Hurricane Bob: The Wind That Shook the Vineyard
Windows taped up ahead of the storm.
Windows taped up ahead of the storm.
Flooding in Menemsha.
Flooding in Menemsha.
Familiar shuck shack in Vineyard Haven in the storm.
Familiar shuck shack in Vineyard Haven in the storm.
Waves crash over the seawall in Oak Bluffs harbor.
Waves crash over the seawall in Oak Bluffs harbor.
Three hours that rocked Menemsha.
Three hours that rocked Menemsha.
South Road in Chilmark.
South Road in Chilmark.
Donnelly house on South Beach was separatead from its chimney.
Donnelly house on South Beach was separatead from its chimney.
Hurricane Bob was especially rough on boats.
Hurricane Bob was especially rough on boats.
Camp Ground was flooded.
Camp Ground was flooded.
East Chop Drive awash.
East Chop Drive awash.
Edgartown harbor at the height of the storm.
Edgartown harbor at the height of the storm.
Classic cruiser Miss Asia driven hard ashore in Edgartown.
Classic cruiser Miss Asia driven hard ashore in Edgartown.
In Edgartown harbor, struggle to save a wind-driven boat.
In Edgartown harbor, struggle to save a wind-driven boat.
Treacherous seas in Edgartown harbor.
Treacherous seas in Edgartown harbor.
Flooding at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven.
Flooding at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven.
Oak Bluffs Harbor floods.
Oak Bluffs Harbor floods.
Waves buffet Sea View avenue in Oak Bluffs.
Waves buffet Sea View avenue in Oak Bluffs.
Battered Menemsha Harbor after the storm.
Battered Menemsha Harbor after the storm.
Surveying the scene after the storm.
Surveying the scene after the storm.
With no power in Edgarotwn, Gazette crew heads to Nantucket to print the paper.
With no power in Edgarotwn, Gazette crew heads to Nantucket to print the paper.
After the storm comes the clean-up.
After the storm comes the clean-up.
Clearing trees after the storm.
Clearing trees after the storm.
Trees were the main casualities on the Island; an estimated 1 million board feet of timber, mostly white pine.
Trees were the main casualities on the Island; an estimated 1 million board feet of timber, mostly white pine.
Tree crews from as far as Oklahoma helped restore electricity.
Tree crews from as far as Oklahoma helped restore electricity.
On August 19, 1991 Hurricane Bob lashed the Vineyard. It was the earliest hurricane in New England history and the second most expensive, after Hurricane Hugo two years earlier.
By mid-afternoon the next day, the sun was out and crowds of people were assessing the damage. Edgartown Harbor lay in shambles, with 84 vessels beached, sunk or capsized. Ponds were torn open to the sea along the south shore, and roads from Chappaquiddick to Gay Head were littered with branches and wires. A few roofs were missing, and two feet of water lapped at the outside of the A&P in Vineyard Haven. But overall, the Island breathed a sigh of relief.