Hurricane Bob

(WPRI) - It's been more than 18 years since a hurricane has struck Southern New England. A look back at Hurricane Bob shows why it's important to be prepared.

"This is not anything to be taken lightly. This is the real thing," said Fmr. Gov. Bruce Sundlun as Hurricane Bob battered Rhode Island on Aug 19, 1991. "The storm is hitting in as bad a direction as it possibly could hit us."

Bob passed right over Block Island during the early afternoon heading toward Rhode Island's East Bay. The storm hit coastal areas hard with winds gusting to near 100 miles-per-hour.

In addition to the wind, waves battered the shoreline.

"I could barely stand up. The wind was driving so hard off the ocean," said Bill Silva of Narragansett.

As much as seven inches of rain fell in Western Rhode Island. Thousands of people lost power for a couple of days.

"Everybody did what they could. I'm grateful," Sundlun said.

The storm did not kill anyone in Rhode Island, but it did kill six people in Connecticut. The storm also caused an estimated $680 million in damages.