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Flashback 1703: Worst Storm Ever: Over 8,000 people killed in UK in extreme storm that lasted nine days

Worst Storm Ever: Over 8,000 people killed in UK in extreme storm that lasted nine days (in 1703)

http://joannenova.com.au/2018/09/worst-storm-ever-over-8000-people-killed-in-uk-in-extreme-storm-that-lasted-nine-days-in-1703/

Cropped from The Great Storm by Goodwin Sands, 1703 While we soak in storm footage this week, imagine this storm! Back when CO2 levels were ideal, the UK was hit by a monster nine-day storm: at least 8,000 dead, maybe as many as 15,000 people died. 2,000 chimney stacks were blown down. Some 4,000 oak trees were lost in the New Forest alone. About 400 windmills were destroyed, with “the wind driving their wooden gears so fast that some burst into flames”. The worst toll was probably on ships — with some 6,000 sailors thought to be lost. As many as 700 ships were heaped together in the Pool of London, one ship was found 15 miles (24 km) inland. A ship torn from its moorings in the Helford River in Cornwall was blown for 200 miles (320 km) before grounding eight hours later on the Isle of Wight. Back then, people blamed the “crying sins of the nation” and saw it as punishment by God. The government declared 19 January 1704 a day of fasting, saying that it “loudly calls for the deepest and most solemn humiliation of our people”. Apparently, it remained a topic of preachy sermons well into the 19th century — until it was more useful […]Rating: 9.5/10 (6 votes cast)

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