Its Been 50 Years Since Hurricane Agnes Swept Through New York

This month marks the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Agnes, which ravaged the mid-Atlantic and northeast region in June 1972. At the time, it was the most destructive tropical cyclone in American history and the costliest hurricane to hit the United States at the time.

Rainfall from Agnes caused catastrophic inland flooding, with an immense geographic scale. Agnes caused the loss of 128 lives and more than $3.1 billion in damages (in 1972 dollars), with the most severe impacts in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and Virginia. Due to the significant effects, the name Agnes was retired in the spring of 1973.

To learn more about Agnes and lessons learned, visit the Silver Jackets Hurricane Agnes webpage.

Photo of satellite image of Hurricane Agnes provided.