Impact
While passing by North Carolina, the strongest winds remained to the east of Hurricane Carol, though winds of 90 to 100 mph (145 to 160 km/h) were reported at Cape Hatteras. Further inland, the hurricane produced a wind gust of 55 mph (90 km/h) in Wilmington and 65 mph (105 km/h) in Cherry Point. The winds resulted in agricultural damage to the corn and soy bean crop. Near the coast, waves from the storm damaged fishing piers, while the winds caused minor damage to roofs and houses. Damage in the state totaled to around $228,000 (1954 USD, $1.7 million 2006 USD). Carol passed 100 miles (160 km) to the east of Virginia, and produced 40 mph (65 km/h) winds in Virginia Beach. The hurricane produced 4 inches (100 mm) of rain in Norfolk. Further to the northwest, rainfall from the system alleviated drought conditions in the Washington, D.C. area.
On eastern Long Island near where Carol made landfall, a pressure of 960 mbar was recorded. Winds on the island gusted to 120 mph (195 km/h). The hurricane's storm surge covered the Montauk Highway in Montauk, effectively isolating eastern Long Island for a period of time. Due to the compact nature of the storm, most of Long Island was largely unaffected by the hurricane as west of Fire Island winds were only in the 30 to 40 mph range.
Hurricane Carol struck Connecticut shortly after high tide, and its combination with 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 m) storm surges from New London eastward produced widespread tidal flooding. The heaviest rainfall associated with the passage of the storm occurred in New London, where up to 6 inches (150 mm) fell. Wind gusts in New London peaked at 110 mph (175 km/h), blowing off a portion of the roof of its city hall. Strong winds left much of the eastern portion of the state without power. Near the coast, the combination of strong winds and the storm surge damaged or destroyed thousands of buildings. Many other homes in southeastern Connecticut were damaged by falling trees. Due to the compact nature of the storm, western Connecticut experienced little effects from Carol.
The hurricane produced a record-high wind gust of 135 mph (215 km/h) at Block Island, while on mainland Rhode Island, sustained winds peaked at 90 mph (145 km/h) in Warwick with gusts to 105 mph (170 km/h). Upon making landfall around high tide, Carol produced a storm surge of up to 14.4 feet (4.4 m) in Narragansett Bay, surpassing that of the New England Hurricane of 1938. The resulting storm surge flooded downtown Providence with 12 feet (3.7 m) of water. Some entire coastal communities were nearly destroyed. The winds destroyed the roofs of hundreds of buildings, forcing many to evacuate to shelters during the passage of the storm. The powerful winds also downed thousands of trees and power lines, leaving 85% of the entire state without power. More than 5,000 buildings were destroyed across the state from the winds of the storm surge flooding.
In Massachusetts, the hurricane produced winds between 80 to 110 mph (130 to 180 km/h) across much of the eastern part of the state, while near the coast strong storm surges were reported. The winds left much of the eastern portion of the state without power. In Boston, the spire of the historic Old North Church was blown down. Salt water, which moved inland as far as Route 6, killed thousands of trees; for decades after the storm the forest of white trees mixed with new growth was visible along the length of Massachusetts Route 88 between Route 6 and the Horseneck Beach area in Westport, Massachusetts.
Carol maintained its intensity is it moved inland, and produced winds of up to at 80 mph (130 km/h) in Augusta, Maine. Throughout the state, the winds downed hundreds of trees, some of which damaged houses, wrecked cars, destroyed one building, or fell onto power lines. In addition, one was injured by a falling tree limb. Downed power lines left several counties without power or telephone services. The winds flattened hundreds of acres of corn in North Livermore, and throughout the state apples were torn off of trees. Damage to the apple crop amounted to $1.7 million (1954 USD, $12.7 million 2006 USD). While moving west of Maine, the hurricane dropped heavy rainfall, including a report of 2.15 inches (63 mm) in 12 hours. In Maine, the hurricane killed three people, injured at least 8, and caused damage totaling to $10 million (1954 USD, $74.9 million 2006 USD), the costliest natural disaster in the state's history. Carol lost this distinction 10 days later when Hurricane Edna caused $15 million (1954 USD, $112 million 2006 USD) in damage in the state.
Strong winds from Hurricane Carol destroyed nearly 40% of the apple, corn, peach, and tomato crops from eastern Connecticut to Cape Cod. The hurricane destroyed several thousand homes in New England, many of which were destroyed from the waters or the powerful winds. The hurricane also destroyed 3,500 cars and 3,000 boats. Hurricane Carol caused $460 million in damage (1954 USD) and 65 deaths in New England.
Read more about this topic: Hurricane Carol
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