Fairhaven, MA

I also have a Hurricane Carol experience to share. 

I was ten years old when Hurricane Carol came through our dairy farm in Fairhaven, MA.  At the time my Mom and sister were at work at the Aerovox Corporation, which was in neighboring New Bedford, MA. 

The high winds and driving rain tore at our farmhouse which was over 100 years old at the time. 

When the windows seemed like they couldn't possibly hold up any longer my Dad said we'd best go down into the cellar. 

My little dog was tied to her dog house outside and I wanted Dad to untie her so she could come with us.  He said she was too far away, it was too dangerous to cross the yard because of the flying metal roofing material and other debris. 

I kept peeking out the cellar door to see how my pup was faring.  Suddenly I saw her small house pick up into the air with her dragging behind it by her chain.  It brought her closer to the cellar door, so Dad ran outside and untied her.  She ran back to the cellar with him. 

Our worst damage at the farm, other than roofing, was a corn silo that was empty.  It came down.  The other silo that was full weathered the storm.

The Aerovox, where Mom worked, was right on the Acushnet River.  The executives made the decision not to let anyone leave, which was the right decision because of all the downed electrical lines on the city streets.  They had everyone move up to the top floor of the factory as the waves were coming closer and closer to the brick building.      

One huge wave came into the parking lot and took many of the cars back into the salt water with it.  Mom's beautiful two tone metallic green and cream 1953 Chevy was one of them.

When she and my sister were finally able to get a ride back to the farm we were all so happy to know everyone made it through the hurricane that even losing the car and silo seemed unimportant.

I remember later learning many other cars besides ours were pulled into the Acushnet River in New Bedford by the tidal waves.  They were later known as "Hurricane Cars," and it was illegal to sell one without disclosing that it was one.

Nancy (Lima) Shipley
Nipomo, California