’62 Storm 50th Anniversary Commemoration Activities

’62 Storm 50th Anniversary Commemoration Workshop Events

Delaware Coastal Vulnerability and Sustainability – 1962 to 2062

Few residents who lived along the Delaware coast in 1962 will ever forget the coastal storm of the century. The powerful northeaster that pounded the coast from March 6 through March 8 that year destroyed dozens of oceanfront homes and businesses, flooded communities, and snatched away lives. Seven people were killed in Delaware alone.

Several activities have been planned to commemorate the past and to create awareness of potential future coastal storm impacts in Delaware:

March 6, 7:00 pm: Filmmaker Michael Oates, 302 Stories, Inc. will introduce a special showing of “The ’62 Storm – Delaware’s Shared Response” in Cannon Room 104, University of Delaware Hugh R. Sharp Campus, Lewes, DE. This evening screening has been scheduled to accommodate those who are unable to attend the March 7th daytime events.

March 7, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm: Delaware Coastal Vulnerability and Sustainability Workshop will be held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center (229 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971). The workshop will focus on looking back to ’62, examining how far we have come in 50 years, and looking forward to the Delaware coast in 2062. The program features invited speakers including nationally known experts on meteorological predictions, flooding/inundation scenarios, coastal development and economies, beach management, and funding issues. A preliminary agenda is provided below.

March 7, 2:30 pm: Filmmaker Michael Oates, 302 Stories, Inc. will introduce a screening of the film “The ’62 Storm – Delaware’s Shared Response” at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. The documentary features firsthand accounts from people who lived through the damaging three-day northeaster, often called Delaware's Coastal Storm of the Century that claimed lives, homes and property along the coastline throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

*Teachers and informal educators are invited to a special session where storm-related topics will be discussed and classroom resources will be distributed. This session will take place prior to the screening of The ’62 Storm on Tuesday, March 6, from 6:00-7:00pm; and again, immediately following the film screening on Wednesday, March 7, from 3:00-4:00pm. Clock hours will be awarded. For more information on the educator sessions, please contact Chris Petrone at petrone@udel.edu or (302) 645-4308. When registering (link below), please indicate that you are a teacher or informal educator.

All activities are free, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Please compete and submit the on-line form or contact Michelle Scorziello at (302) 645-4346.