August 2012…
Nine months later, it’s still not the same here.
The news media has long ago moved on, as if sound
bites and good intentions had restored everything to
normal.
People are still rebuilding. Some are knocking
down their houses and putting up modulars at a
height of 8 feet from the ground. Some are raising
existing houses. I drove through the West End, and
saw houses still in various stages of rebuilding, as
they are in Lido Beach, the Canals, and at East End.
It still goes on. Many of those who have moved back
in are saying, “Yes, we’re in, but it’s not completely
finished yet.”
I work as a volunteer at a cat rescue shelter, Long
Beach Humane Society, which had taken in 4 feet of
water during Sandy. After the storm, we had returned
to find the Society’s leased storefront filled with sump
water and sewage. We had evacuated all of the kittens
and cats to safety prior to the storm; no animal had
been left in the store. Sadly, circumstances had not
permitted us to pull animals from a local “kill” shelter,
so other lives that might have been saved were lost.
After an extensive rebuilding effort, the Humane
Society was told in February that their lease would not
be renewed. The owners of the pet supply store said
they needed the room for ‘additional retail space’ for
a dog grooming salon! So after all of the rebuilding
and the inability to pull from the kill shelter and save
lives, the eviction was yet another big blow.
The president of the Humane Society began
a search for another space, as a host of angry
residents sent letters, emails and made phone calls
to the store’s corporate office. One of the owners of
the store pledged $1,000 a month toward rent in the
new location, which turned out to be in Island Park,
one town north of Long Beach. Island Park had also
suffered significant damage, worse than Long Beach
in most areas. Boats had been found on the train
tracks, in parking lots, in streets, and in front yards.
The spot that was ultimately leased had taken in
about 3 feet of water, and that store hadn’t flooded in
the 50 years before Sandy. We had more work to do.
At the end of June, the rescue finally moved from
Oceanside to Island Park. There was a huge turnout
of volunteers, and within a few short hours, the new
place was up and running. Island Park residents,
many still repairing their own damage from the storm,
brought bottled water for volunteers, paper plates,
cleaning supplies and lots and lots of good will. Many
people decided it was time to adopt a new friend, and
went home with kittens.
The City of Long Beach had a mantra in the days
after the storm: “We’re going to rebuild stronger,
safer and smarter”. In July, Billy Crystal, who was
raised in Long Beach, made a special appearance on
the boardwalk, announcing a series of commercials
promoting Long Beach as a tourist destination. He
also announced the donation of a million dollars,
Superstorm
The Epilogue
By Linda Chodkowski
17
