Storm Chronicles - A Look Back At October 29, 2012

By Patricia A. Miller

The fear began days before the storm.

Watching and waiting to see which way Sandy would turn. The stomach-churning realization that this monster would veer all the way up to New Jersey and then, unbelievably, make a sharp left. Right towards Ocean County.

"The track of Sandy resulted in a worse case scenario for storm surge for coastal regions from New Jersey north to Connecticut including New York City and Long Island," according to the National Weather Service summary of the Oct. 29, 2012 storm. "Unfortunately, the storm surge occurred near the time of high tide along the Atlantic Coast. This contributed to record tide levels."

A volunteer from the Bayville Fire Company knocked on our door at about 9 p.m. the Friday night before Sandy. He asked us to sign a release acknowledging that we understood no one could come and rescue us at the height of the storm if we failed to leave.

The fear grew.

I signed. We had no thoughts of staying, especially after Berkeley police cruised  slowly through our neighborhood many times, telling us we had to be out by noon on Monday.

The wind roared off the Toms River as we made our way through Bayville with three terrified cats. By the time we reached Pine Beach, trees were already toppling and falling on power lines.

It would be seven long months before we were able to sleep in our house again.

I called a neighbor who had stayed the next morning to see how things were. There was a long silence. Finally he said, "Don't you know?" He didn't have to say anything else.

The fear grew.

Our house had the dubious distinction of being a "51-percenter" - meaning it was more than 50 percent damaged and would have to be elevated. Floors were torn out down to the joists. Sheetrock had to be ripped out four feet up the walls. All of the wiring had to be replaced, outlets moved 18 inches higher than they used to be.

Contractors were in short supply. We grabbed whoever we could for the demolition, electrical and plumbing work. Some were excellent, some were not. Most had taken on too many jobs, which meant lengthy waits for them to show up at times.

A parade of workers moved through what was left of our home. We could not be there all the time and some things disappeared, including a laptop I thought I had hidden from view.

All through the cold winter months we lugged ruined furniture, books, and sodden belongings to the curb. We waited for contractors and inspectors who at times did not show up.

And all along, the fear grew.

I spent months trying to wade my way through the miasma of FEMA regulations, federal and state grants and programs. The house had to go up. We are eligible for the Increased Cost of Compensation money from the flood insurance policy, which can provide up to $30,000 to elevate.

I applied for a Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) grant - from the state's reNew Jersey Stronger program back in June.

I received a response in a letter dated July 8, 2013.

"At this time, available federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for this program have been fully awarded; however your application has been placed on a waiting list pending the receipt of additional funding. Because it appears that you may be eligible for participation in this program, should additional funds be made available, you name will be kept on the waiting list in the order in which it was received."

We are still waiting.

We moved back home the day before Memorial Day, after seven long months sleeping on a fold-out couch in my son's basement, next to the pool table. The house wasn't finished. We had no kitchen. But we were home.

The fear still grows.

I look across the street at the cobalt waters of the Toms River, a view that once entranced me. I'm not so entranced anymore. I remember what it did to our home and our neighborhood.

The fear is now accompanied by fatigue. When we first came home, I was determined to have the house elevated by the fall. That hasn't happened and won't until there is enough money to do it.

After months of making phone calls, visiting disaster recovery centers, covering informational sessions and trying to hold down a demanding full-time job, I burned out. The storm fatigue has taken its toll.

And for those who think Sandy news should be put on the back burner, you are very, very wrong. Too many people are waiting too long or insurance, grant money, loans and FEMA. Too many people still can't go home or can never go home.

So don't pay to much attention to Gov. Christie's cheery boardwalk photo ops. He needs to visit Ortley Beach, Good Luck Point, Glen Cove, Ocean Gate, Forked River Beach and Beach Haven West to see how things really are. And they are not good.

October 29, 2012. Just the mention of the date makes me shudder. A few days ago I wrote about a Bayville woman who could return home, but is petrified there's another Sandy in her future.

I know how she feels.