After Hurricane Erin approached the East Coast last week, beaches are officially reopening. Sadly, Hurricane Erin took the lives of two swimmers, with one boater missing. While Erin did not make landfall, it was the first Atlantic hurricane of this year’s hurricane season – and its potential for disaster was monstrous. At its peak, Erin was a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160mph and a diameter of 650 miles (more than double the size of New York State). Most notably, Erin underwent rapid intensification, reaching its peak size in only 24 hours. Had Erin made landfall, it would have been the second-largest hurricane to make landfall in the continental US, after Hurricane Sandy.
The NECHAMA staff is extremely grateful that most of Erin’s disastrous potential was not reached, but it reminds us of the extreme importance to remain vigilant during the Atlantic Hurricane Season. We remain hopeful for calm weather and remain committed to deploying when called upon.