We read about Big Storms from time to time. The Midwest had a rude awakening to winter a couple weeks ago. We are still digging out from the Hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004 and, of course, Katrina in 2005. There was another storm with such force that people died trying to save others. It has become known as the Blizzard of 1978. It occurred on February 6 when the Captain of a 600-foot oil tanker (Global Hope) radioed a distress call to the Coast Guard. Two large cutters were dispatched from Boston and a 44-foot patrol boat from Gloucester rushed to assist. The cutters made slow progress against the seas but the patrol boat moved along before running into trouble.

Back in the port of Gloucester, Frank Quirk, captain of a 50-foot pilot boat named the Can Do, was monitoring the situation and made the fateful decision to go and help with the rescue. The rest of the story is chronicled in a book called Ten Hours Until Dawn: The Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do.

Why mention it now? On pages 60 - 64 of the 2007 Farmers’ Almanac, Michael Tougias presented an excerpt from his book we call “The Other Perfect Storm.” This story will be featured on the Weather Channel: Coast Guard Storm Stories. The Blizzard of ‘78 airs at 7pm EST on December 17, with an encore on Thursday December 21st at 7:30pm EST. If you enjoy stories of courage, I recommend the book and this offering on Television this Sunday.

On Saturday ( December 16th) evening 5 - 7pm I will be autographing 2007 Farmers’ Almanacs at a Grand Opening of a Boarders Bookstore in Brunswick Maine. And, If you are looking for weather related holiday gifts, check out our web store. Our offerings are value priced and we ship within 24 hours.

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