Thursday, November 1, 2012

My heart aches...

Today, I need to wear my heart on my sleeve. Thankfully, in Boston we weathered Sandy with tons of rain and wind. But my hometown, my first and true home, is hurting, so so so much. Most of the news has focused on New York City and other coastal towns in NJ. But the storm made direct landfall farther south. 

The images and stories are scary. I spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday tearing up every time one of these images popped up on Facebook.  We used to live right on the back bay, right on the water way, and used to joke that "with one good hurricane we'd be beach front property" - sadly that is not a joke anymore, it was almost a reality. So sad and so scary.

The beach and boardwalk took such a hard hit. What most people don't realize is that the island that Atlantic City and the other coastal towns are on a gigantic sand bar - so pretty much life on the edge.
 This was part of the boardwalk in Atlantic City - totally underwater and gone.
 This just pains me so much, I have seen plenty of flooding there, but never like this.
Parts of the boardwalk, gone. They right now are estimating 80 sections of boardwalk are gone. That is serious history ripped out into the ocean.
I used to drive by these boat houses many days a week. They are in the back bay along the causeway onto the island. I used to imagine what it would be like live on a house boat. This image really made me so sad. Like part of my imagination is now gone or altered. 
 I know people who lived on/live on this road. So much water. My mom spent part of her childhood in a home a few blocks from here, closer to the ocean, surely under water. Just so hard to fathom.
 This was a road we would take to Ocean City (NJ) - roads everywhere have just buckled. This looks more like earthquake damage...
 I had a best friend who lived right near this house and my grandparents lived not too far away. The wind blew things through the houses and it just destroyed the homes. That sand, is blocks from it's original home on the beach.
The "silver lining" was that Lucy the elephant survived the storm! She is a national landmark and right on the beach and she survived. Such a silver lining for a string of communities that are hurting so so hard.

Please hold my home town (and all the areas hit so hard) in your thoughts and prayers. The area will never be the same again. Gov. Christie has impressed me with his determination to get this great state back on its feet. I know it will recover and rebuild, it's just hard to imagine it when everyone is still hurting so badly.
(all pictures from south jersey news stations facebook pages)
Little by Little

17 thoughts on the matter:

4 Lettre Words said... {Reply}

Truly heartbreaking.

Pieni Lintu said... {Reply}

So had. :(

We had flood here in Finland too last month and our friends house was damaged. :(

Pride In Photos Beauty said... {Reply}

I am so sorry to see all of this...what a waste!! Why can't these stupid hurricanes stay out to sea?? I will keep you in my prayers...I can see how much you are hurting and all of these people. It will rebuild I promise you that!! I live in Florida...I have seen alot of destruction and a few years later...better than ever. Keep the faith.
Laurie

Kim Cunningham said... {Reply}

That is devastation! I cannot fathom this happening to a community. I'm so sorry that it has happened to a place dear to you. I have already been thinking how we might be able to help somehow. Thank you for highlighting this for us.

tiarastantrums said... {Reply}

it is just so sad right now

Unknown said... {Reply}

I did not realize how extensive the damage was. I was in Louisiana when Katrina and Rita struck so I thought a cat. 1 hurricane would be child's play... but it wasn't, I cannot believe the devastation.

Kmcblackburn said... {Reply}

"History swept into the ocean"...so true Tamar :(

Susan said... {Reply}

So sorry to hear you're hurting. I'm glad to see your Lucy was standing.

I always look at the houses on the coast out here and know they're on borrowed time. It's so sad (and humbling) to see such beautiful (and loved) homes and places destroyed.

Hugs to you.

Deanna said... {Reply}

My heart breaks for you and all who have suffered such devastating loss.

Gina Kleinworth said... {Reply}

The devastation is hard to fathom. Praying for those there who are going through this.

Leovi said... {Reply}

No doubt these pictures are very impressive, has excellently captured the sad ravages teroríficos Sandy, a great misfortune.

momto8 said... {Reply}

unbelievable.
prayers for our whole country.

Unknown said... {Reply}

Oh friend, I'm so sorry. I pray that they can rebuild and new memories can be made.

Unknown said... {Reply}
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tinajo said... {Reply}

I´m so sorry for anyone who´s affected by this, so sad when nature shows this side. :-(

Anita Johnson said... {Reply}

It is such a heartbreak and prayers for all those affected are being said.

renae said... {Reply}

Oh Tamar, I am so sad for you. I am so saddened by this natural disaster that has killed and ruined and left a mess. I kept thinking about how you said you had heard the Boardwalk was destroyed. I've seen almost all of these pics on the news but to hear it from your local knowledge and your perspective, makes me cry for you.