Krista Sperber is a graphic designer who lives with her family in Belmar, New Jersey. As a result of Hurricane Sandy, her home was submerged in salt water for seven days. Unfortunately that was just the start of their difficulties. For the past two years, Krista and her family have been struggling to receive any sort of compensation from insurance. Fortunately for them, the community has responded with generous support, and with the help of the Home for Summer program and the Saint Bernard project they are rebuilding their home. She is now working with the New Jersey Organizing Project, a network of people working to ensure that Sandy victims have a full and fair recovery. Continue Reading
Author Archives: Matthew Bender
Finally had a hot cooked meal
William Johnson lives in Ocean Port, New Jersey, and is owner of Scala’s Pizzeria in Long Branch. At the time of Hurricane Sandy, he was a Councilman in Ocean Port. Though his home and business were spared much of the destruction that others have faced, his neighbors and mother-in-law were not as fortunate. In his narrative, William speaks of his experiences during the storm as well as the process of recovery. He is pleased to see how people in the community have pulled together to get through the storm. Continue Reading
Something that brings us together, as a community, in a weird way
Megan Miller is a special education teacher who works in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. She and her husband (at the time fiancé) own a home in the Township of Brick. During Hurricane Sandy they acted as First Responders, assisting people and aiding in evacuations throughout Point Pleasant. The following day, they discovered that the storm had caused severe damage to their home. In her narrative, Meghan speaks of their actions during the storm, and the challenges they have faced in rebuilding their home. She also mentions her visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Show, in which she discovered that Ellen had generously agreed to help rebuild their home. Continue Reading
Biggest storm ever seen
Adam Schneider is an Attorney at Law and the Mayor of Long Branch, NJ. Worried about the storm, Schneider urged people to evacuate and prepared the town as best he could. During and after the storm he worked closely with OEM, other government offices, and the utility companies. In his narrative, Adam talks about his efforts to help the people of Long Branch to recover from the storm. In particular, he speaks to a very public squabble he had with the power company, JCP&L, in his efforts to have electricity restored. Continue Reading
We put Humpty Dumpty back together again
William Gehlhaus is co-owner of the Keansburg Pier Amusement Park, a popular summer tourist destination on the Bayshore. The Park suffered severe damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Storm surge waters flooded the pier, destroying a building and severely damaging numerous rides, games, and even a prized crinkle cut French Fry machine. In his narrative, William talks about the devastation to his business, the challenges he faced in the following months, and how he has managed to rebuild this prized local treasure. Continue Reading
We didn't win the lottery
Lisa and Wayne Howell live in Branchburg, New Jersey, but like many New Jerseyans they have long spent much of their summers on the Jersey Shore. Since 1997, they have owned a summer home in Lavallette, just across the street from the bay. Flooding from Hurricane Sandy caused severe damage to their beach home and made nearly all their possessions unsalvageable. In its aftermath, the storm left them with a tough decision: fix their existing house and raise it, or knock it down and start anew. In this narrative, Lisa and Wayne discuss the tough choice they made, as well as their hopes of returning to Lavallette by July 2015. Continue Reading
A preacher and a bar owner
Carl Williamson is a minister at the Gateway Church of Christ in Holmdel, New Jersey. Just days after the storm, Carl spearheaded the creation of Gateway Disaster Response, a ministry aimed at coordinating recovery efforts in the nearby town of Union Beach. A largely blue-collar community on the Raritan Bay, Union Beach received some of the worst devastation from Hurricane Sandy. In his narrative, Carl discusses the origins of the ministry, its work over the past two years, and how his personal faith has helped him in his work. Continue Reading
The weather doesn't stop
Gary Szatkowski is Chief Meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey. During the lead up to Hurricane Sandy, he managed the forecasts of the NWS, and made sure that emergency managers, government officials, and the general public were aware of the potential impacts of the storm. In the aftermath, he helped to keep his staff in high spirits and made sure the forecasts continued going out. In his narrative, he shares his thoughts on what the NWS did right and what they have learned from the storm, as well as his experiences during the storm Continue Reading
Never had a storm like this
Kenneth Ferrante has served the city of Hoboken for twenty-two years, first as a patrol officer and now as the Chief of Police. During Hurricane Sandy, Ferrante was the Commander of the south portion of Hoboken and was in charge of forty officers. In his narrative, he discusses his experiences in responding to those in need during the storm. He also discusses the progress the city had made in the aftermath, the community’s strengthened resilience, and the department’s continuing work to protect and serve. Continue Reading
The perspective of a renter
Patty Harth is a resident of Edison, New Jersey, and she lived in the state for more than half a century. Since her childhood, the shore has been her “summer home.” Like many New Jerseyans, she rents a property on the shore in the same place each summer, hers being in Toms River. Though she did not experience personal loss to property or possessions as a result of Hurricane Sandy, the storm nonetheless has had a tremendous impact on her life and the lives of her summer neighbors, many of whom are year-round residents. In her narrative, she speaks to this sense of loss, as well as to her thoughts regarding the future of the shore. Continue Reading