Seacoast, New Hampshire
27 September 2026
I think it is safe to say that we have survived the first Nor’easter of the season. Without doubt the States to our south got hit harder and most of the damage in New Hampshire was along the coast. One NH Commentator even called it bore’easter. Maybe it was… maybe not. It largely depends on where you were.
Having said that, this was still a potentially dangerous storm that had the potential for casualties and significant property damage. That the human and economic impact was relatively minor is beside the point. Storms like this do not always follow the expected path. They sometimes speed up or slowdown unexpectedly and on occasion they even stall and dump torrential amounts of rain.
In my previous life, I was the Chief of Operations for the New Hampshire National Guard. In that capacity, I was part of combined State and Federal Responses to NH Specific emergencies and on occasion regional disasters. The planning that goes into any response is beyond what most people will ever see. We plan and message for the worst while hoping for the best.
The alternative is to risk underestimation. I saw that happen. In November of 2008, The New England States got hit with a massive ice storm. Many of the details escape me, 18 years later, but the core of the story is that, although we expected rain, freezing rain, and ice, no one forecasted that the temperatures would hover around 31 degrees Fahrenheit for hours and create the conditions for over 3 inches of ice accretion on powerlines and trees. This added weight brought everything to the ground. By morning, close to a million people in New Hampshire were without power and downed trees were preventing repair crews from fully deploying to make repairs. To make matters worse the storm affected the entire region so mutual aid between NH and neighboring States was difficult. We even received assistance from Canada who is one of our disaster response partners. Lesson learned, don’t underestimate the power and unpredictability of the weather.
Now this is a photo blog. And the images come from the storm. Several of the pictures are journalistic style photos taken on Rye and North Hampton beaches. The show the power of the storm and people coming out to see it. I am not sure that is a good idea but I was there too.
The lighthouse pictures are Whaleback Lighthouse at the entrance to Portsmouth, NH Harbor. I did several studies of this lighthouse as it stood resolute continuing its mission to keep seafarers safe. There are two photos taken the previous weekend. They are the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and the Lifesaving Station on Wood Island. You will note that the Whaleback Lighthouse and lifesaving station are one complex. both warning and rescue.
For reference, The Unite States Coast Guard has been performing its mission since 1790. Search and Rescue is just one small part of that mission. And, in Portsmouth, there is still a US Coast Guard Station equipped with motor lifeboats ready to perform search and rescue mission in any condition. Their motto is: Semper Paratus, Always Ready.
