Hurricane Sandy Strikes the Beloved Jersey Shore

Two weeks ago today a hurricane made landfall in New Jersey for only the third time in history. Hurricane Sandy caused incredible devastation along nearly the entire Jersey coastline (over 125 miles), as well as in Hoboken, Moonachie, Sayreville, and other riverfront towns. It also caused major destruction in New York City, especially on Staten Island, and on Long Island.

Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Island, New Jersey, after Hurricane Sandy, October 2012

For a Jersey girl whose fondest childhood memories involve summers down the shore, it has been difficult to look at the pictures coming out of our beloved beach towns for the last two weeks. From Cape May and Wildwood to Atlantic City, to all of Long Beach Island, Island Beach State Park, Seaside, and Mantoloking, all the way up to Avalon and Belmar…almost everyone who grows up in New Jersey treasures fond memories of school skip days, family vacations and summer jobs down the shore.

Childhood Memories of Long Beach Island

When I was growing up in New Jersey in the 70s, my parents owned a simple little house on Long Beach Island. To me it was a magical place where I could ride my bike to get ice cream or spend days on the beach covered in baby oil and listening to old school New York radio stations.

Two weeks after the hurricane, all of LBI is virtually uninhabitable, with the gas, water and electric turned off and residents allowed back only at restricted intervals to inspect their homes and retrieve belongings. The first time anyone was allowed back on the island, the line to get over the causeway stretched more than fifteen miles down Route 72…

Where to Contribute Labor and Goods to Hurricane Sandy Victims

Many people have asked me where they can contribute labor or goods. I recommend going through these three organizations, who are coordinating relief efforts:

• Restore Our Shore
• Occupy Sandy Recovery for New Jersey
• Shore Helpers

Two Weeks Later, Gratitude and Sadness

And on this two-week anniversary of the storm, as most of us appreciate a normal Monday evening filled with lovely weather, electric lights, refrigeration, the internet, television, and no worries about our family or friends, let’s take a few minutes to appreciate the everyday, and let’s read about the people who were lost in the storm.

The People Who Were Killed By Hurricane Sandy

I’ll be resuming regular blogging this week, starting tomorrow with some remarks about the storm’s impact on real estate transactions. Take care everyone and thank you for including Hurricane Sandy victims in your 2012 charitable donations.

The beach at Surf City, Long Beach Island, 2010