It has been six months to the day since Hurricane Sandy swept through this area, devastating my community.
The area is still so damaged. It will take a long time to recover from the bruises and the beating that we took. We will never be the same.
I took the photos in this slideshow myself between April 13 and 19, 2013. I drove the area around my home slowly for several days over that period of time. Each day I found new sights that shocked me and brought tears to my eyes. Six months later and we are still so damaged.
The beautiful ballad playing during the slideshow is “Where Do We Go From Here”, by the band Oleander. I heard it while driving the stretch of island between Bay Head and Seaside. It is the area that people not from this community may recognize as the one on the news, where the ocean met the bay. The words to the song seemed so fitting for our situation.
I would like to thank the band Oleander (www.oleander.net / www.facebook.com/OleanderBand / @OleanderBand) for very graciously giving me permission to use the song “Where Do We Go From Here” as a part of this slideshow. It is a very kind and generous gesture that is truly appreciated, and only makes me love them even more. “Where Do We Go From Here” is on the new Oleander album entitled “Something Beautiful”, which dropped earlier this month. (My Something Beautiful album review.)
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Superb slideshow, Val. It’s so important for people outside of your area to see what lingers there. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks Desiree, I couldn’t agree more.
What hurts most is that pople out of this area seem to think recovery has happened when there is still so much gone.
I know recovery is underway but there is much left to be done and it will take a long time.
It really is quite shocking how long it takes to completely rebuild. Wow.
Liz, thanks. I am only imagining how long it will take, and I think it will be many, many years.
Thanks for the reminder. I saw something like this on the other day and it really is truly amazing how long it takes to recover.
I cant even imagine what everyone there has and still is going through.
Kristyn – There are many things I have found shocking but most of all was the amount of homes that just sit empty. Others have signs on them $70,000. Prior to this you couldn’t find an outhouse for $70k around here. Well, that’s a slight exaggeration but not really if you know what I mean.
We can only get stronger from here on out!
Elizabeth, I hope so.
The images are so heartbreaking. Not being from the area I never imagined so many houses still being in crumbles.
Great reminder! It takes years to rebuild and regain confidence. I went through many Hurricanes in my day. It took us several years to recoup from Hurricane Katrina.
Maria, Katrina frequently comes to mind since Sandy. We’ll get back on our feet but you know, it won’t be the same.
Oh wow, that is really shocking. I can’t believe how it’s kind of fell out of the news. It’s wonderful that you are bringing awareness to this and I’m sorry this happened to your home and neighborhood.
Tesa, thank you.
it’s so hard to watch–so many people still affected and don’t realize unless you are going through it that its still going on and 6 months later people are suffering!
That’s exactly it Kathleen. We’ll get back on our feet again one day but will never be the same.
Those were some REALLY powerful images! I think a lot of times people don’t realize how long it truly takes to rebuild. New Jersey and everyone else affected are in my prayers!
Thank you Brooke.
Amazing Val. It really is shocking to know that 6 months later there is still so much devastation… and so much work to be done. The song really is perfect.
Thanks Colleen. I knew when I heard the song on the drive that it was perfect, because it said every single thing I was thinking and then some.
Such haunting images, and the beautiful song complements them perfectly. Great post.
Thank you Cindy.
I’m a Hurricane Katrina Survivor. It isn’t easy, even years later but recovery does happen. Your community is in my thoughts and prayers. susie
Thanks Susie. Good to hear from you.
The devastation is so sad. I can only imagine how it feels having to rebuild from something like that.
So sad! So much to be done! Great images!
Thanks Claudia!
Hey! Wait a second. I just heard your great governor on the news saying that the president came through with every promise he made for NJ. So you must be mistaken. I don’t hear anything from the news media that there is a problem. /sarcasm. Now if this was a hurricane with a Republican president, like Katrina, we would never hear the end of it.
Danielle – Hey there lady. Truthfully I think Christie did a great job with the situation. Perhaps more promises are needed? I put this together to prove the point that it ain’t all sunshine and roses here at the current moment. Politics aside….