This video just showed up on my feed and it’s 2022. I immediately started crying but I don’t remember this storm. I was only 7 years old living in the Rockaways. The memories of back then make me very sad because my parents are gone and those were the best days of my life. I wish I could bring those days back.
As Hurricane Ian bears down on Florida I can't help remembering my experience with Hurricane Donna. My first day at JHS 180 ended early as students were evacuated by bus at the beginning of the storm surge. When the buses were unable to drive through the rapidly flooding streets we were deposited onto them and left to our own devices. I literally swam home and the 12 year old me found it to be a grand adventure. But as the years have passed I've come to realize that hurricanes of that magnitude are disasters, not adventures. My hope is that our divided nation comes together to share whatever energies we can to aid our fellow citizens during and after this disasterous act of nature.
Thanks, It was my first day at JHS198. I walked home to 39th St and Rockaway Beach Blvd. I sat in my room and watched the Bay and the Ocean meet right in front of me. I had two blocks to the Bay and two to the Ocean. I will never forget thank you for the footage, no one would ever believe me.
We lived in Arverne the Rockaways from 1951 to 1951, I know first hand what damàge hurricanes can do there. The one I remember, vaguely as I was only 5, was Hurricane Diana in 1955. We saw a foot of water out on the street of our apartment bldg. at 342 Beach 56th. St. Scary.
Thanks for the memory, Marty! I clearly remember leaving JHS198 early that day, boarding the bus en route to Bayswater. When the surge hit the ocean and Jamaica Bay met on Beach Channel Drive in Edgemere. The Bus could only go as far the Hartman Home when we were all standing on our seats as the bus filled with water! I had to swim home from there. I was so frightened. I arrived home, which was situated about 50 feet from the bay, and I saw waves crashing against my home. Fortunately, my house was raised and the water level was reaching the first floor when we were evacuated. It is one of most vivid childhood memories!
great video! Thanks.....My family was living in BK at the time, and friends of theirs from the Rockaways, came and camped in our home....it was very exciting!!!
I lived on beach 32nd street when this hurricane hit. I remember the ocean hit the bay. I was about 8 years old. People were rowing in boats and by our house the water had to be at least 4 feet high. All the debris was floating in the street. I clearly remember it. My father parked in Wavecrest and walked home. I thank you for the video.
I remember that we had two straight years with hurricanes. The school bus dropped me off from JHS 180 at Cranston and 139th St and I walked home in waist deep water. Now I can show my kids the event that I've described for years. Thanks Marty. It does bring to life an old Rockaway memory. I hope Rockaway survives Irene.... I also recognized the old train station where I later dropped my Dad off on his way to NYC for work..... Jon Perlman MD
I remember it was the first day of school and we got the day off. for the "grown ups" this was an upsetting day. for me it was amazing fun. the (one) phone that we had didn't work properly, instead if you picked up the line you could hear other peoples conversations.. it had somehow become a (what used to be called) party line. the furniture and rug in the basement floated in place. as I kid, I thought that when the water went down, everything would just go back in its regular place.
We lived in Broad Channel and had just moved into our new house a few days before. We lost just about everything with a foot and a half of water in the house. Having been born and raised there it was not a new experience. Not one I would want to repeat. Thanks for the video.
@ptroxxx This was taken in Rockaway Beach New York. The film would have been more dramatic but my mom refused to let me go out earlier. The water was much higher in the street when the ocean was at full tide. The streets were Beach 115th *& 116th street between the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica Bay. Joseph Horton
Hello, I noticed in the comments below that we can use bits of this footage as long as we give proper credit to Joseph Horton (and yourself, the editor, I'm assuming). Is this still the case?
Thanks so much! I was about 15. Our family & another were out of our summer bungalow, instead stayed at a 2nd Flr apt across 116th that weekend. Storm night I defied my Dad by leaving the place to run to that corner deli/stationery store for a movie magazine! Water was up to my knees & on the way I passed newsman Gabe Pressman w/ his microphone, who was getting battered by the wind. Good times! LOL
I lived on the bay block of 131 Street. That was supposed to be my first day at PS 114. Obviously, didn't make it. I remember the ocean meeting the bay and the water in our basement was like 3 feet deep. Thanks for posting the video
I am sorry I just saw your post or I would have responded sooner. Yes this was the best they said they could do. The 8mm film was 51 years old. I wanted to go out and film earlier when there was higher water in the streets but my mom said no not yet. Having 4 children and 5 grandchildren I can agree with my mom. Take Care
It was my first day of Junior High School, at 198. I lived in Bayswater. They sent us home early from school, and the bus barely made it through the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and B.32 St.: once again, the ocean met the bay. Once home, on Granada Place, my dad and I watched the bay rise up the street until maybe a foot or two short of the crest of the rise up from the bay. Another hour, and all of Bayswater would have been under water. And now I live in South Florida!
Joseph Horton, May I have your permission to use this video in my documentary? I'm doing a documentary on the history of The Rockaways for my college admission process. I was just wondering if i could include some of the footage from your video because it's amazing how you were able to capture everything. It would be great to show actual footage from a time of tragedy. Thank you so much for sharing. PLEASE REPLY. Khrystina B.
In the fifties & sixties there was a glut of hurricanes. Most of us in the NYC boroughs had single pane windows, so the men of the house wd cut up large cardboard boxes from local furnitures stores to board up the windows. Kids in apt buildings were put w/ toys & snacks safely in the center hallways. In my case, it was Astoria. Inland the hurricanes were mostly an exciting & cleansing event (as you see in Rockaway, too, people are cheerily running through the water). Hundred percent humidity, spooky howling winds & drenching rains, followed by bright sun & clean air & streets. Then came Sandy, a sadder storm. Hope we don't see that one again.
I was 4 years old and remember our basement got flooded and my Dad trying to get the water out. We had no sump pump or wet vacs back then. He let me walk around the basement in my snow boots once the water receded a bit. I was thinking how much fun it would be to make a big swimming pool in our basement. LOL
donna + sandy weren't the only legendary hurricanes that made the beach + bay meet i remember in the 80s i was in the class room at I.S. 53 and i think the english teacher made a slight mention of a hurricane in the 1930s with the horrifying scenario of beach + bay meeting.... but this footage reminds me that far rockaway CAN have an unusual high tide once every ...like 50 years
I have no problem in you using some footage as long as you include The film Maker and the Editor of the film. I wish you good luck on your project. Joseph E. Horton
![UCF Professor Richard Quinn accuses class of cheating [Original]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rbzJTTDO9f4/mqdefault.jpg)
This video just showed up on my feed and it’s 2022. I immediately started crying but I don’t remember this storm. I was only 7 years old living in the Rockaways. The memories of back then make me very sad because my parents are gone and those were the best days of my life. I wish I could bring those days back.
As Hurricane Ian bears down on Florida I can't help remembering my experience with Hurricane Donna.
My first day at JHS 180 ended early as students were evacuated by bus at the beginning of the storm surge. When the buses were unable to drive through the rapidly flooding streets we were deposited onto them and left to our own devices.
I literally swam home and the 12 year old me found it to be a grand adventure.
But as the years have passed I've come to realize that hurricanes of that magnitude are disasters, not adventures.
My hope is that our divided nation comes together to share whatever energies we can to aid our fellow citizens during and after this disasterous act of nature.
Thanks, It was my first day at JHS198. I walked home to 39th St and Rockaway Beach Blvd. I sat in my room and watched the Bay and the Ocean meet right in front of me. I had two blocks to the Bay and two to the Ocean. I will never forget thank you for the footage, no one would ever believe me.
We lived in Arverne the Rockaways from 1951 to 1951, I know first hand what damàge hurricanes can do there. The one I remember, vaguely as I was only 5, was Hurricane Diana in 1955. We saw a foot of water out on the street of our apartment bldg. at 342 Beach 56th. St. Scary.
Thanks for the memory, Marty! I clearly remember leaving JHS198 early that day, boarding the bus en route to Bayswater. When the surge hit the ocean and Jamaica Bay met on Beach Channel Drive in Edgemere. The Bus could only go as far the Hartman Home when we were all standing on our seats as the bus filled with water! I had to swim home from there. I was so frightened. I arrived home, which was situated about 50 feet from the bay, and I saw waves crashing against my home. Fortunately, my house was raised and the water level was reaching the first floor when we were evacuated. It is one of most vivid childhood memories!
I lived on 115th when Donna hit that year. Great video !! Brings back so many memories of 116th St.
great video! Thanks.....My family was living in BK at the time, and friends of theirs from the Rockaways, came and camped in our home....it was very exciting!!!
I lived on beach 32nd street when this hurricane hit. I remember the ocean hit the bay. I was about 8 years old. People were rowing in boats and by our house the water had to be at least 4 feet high. All the debris was floating in the street. I clearly remember it. My father parked in Wavecrest and walked home. I thank you for the video.
Thanks for this, Marty. I have shown this to many people, here in Europe.
I remember that we had two straight years with hurricanes. The school bus dropped me off from JHS 180 at Cranston and 139th St and I walked home in waist deep water. Now I can show my kids the event that I've described for years. Thanks Marty. It does bring to life an old Rockaway memory. I hope Rockaway survives Irene....
I also recognized the old train station where I later dropped my Dad off on his way to NYC for work..... Jon Perlman MD
I have such vivid memories of that awesome day! Thanks for the video!
I remember it was the first day of school and we got the day off. for the "grown ups" this was an upsetting day. for me it was amazing fun. the (one) phone that we had didn't work properly, instead if you picked up the line you could hear other peoples conversations.. it had somehow become a (what used to be called) party line. the furniture and rug in the basement floated in place. as I kid, I thought that when the water went down, everything would just go back in its regular place.
We lived in Broad Channel and had just moved into our new house a few days before. We lost just about everything with a foot and a half of water in the house. Having been born and raised there it was not a new experience. Not one I would want to repeat. Thanks for the video.
This was filmed on Beach 116th Street in Rockaway Park.
I was three years old when this flood occurred. Now I can rest assured that it all was not a dream..
@ptroxxx This was taken in Rockaway Beach New York. The film would have been more dramatic but my mom refused to let me go out earlier. The water was much higher in the street when the ocean was at full tide.
The streets were Beach 115th *& 116th street between the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica Bay.
Joseph Horton
What is the soundtrack music for this video? Thanks.
Sheesh, that's 1951 to 1957 we lived in the Rockaways, needed to correct that.
Joe, did you ever try to send out the video to get it cleaned up? The video is fabulous.
0:35 - A 1960 Plymouth, like the car my father purchased just days before this hurricane.
A Fury 4 Door Hardtop, rare Car already in 1960, now Impossible to find. Great, reliable Cars. I drive a 60 Fury Coupe
Hello, I noticed in the comments below that we can use bits of this footage as long as we give proper credit to Joseph Horton (and yourself, the editor, I'm assuming). Is this still the case?
Beautiful car
THAT WAS THE YEAR WE MOVED TO ROCKAWAY BEACH 68TH STREET, THANKS FOR SHARING
This is awesome. I found this via Google while trying to get an idea about what we're facing with Hurricane Sandy aka the Frankenstorm. Great footage!
Thanks so much! I was about 15. Our family & another were out of our summer bungalow, instead stayed at a 2nd Flr apt across 116th that weekend. Storm night I defied my Dad by leaving the place to run to that corner deli/stationery store for a movie magazine! Water was up to my knees & on the way I passed newsman Gabe Pressman w/ his microphone, who was getting battered by the wind. Good times! LOL
great video, thanks
Moved to Nordeck on Beach 57th Street 2 weeks earlier. First day in 3rd grade at PS 42.
Walked home in water up to my neck. STILL talk about that day!
I lived on the bay block of 131 Street. That was supposed to be my first day at PS 114. Obviously, didn't make it. I remember the ocean meeting the bay and the water in our basement was like 3 feet deep. Thanks for posting the video
I am sorry I just saw your post or I would have responded sooner. Yes this was the best they said they could do. The 8mm film was 51 years old. I wanted to go out and film earlier when there was higher water in the streets but my mom said no not yet. Having 4 children and 5 grandchildren I can agree with my mom. Take Care
Great video! Thanks for sharing! Are you related with the people maneuvering that 1960 Fury hardtop out at 0:34 ?
It was my first day of Junior High School, at 198. I lived in Bayswater. They sent us home early from school, and the bus barely made it through the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and B.32 St.: once again, the ocean met the bay. Once home, on Granada Place, my dad and I watched the bay rise up the street until maybe a foot or two short of the crest of the rise up from the bay. Another hour, and all of Bayswater would have been under water. And now I live in South Florida!
Joseph Horton,
May I have your permission to use this video in my documentary? I'm doing a documentary on the history of The Rockaways for my college admission process. I was just wondering if i could include some of the footage from your video because it's amazing how you were able to capture everything. It would be great to show actual footage from a time of tragedy. Thank you so much for sharing. PLEASE REPLY.
Khrystina B.
Thank you so much!!!!! :) I really appreciate it and i will definitely include the film maker & editor in the credits.
Khrystina B.
Good Luck with your Project.
Joe Horton
In the fifties & sixties there was a glut of hurricanes. Most of us in the NYC boroughs had single pane windows, so the men of the house wd cut up large cardboard boxes from local furnitures stores to board up the windows. Kids in apt buildings were put w/ toys & snacks safely in the center hallways. In my case, it was Astoria. Inland the hurricanes were mostly an exciting & cleansing event (as you see in Rockaway, too, people are cheerily running through the water). Hundred percent humidity, spooky howling winds & drenching rains, followed by bright sun & clean air & streets. Then came Sandy, a sadder storm. Hope we don't see that one again.
I was 4 years old and remember our basement got flooded and my Dad trying to get the water out. We had no sump pump or wet vacs back then. He let me walk around the basement in my snow boots once the water receded a bit. I was thinking how much fun it would be to make a big swimming pool in our basement. LOL
I lived through Donna, in Neponsit, with my family. Worse than Sandy? Who knows? It was a different time and a different age....
Awesome!
Did you live through this? I was nine y.o., but remember it well....
@ptroxxx This was taken at Beach 115th & 116th street In Rockaway Park New York
I wasn't yet 2 years old. I guess my memories are what my parents told me....
donna + sandy weren't the only legendary hurricanes that made the beach + bay meet
i remember in the 80s i was in the class room at I.S. 53 and i think the english teacher made a slight mention of a hurricane in the 1930s with the horrifying scenario of
beach + bay meeting....
but this footage reminds me that far rockaway CAN have an unusual high tide once every ...like 50 years
Pretty cool. I was there.
I have no problem in you using some footage as long as you include The film Maker and the Editor of the film. I wish you good luck on your project.
Joseph E. Horton
Was this in 1962? I grew up there, 1960 through 1972.
I was 10 and lived in the Arvene projects was in PS 105
wondereing about where this was taken ?
family lived on beach 67 st. bay side!.. ouch
0:27 - I wonder what this little toylike red European car is?
I think it's a Fiat
Surfers Rule!
Rock On, Brian!
Sept. 12 1960
Cars with fins, partly submerged.
must be kinda old , ehh , POP
Hurricane Irma not looking good 👀
Yea just look at all of their perfect punctuation... they must be old