Sandy: 10 Years Later – Sandy’s Impact on New Jersey

Sandy: 10 Years Later – Sandy’s Impact on New Jersey | News12 New Jersey | October 7, 2022

Superstorm Sandy came ashore 10 years ago this month in the tri-state area, forever impacting the lives of residents. The storm caused loss of life, tremendous property damage and brought out some of the best qualities of people.

Through the upcoming weeks, News 12 will update this page with stories of loss, hope and rebuilding. Below are the complete segments from our \”Sandy: 10 Years Later\” documentary special.

SANDY: 10 YEARS LATER – SANDY’S IMPACT ON LONG ISLAND

Long Island braced for Superstorm Sandy ahead of its arrival, but nothing could prepare residents for what occurred on Oct. 29, 2012.

Despite the destruction, lives lost and financial hardships – Long Islanders banded together and helped each other get through the massive devastation.

SANDY: 10 YEARS LATER – SANDY\’S IMPACT ON NEW JERSEY

Sandy\’s massive storm surge destroyed homes and property along the New Jersey coastline, changing lives forever.

Witnesses recount their terrifying ordeals and try to make sense – even 10 years later – about their new post-storm reality.

SANDY: 10 YEARS LATER – SANDY\’S IMPACT ON CONNECTICUT

Residents in Connecticut watched as the water swelled, cutting a wide path of destruction through their state.

Witnesses struggled to take in what they were seeing while first responders answered the call in the absolute worst of conditions.

AFTER THE STORM

For many, the end of Sandy was just the beginning of the problems.

Residents throughout the tri-state area woke up the following morning to take stock of ruined homes and destroyed memories.

The rebuilding efforts resulted in battles with insurance companies and proved to be a test of personal will.

\”YES, IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN\”

Superstorm Sandy unleashed untold devastation on the tri-state area. However, it should not be looked at as a completely isolated incident.

News 12 meteorologists and weather experts say we could see a similar – or even stronger storm – impact the area.

A common theme among the analysis: Preparation is key.

This photo taken from Chopper 12 video shows boats tossed ashore by the powerful storm surge in Mantoloking, NJ. on the morning of Oct. 30, 2012. (Chopper 12)

CHOPPER 12 CAPTURES THE DEVASTATION

Video from Chopper 12 the morning after the storm shows the path of destruction left by Sandy.

As the sun rose and residents were first seeing the awful glimpses of Superstorm Sandy\’s devastation, Chopper 12 flew above the tri-state area and captured aerial video of the storm\’s immediate aftermath.

This Nov. 15, 2012 photo shows the remnants of an oceanfront building in Sea Bright N.J. that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

A \’BACK-CRUSHING\’ FLOODING EVENT

Throughout Sandy and its aftermath, the term \’storm surge\’ was used frequently to describe the cause of the historic flooding and damage.

A storm surge occurs when wind pushes water up on the shore, creating the potential for catastrophic flooding.

Weather experts say a storm does not need to be very strong to cause devastating storm surge.

\”It doesn\’t take a powerful hurricane to create catastrophic flooding,\” says Jamie Rhome, acting director of the National Hurricane Center. \”And we saw that during Hurricane Sandy, a barely – barely – Category 1 on the wind scale, but an historic and back-crushing flooding event for the vast majority of the area within this tri-state area.\”

MAPS: PEAK FLOODING DURING SANDY

These graphics show the height of observed flooding in various parts of the tri-state area during Sandy. (News 12/Rocco Marrongelli)

GAS IN SHORT SUPPLY

Aside from the massive amounts of property damage, the defining memory for many in the wake of Superstorm Sandy was the shortage of gasoline. Residents not only needed gas for cars, but they also needed it to run generators amid widespread power outages.

With gas in short supply, lines grew and tensions spiked. Police were called in at several locations to ensure public safety and help keep order.

In this Oct. 30, 2012 file photo, a boat floats in the driveway of a Lindenhurst home on Long Island in the flooding aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File)

A COMMUNITY REBUILDS

The village of Lindenhurst was one of the hardest hit areas when Superstorm Sandy came through Long Island.

Flood waters rose to as high as 8 feet including inside Carmen Amador\’s bayfront home.

\”Words cannot describe how devastating that was,\” Amador says.

Photo from Chopper 12 video shows the amphitheater at Jones Beach flooded and severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

This slideshow captures the destruction, aftermath and hope following Superstorm Sandy.

In this file photo of Nov. 4, 2012, Felice Vazquez, right, greets a neighbor as she works at a table providing hot drinks and snacks as the buildings around them in Hoboken, N.J., remain without power six days after Superstorm Sandy. (AP Photo/ John Minchillo, File)

ELECTION DAY IN SANDY\’S SHADOW

Election Day 2012 – a presidential election – took place just days after Superstorm Sandy devastated the tri-state area.

The proximity of the election caused widespread confusion and pressed organizers to be nimble in order to ensure residents could cast their votes.

In this Feb. 1, 2013 file photo, workers dismantle the storm-damaged boardwalk in Long Beach, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

REBUILD THE BEACH

From her apartment balcony, Liz Nachman saw Superstorm Sandy\’s fury decimate the City by the Sea.

The immense damage from the 2012 storm left her asking what the next step was. Her son, Geoffrey Noss, came up with a game plan through a rallying slogan – “Rebuild the Beach.”

“He\’s like, ‘Mom, I want to make T-shirts to raise money for the school district,\’” she told News 12.

Nachman admits she was skeptical at first, but the slogan \”Rebuild the Beach\” apparently spoke to many residents on the barrier island trying to pick up the pieces.

Within days, Nachman says there were 100 orders placed for tank tops and sweatshirts. She then immersed herself into “Rebuild the Beach” apparel. She racked up more than $30,000 in sales within the first few weeks.

In this Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012 file photograph, debris is all that remains of the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., as clean-up of the damage from Superstorm Sandy continues. (AP Photo/Mel Evans,file)

A DIFFERENT JERSEY SHORE

Ten years after Sandy, the Jersey Shore is rebuilt. Homes have gone bigger – and in some cases – closer to the water.

The post-Sandy landscape and feeling is very different. That was the rebuilding strategy. Only time will tell if it was the right approach.

In this Oct. 29, 2012, file photo, medical workers evacuate a baby into an ambulance during an evacuation of NYU Langone Medical Center during Superstorm Sandy. (AP Photo/ John Minchillo, File)

NOVEMBER NOR\’EASTER

With the tri-state area still reeling from the aftermath of Sandy, a major snowstorm pummeled the tri-state area in early November.

Homeowners in several coastal areas had to once again evacuate as the storm brought snow and flooding to region. Residents who just got their power back found themselves without electricity.

This Oct. 31, 2012 file photo shows destroyed homes left in the wake of Superstorm Sandy in Ortley Beach, N.J. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

\’HE NEVER WALKED THE BOARDWALK WITH ME THAT SUMMER\’

An Ortley Beach couple made it their mission to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy devastated their home at the Shore.

Paul and Mary Janesak poured money and love into their Shore home, and were determined to do it again after it was destroyed.

However, seven years of stress and anxiety took its toll on Paul, and he eventually died of a heart attack. Now, Mary reflects on their life together and the tragedy of her husband\’s death.

In this file photo of Nov. 1, 2012, Kathleen Seemar, right, gets a hug from friend Ginny Baker while taking a break from cleaning out her flooded home in Brick, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

PETS AND SANDY

In Sandy\’s aftermath, many heartbroken residents were forced to turn their pets over to shelters for temporary care while they sifted through the devastation.

Experts offer tips for pet owners on how to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster.

In this Oct 30 2012 file photo cars are submerged at the entrance to a parking garage in New York s Financial District. (AP Photo Richard Drew)

SEAWALL SAFETY

As Superstorm Sandy ravaged the coast, the protective retaining wall on St. Vincent Avenue in Throgs Neck was nearly destroyed.

Ten years later, a new 11.9-foot seawall is up and ready to protect residents from future weather events.

This Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 file photo shows ConEd trucks partially submerged on 14th Street near the ConEd power plant in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND FIREHOUSE

When Superstorm Sandy devastated Edgewater Park, volunteer firefighters didn\’t hesitate to help.

When funding fell through for firehouse repairs, the community returned the favor.

Joseph Leader, Metropolitan Tranportation Authority Vice President and Chief Maintenance Officer, shines a flashlight on standing water inside the South Ferry 1 train station in New York, N.Y., Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, in the wake of superstorm Sandy. As much as 20 feet of water fills the station and tunnel. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

Storm surge caused by Sandy devastated certain parts of the MTA\’s infrastructure, especially in Brooklyn.

MTA officials say they have invested a significant amount of money and construction to ensure the system can survive future natural disasters.

In this Oct. 30, 2012 file photo, Ken Esposito, left, helps his neighbor Rob Hoxie sandbag his beachfront home before high tide in Milford, Connecticut. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

THE LONG ROAD HOME

More than 7,000 New Jersey families have used reconstruction grants to return home after Superstorm Sandy destroyed their homes, according to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. But for some, it was a long and difficult road.

Kane In Your Corner chronicled the saga of Jim and Carol Ferraioli for nearly a decade as they attempted to rebuild their storm-damaged home. The Ferraiolis gave News 12’s Senior Investigative Reporter, Walt Kane, a tour earlier this month.

“I’m glad you were able to share this with us because you\’ve helped us along the way a lot,” Carol Ferraioli said.

SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY

It has been 10 years since Superstorm Sandy tore through the city, and a local nonprofit is remembering the tragic day and the work that still needs to be done in the aftermath.

Carolina Salguero knows the toll of Sandy\’s raging water all too well. As the head of Portside New York, she stayed aboard the historic Mary A. Whalen ship the night of the storm to protect it.

\”We had a floating dock that was destroyed. We\’re trying to restore the engine on the Mary Whalen now. The final damage sheet was $290,000,\” she says.

But not letting that get them down, Portside quickly took on the needs of the community coming ashore and creating a small business recovery center.

ANSWERING THE CALL

During the height of the storm, one neighborhood in Greenwich was hit by a massive fire.

Firefighters answered the call and put out the fire in the midst of the historic storm. 

\”WE ALL KNOW ANOTHER STORM IS COMING\”

Milford resident Bruce Barrett shares his memories of the storm and the aftermath with News 12 Connecticut.

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