Superstorm Sandy (2013)

When Superstorm Sandy hit last October, I could not begin to imagine
what summer 2013 at the Jersey Shore would look like. News footage of
the flooding, wind damage, and storm surge guaranteed at least a
challenging season for some businesses and homeowners. The good news is
the cleanup has been remarkable; the not-so-good news is it will take
years before everything is back to normal.

Last November, when my husband and I were allowed back into our home in
Beach Haven West after the storm, we were met with absolute devastation.
We passed boats off their lifts, and saw random wave runners and jet
skis strewn in people's front and side yards. Dried seagrass was trapped
almost four feet high in chain link fences, and a thin layer of mud
covered rock lawns, decks, and, for those of us with homes on a cement
slab, the first floor.

But those are distant memories. Since summer unofficially began on
Memorial Day, I've been peering into empty homes, eviscerated of their
contents. Some look as though they were last entered just before the
storm, with furniture settled wherever the water level receded. Others
are stripped down to studs, standing naked clear through the windows.
"For Sale" signs are everywhere, as are demolition and house-raising
advertisements. Although there is very little debris in the streets and
driveways, some properties clearly have been abandoned, such as the one
with a boat, its windshield missing, crashing through garage doors.

However, one thing that has not changed is the incredible support and
generosity of friends and neighbors. Although some families just needed
to hose out their garages just after Sandy, others lost everything. It
has been extraordinary to see people open their homes to residents who
have suffered the most, especially those still dealing with the stress
of insurance companies and new local zoning laws.

Except for an occasional sighting of a Real Housewife of New Jersey, it
turned out to be a quiet summer. Some new construction took place, but
most homeowners were remodeling. Traffic was way down, and hard-to-get
reservations weren't so hard to get. Our little bungalow didn't have any
drywall (love that '70s-style paneling), so after tossing all the
furniture and hosing it out, everything dried. Is there mold? We don't
know, but we're staying.

Considering what things looked like 10 months ago, it was a good summer.
As for summer 2014? It can only get better.