Situation Report - Loch Arbour, NJ

Mr. C's Beach Bistro

submitted by Jeff Williams - November 4, 2012

Hi all. I'm at jersey shore now in ground zero. Our house has 4 ft of sand and 6 ft of sea water on top of that. Most of neighbors homes are destroyed as waves broke through second floor windows and exited by breaking out through first floor walls and doors. Dead fish throughout. FEMA and other recovery organizations and can't get their equipment through the heavy compacted 4 ft of wet sand to start draining homes and checking has lines. Neighbor's red couch was found 3/4 mile inland.

I am in the evacuation zone without power for miles. Sleeping in cold house night temps are in high 30s. Stunned silence as residents return and wander along beach and neighborhoods. But ocean is strikingly beautiful today with glassy sunrise, off shore breeze and 3 ft barrels coming off the sandbars.

Pics to follow. But it will be long time to just dig out. And destroyed homes stores and schools have no prospect of quick recovery. Will take herculean policy and political decisions to figure out how to assist recovery, and insurance companies are already denying coverage for losses.

Jeff

Damages from Loch Arbour, N.J.