Thank you to the Orcas Island Historical Society, The Island Sounder and photographer Gordon Keith for these images of 1972’s big winter storm on Orcas.
“…Trees lay like spilled toothpicks throughout Moran State Park the day after the January 1972 Northeaster struck Orcas Island. Old timers claim it was the worst storm to strike the Island since December of 1924…” (Gordon Keith, Voices from the Islands, p. 116)
![Erling Manley's Flattened Truck, 1972 Provided by the Orcas Island Historical Society](http://www.opalco.com/wp-content/uploads/1972/01/600-1972-Storm-_Erling-Manley-Truck-550x433.jpg)
A page from photographer Gordon Keith's album
![Provided by the Orcas Island Historical Society](http://www.opalco.com/wp-content/uploads/1972/01/600-1972-Storm-Clean-Up-550x429.jpg)
Crews clear fallen trees.
![1972 Storm Lines Down](http://www.opalco.com/wp-content/uploads/1972/01/600-1972-Storm-lines-down-550x436.jpg)
Downed lines lay low near the road.