Storm Wrecks Jersey Coast

Genre: amateur film

Year Published: 1944

Description: This amateur made newsreel film, "Storm Wrecks Jersey Coast" shows the aftermath of a major coastal storm that hit the Jersey Shore, bringing destructive winds and unusually high tides that flood communities from New Jersey to New England. Most likely, the event shown was the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, which struck on September 14 and roared up the Eastern Seaboard, tearing away boardwalks, destroying homes, and damaging beachfront structures from Asbury Park all the way down to Atlantic City. Here, the Asbury Park boardwalk is shown heavily damaged, power is knocked out to thousands of homes, and buildings like hotels and piers are flooded or partially destroyed. After the storm passes, the shoreline is left in ruins, with birds seen searching through debris along the beach. 00:00 – A severe coastal storm hits the Jersey Shore, with strong winds and raging flood tides sweeping across the eastern seaboard. The storm is described as one of the worst in years, causing extensive and costly damage to coastal communities. 0:27 – In Asbury Park, New Jersey, the boardwalk is heavily battered by the storm. Debris is scattered across the area, and the casino building suffers structural damage, including a section of its roof being torn away by the force of the wind and water. 0:36 – The storm intensifies as powerful gales push inland from the sea, driving abnormal tidal surges. Water levels rise dramatically, with tides reaching as much as five feet above normal, overwhelming low-lying coastal areas. 0:44 – These extreme conditions affect a wide stretch of coastline, from southern New Jersey up through parts of New England, with multiple communities experiencing flooding, erosion, and infrastructure damage. 0:50 – Utility systems are severely disrupted when the Jersey Central Power and Light Company in Asbury Park experiences a major failure. As a result, approximately 10,000 homes lose electricity, along with access to radios and television, cutting off communication and information. 0:58 – Additional flooding impacts local infrastructure, including hotels and public areas. The North End Hotel has its basement inundated, while in Ocean Grove, sections of the boardwalk are washed away, further highlighting the widespread coastal destruction. 1:01 – The storm conditions begin to subside, leaving behind damaged landscapes and disrupted communities. Residual effects of flooding and debris remain across the shoreline. 2:17 – In the aftermath, small beach animals—described as beach combers—move along the shoreline searching for food among the wreckage left by the storm, illustrating the ecological impact of the disaster.

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgSxAY7sz6M

Metadata Source:YouTube