Downed Power Line in Warwick NY– note the burn marks and hole in the pavement from the current.
On October 29, 2012 Hurricane Sandy arrived within striking distance of the Northeast. It had been building strength slowly, but surely over the course of a week’s time. It was already Category 1 and putting record low pressure measurements out even at some 200 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean before making landfall at 8pm EST. As the storm drew closer to it’s final landfall point in Southeastern New Jersey the Tri-State Metropolitan area was steadily torn apart by Sandy’s relentless winds. By the time the storm was done rolling through some twelve hours later there was a path of destruction wrought across New Jersey, Southern New York, and Eastern Pennsylvania that left millions without power, running water, heat, and in many cases shelter. We are still trying to understand the ramifications that Sandy left in her wake. Beyond its major landfall impact Sandy had destroyed much of the East Coast on its path towards New Jersey. The shoreline from Florida all the way up to Maine had been pounded by 80MPH+ winds, record sea level swells that induced major shoreline flooding, and rains that drenched communities far inland from the storms center.
I witnessed Sandy’s wrath firsthand and though at any given point I was no closer than 100 miles from storm itself my house shook, crackled, and shimmied more than I have ever seen in my five years living here. It was easily the most powerful storm I ever personally witnessed. Winds easily topped the 58MPH peak measurements taken off nearby professional meteorological equipment sheltered by far more trees and cover than I was. In the wide open plains of the former farmland of Warwick Sandy’s wrath was nothing short of ground-shaking (literally). We did not get much rain during the storm itself. About two inches over the twenty four hours prior to the storm passing through and only about .80 inches during the storm itself. This was not a flooding storm like last year’s Hurricane Irene. This was something new and unique in nature. A so called “super storm” capable of swallowing the entire Eastern US under its cloud cover, intense winds, and seemingly never ending power.
I was fortunate to suffer only minor loss of property (my beloved charcoal grill used for several DF Backyard Parties including our fan favorite “You Bring It, I Grill It” events) and a small portion of my East facing roof that I was able to get repaired within twenty four hours. I lost electric for only twenty minutes and all my family members (direct and extended) made it through without a scratch. I find myself returning to seemingly normal life until I had to venture from my street and make my way into the greater world some twenty four hours after the storm had passed. It is then I realized how truly blessed I was to get through so seemingly unscathed.
Much of my hometown of Warwick, NY is under darkness due to a widespread electric outage. The power companies are slowly, but surely restoring power. It is reasonable that 90% of Warwick will have power by the end of next week. There are hundreds of downed trees being cleaned up. At work we are restoring phone services at the customer level. We were able to get the majority of our subscribers back in service within forty eight hours, but many need their telephone cabling put back up on the house. Many streets remain impassable. Many remain in the dark without power, water, or heat. Until we recover the power grid and finish removing the tree debris this will be the new normal.
It gets far worse though the further you go into Jersey or the closer you get to the shoreline. New York City, Staten Island in particular, was severely impacted. The New Jersey Shore is completely destroyed. Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, remain without power, food, sanitary water, or shelter. Federal and State governments are trying their best to help. With a disaster so widespread though it is impossible though for the government and individual home/business owners to clean this up on their own. The Northeast needs your help and we need it bad.
This is why I humbly write to you. If you have the means to do so I respectfully ask for a donation of any size to be made by you to Red Cross to help out those most in need. Any dollar amount will do and you have my sincerest thank you for doing so, as well as, my respect. You can do so by visiting The Red Cross.
If you are in need of assistance, The Red Cross is also a great resource for you. Please feel free to reach out them if you need help recovering from this horrid event– that is what they are there for.
Together we can pull through this and rise above this– but we must do so by standing united together so as to support each other however possible. Thank you again for your time and consideration for donating.
