07 November 2012

An Experience With Hurricane Sandy - Part 2

My cousin's place in Brooklyn was several blocks away from the waterfront. However, my cousin who has been in NY for the last 20+ years has never experienced worry and panic. This incoming hurricane was touted as the perfect storm, the one that would wreak havoc and casualties at its wake. True enough, a score of people in Haiti died because of Hurricane Sandy and the East Coast was bracing its tremendous and catastrophic impact on the highly populated NYC. We were already praying really hard that the communication lines and electrical supply would not be disrupted because it would be hard to keep tabs if we lose the power.

Some of my cousin's neighbors already evacuated the evening of 27th. They were probably scared and in search of higher grounds. The wind was furiously blowing. It was very cold with less rain but more of some serious wind punch. The sky was an ominous shade of dark gray even when it was only 6pm. And the streets were empty. My cousin had briefed us on the possibility of mandatory evacuation so we kept our luggages ready just in case we had to leave for higher grounds.

Projection of the travel path of Hurricane Sandy initially showed NYC as part of the entry of landfall. However, towards the end of the day and early morning of 28th, it had moved towards New Jersey's coastline. Gov. Cuomo. of NYC announced the suspension of all mass transit including buses on the 28th at exactly 7p.m.  My husband and daughter were still in Manhattan meeting with distant relatives and shopping for some stuff to bring home, not wary of the looming danger of the approaching hurricane.  Thank goodness they got home around 3 pm before the subway got congested. Another problem presented though, we were stuck in NYC! For how long, we really couldn't tell.

So, come 28 October evening around 8pm, with a gust of 80-mph (from 90-mph clocked earlier), Hurricane Sandy hit Atlantic City in New Jersey. The Frankenstorm whipped surge of water in the Jersey shores and other low-lying and near the water areas in NYC like Lower Manhattan, Battery Park, Long Island Sound.

In NYC, Lower Manhattan got inundated and subway stations were not spared prompting the disruption of electrical power lines in the area.  Some areas in Brooklyn experienced power outage too. Several blocks from my cousin's place were in the dark and I am very thankful that my cousin's block in the 65th St. were spared. Most grocery marts have empty shelves. We were lucky enough to salvage some bread and canned goods in the nearby Walgreens as it was still stocked with water, soda and other ready-to-eat food.

Aside from the storm, a fire broke-out in the neighborhood of Breezy Point in Queens, burning hundreds of properties down to the ground.  Most of the residents have already evacuated so the area turned out to be an empty, smoke-filled community.

Flights were cancelled for both international and domestic. La Guardia, JFK and Newark airports had been shut as runways became flooded. We were stuck in NYC because of Hurricane Sandy and I was not very happy about it.

The storm has passed. We checked out the neighborhood on 30 Oct. and thankful that aside from fallen trees, damaged cars and slight damage to properties; there were no casualties around the vicinity of my cousin's place. We saw part of the clear, blue sky peeping through the clouds on Tuesday morning. I am just happy that the hurdle through the Hurricane Sandy is over. However, people who lost their properties and probably even lost some of their loved ones in the hard-hit areas of New Jersey and other nearby states ravaged by Hurricane Sandy are still reeling up to this time.




(The pictures above were taken near by cousin's house in Brooklyn. We're glad it was just property damage and no report on lost life.)

--- to be continued ---


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18 Comments:

At November 7, 2012 at 9:32 PM , Blogger papaleng said...

So scary experience naman. Mapalad pa rin ang Pinas that we don't experience typhoons or hurricane that magnitude.

 
At November 7, 2012 at 11:19 PM , Anonymous gracia said...

Whenever I hear/see these kind of stories it makes me stop and pray and thank God for giving us all His blessings and thank Him that we are lucky enough not to experience all these devastation and let us help those people who were terribly affected.

 
At November 8, 2012 at 2:32 AM , Anonymous Aggie said...

Thank God you all are safe.
Keeping those affected in my prayers.

 
At November 8, 2012 at 3:33 AM , Anonymous Juan Pak said...

I am glad you are ok.. for those who have lost properties, well those can be replaced what is important is that they are alive.. for those who lost love ones, my deepest condolences... god has his plans..a better one..thats just we have to think about it.. these disasters (storms, earthquakes, etc( have been devastating lately not only there but to all the countries around the globe.. and it is frightening

 
At November 8, 2012 at 4:01 AM , Anonymous Lainy said...

Thank God lives were spared at your cousin's place. Very good recollection and vivid description. I actually know a blogger from NY and I am praying she's doing well. I kept sending emails and commenting at her blogs but still haven't heard from her till now. She lives at NYC by the beach. I hope they are doing just fine after the storm surge.

 
At November 8, 2012 at 5:05 AM , Blogger Cherry said...

no report of lost life makes me breath a sigh of relief. Godbless America.

 
At November 8, 2012 at 6:07 AM , Anonymous jennyL said...

Oh no, Sandy really left a lot of place wrecked and disarray. Glad no one died in your cousin's area.

 
At November 8, 2012 at 6:14 AM , Anonymous Raine said...

what a horrible ordeal esp for your cousin. Thank God you all came out safe. so sad though for the hard hit areas who lost a lot :(

 
At November 8, 2012 at 7:33 AM , Anonymous cheerful said...

it was just sad that cases like this are happening lately but nice to know that its over now and no report on lost life in your cousins area which is important. :) but sad to know that there are areas when people lost some loved-ones and lost all/part of their property. i hope they can recover from all this and praying that God will bless them. :)

 
At November 8, 2012 at 9:21 AM , Blogger Destiny Renze said...

good thing that your cousin was safe and that Hurricane Sandy stayed just a while in your place.

 
At November 8, 2012 at 1:06 PM , Anonymous Josie said...

It's really devastating, this is a nature's wrath not only in the US but definitely all over the world. Hope those got affected will start to pick up the pieces and live normally again..

 
At November 8, 2012 at 1:19 PM , Anonymous louiseinthehouse said...

What a hurricane. My relatives in NJ were affected too, good thing their power didn't go off.

 
At November 8, 2012 at 2:50 PM , Blogger Marie said...

Hurricane Sandy was surely a wicked woman.

Tsk. Glad you guys are safe!

 
At November 8, 2012 at 6:01 PM , Anonymous ems vercide said...

Being hit by a big storm is really a horrible experience. Here at home hundreds of storms hit us each year..When mother nature strikes back! That's what they say..
Thank God you and your family is safe. Just take care always. I heard there's another one coming. God bless you always,Ria.

 
At November 8, 2012 at 9:12 PM , Blogger Nova said...

wow! i am sure it is very scary, i am just happy to know that you guys are doing great, the experience will never be forgotten however after the storm we can stand up once again...

 
At November 8, 2012 at 10:19 PM , Blogger lencilicious said...

May God's angels be with us always to protect us and keep us safe especially during despicable events. I'm delighted to hear you're all good there. Keep safe.
Visiting from FBF God is always with us.

 
At November 9, 2012 at 9:10 PM , Anonymous emzkie said...

wow that storm really affected a lot of states even us here in PA. it was really huge. good to know u guys are safe.

 
At November 9, 2012 at 9:54 PM , Blogger riablahgs said...

Thank you for your comments and concern everyone. We are happy to be home safely after the ordeal. I'm sad though that few days Hurricane Sandy left, the same areas are battered with the Nor'easter storm this time around. God bless them all.

 

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