Hurricane Sandy

Wrote this after my visit to Toms River, 11-6-12

South Brunswick Helps the Flood Victims in Seaside Heights and Toms River 

"I cried for two days. We had to tear the sheetrock off all our walls and pull out the insulation. Nothing is left but the frame of my home. The four of us, my 13 year old daughter, 22 year old son (who just graduated from Stockton College), my husband, and me along with our pets climbed up onto the rafters in the attic to escape the flood waters," lamented Debbie Phillips of Shelter Cove, Toms River.

There was no mandatory evaluation. My neighbor who has lived in Shelter Cove for over 75 years has never seen a flood in this area before.” 

I asked Debbie if she and her family needed a place to stay and she informed me that she and her family along with her sister-in-law's family are presently residing with her mother-in-law in their retirement village home...totaling 7 people and 7 pets.

There is nothing left. The Phillips family has been spending days sifting through the debris and tearing down walls so their house will not become contaminated with mold. All the electrical has to be replaced. Both of their automobiles were flooded out. It is estimated that it will take four to six months to get back into their home.

Assistance Needed

FEMA came to their home the day after the storm and gave them a $32K loan (the maximum amount allowed) but as a grammar school lunch aid, money will be tight to replace...clothes, furniture, automobiles, etc. I asked what she needed most… people to help clear stuff away, an electrician and tree trimmer, and most of all a car to borrow (The good news is that my sister, Judy Lepore is going to lend them her daughter’s car while she is away at college.)

Amidst all of this devastation, Debbie feels fortunate since she has a place to stay and no one was injured. The people of Toms River have come together to aid the flood victims". Toms River East Intermediate School was collecting clothes, household goods, and food, along with various children and baby goods from toys to diapers. You could see that teachers have put this together for it was highly organized and efficient.

When my sister, a retired school teacher who lives in Toms River, told me that she had just gone through her closets to donate some of her clothing, I decided to drive down the shore and help out as well.

South Brunswick’s Big Heart

An hour before I was ready to leave Monmouth Jct., I decided to call a few neighbors and friends to see if they'd like to donate anything. Before I knew it many residents of our little neighborhood were leaving multiple bags of clothing and paper goods in my driveway. My next door neighbor, Connie, dropped off 5 large, black bags full of clothes. Another neighbor, Karen, came to my house with one of her friends to drop off even more clothes and assist me in loading up my car. She was a great help not just in manpower but also by taking the initiative to contact a friend last minute to collect even more stuff. Bags filled my trunk, backseat and front. I barely had enough room for myself. It's amazing how much was collected in one short hour.

Even though people of South Brunswick still may have their homes intact and haven’t lost many belongings, we know how it feels to be sitting in the darkness without heat while numerous trees and power lines block our roads. Many schools and companies have also been closed because of loss of power and the treacherous roadways.

Luckily we had days to prepare for this storm, but it blows my mind that this was only a category 1 hurricane...What if it was greater? They're already calling it the storm of the century but the century has barely begun. Unfortunately we are looking at a future of bigger, more destructive storm masses with rising sea levels and greater coastal destruction. How much lose must we sustain before we can come to realize that the time is NOW to make wise choices about the power we use and the resources we waste? All I know is that a moment of darkness without a candle is frightening but a future without Illumination is unlivable. 

YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED. If you can…

 * DONATE winter clothes, blankets, paper goods, school supplies, and baby goods

 * VOLUNTEER… Debbie and other hurricane victims need help from any able-bodied

    individuals to aid in the clean up, also electricians, contractors, and tree trimmers

* LEND a car…They were destroyed by the floods. They don’t even have means getting to their jobs.

 * AN INVITATION to host someone/family in your house temporarily.            

 * ORGANIZE a fundraiser

 * WRITE just a note or card expressing your hope and support