Preparations for today, reminders from the past

Today is the anniversary of the Great Storm of 1938 that roared through Rhode Island killing 628 people and destroying 37,000 homes. The storm wiped out homes and businesses that stretched nearly to the lighthouse at Conimicut Point and swept away homes and businesses on Oakland Beach whose remnants can be found today, as seen from these pictures provided by Anne Diffly. And, as a reminder of the storm surge of Hurricane Carol, Jody King painted this utility pole outside him home on Ottawa Avenue. Close by at Pleasure Marina, Joseph DeCenzo and his brother Anthony could be found moving and hauling boats Tuesday as Tropical Storm Jose thankfully gave the state a wide berth. The Great Storm of 1938 caused $306 million in damage that equates to $4.7 billion in today’s dollars.