The tug Monhegan left high and dry by storm surge. New England Hurricane of 1938. Providence, Rhode Island September 22, 1938. The New England Hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike New England since 1869. The hurricane was estimated to have killed between 682 and 800 people, damaged or destroyed over 57,000 homes, and caused property losses estimated at US $306 million ($ 41.1 billion in 2011). To date it remains the most powerful, costliest and deadliest hurricane in New England history.