--region of the United States. By weaving abundant quotes from personal and official sources through a discussion of major tropical cyclones that have struck the region, Schwartz points out the region's alarming vulnerability to these massive storms. He begins his chronology by documenting hurricanes from from the 1600s and 1700s with stories of Jamestown's Sea Venture's hurricane-tossed adventujre to Bermuda (which led to Shakespeare's The Tempest) and Benjamin Franklin's observations of the movement of a 1743 hurricane, and continues to cover storms in the twenty-first century, ending in 2004. The real delight of this book lies in the discussion and stories of more recent hurricane activity in the 1900s. The photographs of the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, for example, vividly demonstrate the vast destruction that many culturally significant locations, such as the Atlantic City Boardwalk, suffered in that storm. Similarly, the detailed day-by-day personal recollections of Virginia State Trooper Ed Tinsley during Hurricane Camille of 1969 and the inspiring editorial of the Patriot-News, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that followed the passage of Hurricane Agnes inject feelings and emotion to the dry numbers of wind and rainfall that often characterize hurricane summaries. The book is abundantly illustrated with an amazing number of black-and-white photographs, track maps, and rainfall maps. Individual stories, photographic collections, and reminiscences of specific storms are often segregated out of the main discussion of the storm through the use of gray-shaded sidebar pages. The quality of the photographs and maps is consistently high. The book highlights more than 100 major hurricanes from 1609 to 2004, as well as 6 memorable nor'easters. One small complaint is that the year should be listed, not just as the start of the chapter, but alongside each month and specific hurricane for easier reference. Explanatory information at the beginning gives a brief discussion of tropical cyclone characteristics (rain, storm surge, tornadoes, etc.), the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, and the naming procedures for tropical cyclones. Appendices at the end discuss the Beaufort wind scale, retired hurricane names, the region's National Weather Service offices, and state climatologists' offices. In addition, a comprehensive bibliography nicely links to each specific hurricane year. All in all, this is an enjoyably presented, informative, and useful book. It details in a well-written and personal manner the historical hurricane activity of a critical region of the United States. As Schwartz states in his preface, "Residents of the Middle Atlantic States: This is your hurricane history. Events on the subsequent pages offer profound lessions and a guide for the future. Hurricane history continually shouts: 'Build on a flood or tidal plain, abuse the land, be lax about building construction and safety codes, or about ensuring sound infrastructure--there will be consequences!" This is a critically important history lesson that is not limited to the Middle Atlantic states. --Randy Cerveny, Weatherwise Magazine, May/June 2008

Product Description
Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States is the first book-length reference that examines the 400-year recorded hurricane history of the region. It offers chronological profiles of significant storms, from Jamestown to the present. Also included are 200 black/white photographs--many appearing in print for the first time--and numerous track maps. Human interest stories, as well as an examination of the patterns, characteristics, quirks and dangers of Mid-Atlantic hurricanes, make this book a must-have for those who live in the region and for anyone interested in United States hurricane history. The book's focus is on Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as the New York City and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas, but readers from neighboring states will find abundant material. And the many human interest stories have universal appeal! Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States contains a collection of unforgettable encounters--tales gleaned from articles and books, private journals and interviews. It tells of the "big ones"--ferocious storms that will cause a run on "I survived..." t-shirts when they occur again. Events that will forever affect those targeted for the worst. Hurricane patterns recur. Storms similar to those of the past will visit in coming years. Learn lessons from bygone hurricanes and better prepare for what lies ahead. Discovery starts here! (Favorable reviews have appeared in the April 2008 issue of Choice Magazine, the April 2008 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society and the May-June 2008 issue of Weatherwise Magazine.)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Blue Diamond Books; 1st edition (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978628004
• ISBN-13: 978-0978628000
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #728,520 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HURRICANES AND THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES - BOOK REVIEW, November 11, 2007

By	Kevin D. Shaw "weather enthusiast" (Gaithersburg MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

BOOK REVIEW - "HURRICANES AND THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES"
Author: Richard Schwartz (Hardcover - 400 pages)

This incredible book is a first of its kind - dedicated to the storms that have affected the Mid-Atlantic States through the past 300+ years, from the "Year of the Hurricane in 1667" up through Hurricane Jeanne in September 2004. A great reference for all hurricane enthusiasts the book includes explanations of all commonly used technical terms, references, and internet sources for everyone to use. But mostly it covers all the storms that through this extensive historical period had an affect on the mid-Atlantic States region. And Rick has done this with a definite personal touch, going to great lengths to get a "people- perspective" on what actually happened, what people went through during these storms. And he does his best to educate all of us that we are never "out of the woods" as to the future. We may be in a lull for action right now, but that is definitely temporary, and more storms that form in the future will definitely have more profound affects on the Mid-Atlantic region. Anyone and everyone in the mid-Atlantic area should reach out and get this book to have as a reference and to learn about the great effects these powerful storms have on their local areas. As Rick put it, "An understanding of storms past is vital to preparing for those ahead..."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bit of a stretch as a cover-to-cover read but a magnificent reference volume., June 24, 2008

By	Paul Tognetti "The real world is so much more... (Cranston, RI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Over the years any number of books have been written about the devastating hurricanes that have struck coastal New England. Likewise, there are a whole host of books available about the history of hurricanes in the great state of Florida. Yet, when he sought to do some research on the history of hurricanes in the Middle Atlantic states Rick Schwartz discovered to his great consternation that very little had been written about the subject and that no really comprehensive book on this topic had ever been written. So Rick Schwartz decided to correct this glaring oversight himself. After more than six years of painstaking research "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" was released in 2007. This is a book that proves to be well worth your time and attention.
As the complete title would indicate "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States: A Surprising History...From Jamestown To The Present" traces the history of hurricanes in this region from colonial times until the present day. It is a fascinating study. Rick Schwartz conducted more than 100 interviews in putting together this superb book. He also unearthed old newspaper articles, personal letters and state and local government documents in attempting to cobble together the real story. Consequently, there is an interesting narrative on almost all of the storms Rick decided to cover in his book. Schwartz also made a very wise decision by choosing to include track maps on a good many of these hurricanes. This feature greatly enhances the readers understanding of the storms and underscores just how unpredictable they can be. In addition, the inclusion of more than 200 black and white photographs helps readers to gage the full impact of these powerful cyclones and serves to emphasize the need for coastal communities to carefully reconsider public policies that have allowed for reckless overdevelopment on the waterfront. The question is not "if" these areas will be struck by a major hurricane in the future but only "when". Then there is the enormous toll these storms exact on everyday people. For all too many, life will never be the same again. Schwartz devotes considerable time to those who are victimized by hurricanes as well as those public officials who must find new and creative ways to deal with the devastation. High winds, heavy rain, tornadoes and flooding can all combine to wreak havoc for residents in the affected areas. Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to make mention of some of the fascinating local folklore that Rick Schwartz managed to sprinkle in throughout this book. Outstanding stuff!
Every now and then I come across a book like "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" that really seems to be much more appropriate as a reference volume. This is no knock on Rick Schwartz. This book is extremely well written, meticulously researched and thoughtfully laid out. Yet the stories inevitably do tend to become a bit repetitive and I found myself losing just a bit of interest from time to time. This is hardly surprising when one realizes that this book covers more than 300 years of hurricane history! Having said that, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" remains an extremely important addition to the literature on hurricanes in this nation and deserves a spot not only on the shelves of libraries in the Middle Atlantic region but in other parts of the country as well. It is a book that students, researchers and general interest readers will turn to time and again in the decades to come. Highly recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For non-specialist general readers with an interest in hurricanes and climate-changed influences on storm behavior, January 7, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Researched, compiled and written by hurricane historian Rick Schwartz, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States: A Surprising History, Jamestown To The Present" chronicles four hundred years of the Middle Atlantic region's significant tropical cyclones beginning with the experiences of the Jamestown settlers and continuing down to the present day. A unique and exhaustively researched study, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" features a substantial chronology profiling all of the Mid-Atlantic hurricanes and major storms, examines the patterns and characteristics of the region's tropical cyclones, and provides a sound basis for comparison, planning and preparation with respect to Mid-Atlantic hurricanes. Of special note is a forecasting history chapter offering insights into past progress and current knowledge about predicting hurricanes. Ideal for weather and meteorology students, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in hurricanes and climate-changed influences on storm behavior, frequency, and intensity. Enhanced with an extensive glossary, a bibliography, and a geographically oriented index, as well as track maps and some 200 black-and-white photographs, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" is confidently recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Weather & Meteorology reference collections.