June 1st officially marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. Whenever national news starts tracking storms in the Gulf or off the Florida coast, it’s easy for us in northern New England to ignore it. After all, hurricanes are a Southern or coastal problem, right? Not exactly.
While it is true that we don’t see Category 5 storms making direct landfalls in Vermont, dismissing the chances of a hurricane hitting New England is risky for homeowners. At Brook Field Service, we chat with our neighbors about this every summer.
People always ask us: “What is the actual likelihood of a hurricane hitting New England?”
Today, we are taking a trip down memory lane to look at the historical data, the real threats we face inland, and why our local power grid is uniquely vulnerable to summer storms.
A Quick Look at New England Hurricane History
While rare, direct hurricane hits do happen in New England. The “Great New England Hurricane of 1938” (read more history here) remains one of the most destructive storms in the region’s history. Additionally, Hurricane Bob caused massive coastal damage in 1991. Statistically speaking, a major hurricane makes landfall in New England roughly once every 30 to 40 years.
However, looking only at direct coastal landfalls gives us a false sense of security. The true danger for us in Vermont and the surrounding inland areas doesn’t come from the eye of a Category 4 hurricane; it comes from the remnants.
The Real Threat: Tropical Storms and Inland Flooding
When a massive hurricane travels up the Eastern Seaboard, it eventually loses steam, downgrading into a tropical storm or a severe depression by the time it reaches us. But when those weather systems collide with our New England terrain, they bring two devastating elements: torrential, unyielding rain and sustained, heavy winds.
For anyone who lived in Vermont in August of 2011, you already know exactly how destructive these “downgraded” storms can be.
Remembering Tropical Storm Irene
Tropical Storm Irene wasn’t technically a hurricane when it reached Vermont, but its impact was historic. According to the Vermont Historical Society, Irene dumped up to 11 inches of rain across the state in a matter of hours. The results were catastrophic: Rushing waters washed out hundreds of miles of roads, destroyed historic covered bridges, flooded basements, and cut off entire communities for weeks.
Irene taught us a hard lesson: You don’t need 120 mph winds to experience a life-changing weather event. Water and isolated infrastructure are our biggest hurdles.
Why Our Power Grid is So Vulnerable
You might not lose your roof to a tropical storm in New England, but there is a very high likelihood you will lose your power.
Our beautiful, heavily wooded landscape is actually our biggest liability during storm season. When tropical remnants dump inches of rain, the soil softens. Add in sustained 40-50 mph winds, and those massive, heavy-canopy Vermont trees easily uproot, crashing directly onto our aging, above-ground power lines.
Because the damage is usually widespread across rural, hard-to-reach areas—often compounded by washed-out roads—the utility grid can take days (or even weeks) to repair. If your home relies on a sump pump to keep the basement dry, a prolonged power outage during a heavy rain event can quickly turn into a flooding nightmare.
Don’t Panic, Prepare
The likelihood of a devastating, Florida-style hurricane hitting New England this summer is very low. But the likelihood of a severe summer storm or tropical depression knocking out your power, shutting down your A/C, and sump pump? That is an annual reality.
As your local experts, the team at Brook Field Service wants you to know that you don’t need to panic; you need to prepare.
The easiest way to remove the worry of a hurricane hitting New England is with a permanent Kohler standby generator. Unlike portable generators that you have to drag out into the mud, a Kohler standby unit monitors the grid 24/7. It turns on automatically the second those falling trees take out the power lines, keeping your sump pump running, your fridge cold, and your family comfortable.
Want to sleep soundly through the storms this year? We offer $0 Down, 0% Interest financing to make securing your home easier than ever.
Reach out to Brook Field Service today for a free, neighborly consultation. We are here to keep Vermont powered!
Frequently Asked Questions
While direct Category 4 or 5 hurricane landfalls are rare in New England, the region is frequently hit by the remnants of these storms. These downgraded tropical storms bring torrential rain and high winds, which are the leading cause of severe summer power outages across Vermont.
Vermont’s power grid is highly vulnerable to summer storms because of our heavily wooded terrain. When tropical storm remnants bring inches of heavy rain, the soil softens. High winds then easily uproot massive trees, crashing them into our aging, above-ground power lines and causing multi-day outages.
The safest and most reliable way to keep a sump pump running during a power outage is by installing an automatic standby generator. Unlike portable generators, a standby unit detects a grid failure and turns on automatically within 10 seconds, preventing basement flooding even when you aren’t home.
Yes, a permanent standby generator turns on automatically. It is directly wired into your home’s electrical panel and monitors the utility grid 24/7. Within 10 seconds of a power outage, the generator automatically restores your power and shuts itself off once the grid is fixed.
