Insights from the Storm of ’62 and Other Extreme Weather Events in Delaware

Join weather and emergency management experts for a 90-minute workshop combining the history of severe weather in our state, future outlooks for storms and disasters, and information about ways to prepare. The evening will have two presentations and a moderated discussion on emergency preparedness tips, with opportunities for question and answer.

The workshop will open with a look back at the 1962 Ash Wednesday storm that destroyed 1,932 houses along Delaware’s coast, mostly between Dewey Beach and Fenwick Island. A researcher at the University of Delaware’s Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis will discuss the meteorological setup and impacts of the Storm of ‘62 and place it in the context of more recent events like Superstorm Sandy, the Blizzard of 2016 (Snowstorm Jonas), tornadoes and flooding from Hurricane Ida.

Following questions about the history, Delaware Sea Grant Coastal Hazards Specialist Danielle Swallow will present on demographic and land use changes in the area since 1962 that could affect storm impacts in the future, along with how to build resilience to extreme weather.

The workshop will close with a panel discussion on emergency preparedness moderated by a Delaware Emergency Management Agency official. Topics expected to be covered include emergency supply kits, evacuation planning, alert systems, family communication plans, and contingency planning. A final question-and-answer session will give audience members a chance to follow up on preparedness.

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