At 7pm, as the storm was raging, the power went out. We did not know just how long we would struggle in the cold and dark. Losing power also plunged us all into a veritable news desert: we had no idea how huge, how thorough the devastation was in the Tri-State area, never mind, our own Jersey Shore. My cousin in California knew more than we did.
We were without power, electric, heat, TV and cell phone. We were not able to travel out of town (we are merely 7 blocks wide and maybe 1 ½ miles long) and had no idea that landmarks such as Asbury Park, Seaside Heights, Long Beach Island were devastated.
As I said earlier, the ocean looked like it wanted to devour us: truth was, it had teeth. It devoured the dunes: they were 20 ft high and just as wide, built up with old Christmas trees and planted with dune grass. These dunes were solid and well planned: but no match for the relentless on-shore pounding of the surf and a tidal surge.
This complex is about a football field from the boardwalk, the dunes are right behind them, a normal high tide is about 30-50 yards further: NEVER has the sea breached Ocean Avenue. It was evacuated, not us.
From my storm door, I watched in horror as the ocean rage up my street, white water rapids, 2+ feet deep. When I saw the water’s foam racing over the sidewalk into the parking lot, I was afraid. Not wanting to alarm my house guests (one elderly and frail), I called for her daughter to come look, then we both raced into a bedroom to peer through that window. The river filled the street and covered the lawn across the street and was creeping up ours, it covered the first step.
The lights had gone out by then, but when my very tall neighbor went out to move his truck, and turned on the headlights, there was no mistaking how deep and fast-moving the water was: In my head I was screaming for help.
Of course, some tenants were having an old-fashioned, drinking hurricane party. They raced up and down the decks, then stood in the flood waters! Were they insane? The force of that current could have ripped them away to certain death.
As an apartment manager, my brother-in-law and I are very much responsible for the safety of these tenants, but there was nothing I could do but pray that this water would hold back. I am still very grateful that the 2 women from downstairs had elected to camp out with us overnight. It would have been impossible to rescue them.
The water came up within 5’ of the building and no higher.
Not so much as a puddle in the ground floor units, which are actually a little below ground level.
None of our vehicles were damaged.
My neighbor lost his truck parked up the street. He is a private contractor, that is his livelihood.
When we saw the debris the water left behind, it was 5 feet from our building. Thoughts such as ‘Grace of God’ prevail.
The ocean ran north like a raging river, as far as the horizon. The ocean DOES NOT run parallel to the beach, it runs ONTO the beach.
The ocean ran over and under the boardwalk. It washed dozens of cinder blocks into the street that had been under the miniature golf course.
It lifted the bandstand gazebo up like an umbrella, but left it upright. A cherry-picker replanted it. Really? Buildings were stripped, roofs peeled off, but the gazebo remained upright?
There is more to tell, next post, The Tenants. Sigh.
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