By Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven Girl Scout Caroline Peters made it through Hurricane Sandy unscathed.
But the teen, daughter of Councilman Jonathan Peters, saw what the storm did to the property of people she knew well and cared about. She watched as it ripped up the iconic Fair Haven Dock, a traditional spot for all those who grow up Fair Haven style.
Continue reading Girl Scout Project Earmarks Sandy, Storm Surge Education
By Elaine Van Develde
Hurricane Sandy’s waters rushed into Rumson’s West Park section, pushing residents out and leaving lots of devastation behind.
The U.S. Army National Guard’s soldiers were posted at its entrances. There was no passing through for some time.
When the downed wires and felled trees were fixed enough and the floodwaters had subsided, there was a sense of calm, yet eerie stillness in the neighborhood.
This is what it looked like at sunset at the foot of Washington Avenue by the Shrewsbury River’s inlet.
Remember?
By Elaine Van Develde
When the storm’s rage subsided, the Rumson-Fair Haven area was left literally powerless for nearly two weeks. Then the guys from Alabama Power rolled in to the rescue, quickly being dubbed Hurricane Sandy heroes.
In what seemed like effortless work to them, sorely needed electricity was on and humming away within a couple of days.
Area residents flocked to Fair Haven Fields to feed the crew and heap on the accolades. The Alabama guys met them with smiles and a great service that has gone unforgotten.
Remember these warm smiles?
By Elaine Van Develde
Two years ago, voting in a presidential election in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy became historic for many reasons.
One of those reasons was just the logistics of where displaced people whose towns and selves were handicapped by the storm were voting.
Then there was the notion of getting people out from under their Sandy-plagued circumstances to vote at all.
Well, the turnout was much higher than anticipated. This is how it looked at one polling place in Fair Haven — the firehouse — that took in its Sea Bright neighbors to vote.
Remember?
By Elaine Van Develde
It was about this time two years ago that Woody’s Ocean Grille Owner Chris Wood and Head Chef Onofrio Muscato saw an immediate need to help the hungry, cold and displaced in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
So, they just pulled out the grill and started flipping burgers, eggs and anything else they could to serve up some comfort to the superstorm’s victim. Before long, the U.S. Army National Guard was sent to set up camp and help. Word spread and soon there was a parking lot full of mess tents, food trucks, clothing bins and more.
Sea Bright Rising was born.
Two years later, Sea Bright Rising has brought in $1.3 million and distributed $1 million of it, Wood said recently. And the organization is not done yet. Many more of Sandy’s victims are still displaced and Sea Bright Rising wants to help.
Check out the non-profit’s website at seabrightrising.org.
By Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven was a luckier victim of Hurricane Sandy’s penchant for whipping up the floodwaters. But neither the dock nor the marina and little beach at the end of DeNormandie Avenue quite stood up to it.
The water level rose above decks and it’s stormy strength ripped up chunks of the borough’s iconic landmarks while it tossed debris all over the place in both spots.
It’s all been put back together since. But, this is what the area at the end of DeNormandie looked like then. Today’s weather brings a hint of it all back.
By Elaine Van Develde
When the superstorm stopped, it plopped Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright down in pieces.
People of the Rumson-Fair Haven area mourned the loss to an unforgiving Sandy. And when they were allowed to travel over the bridge into Sea Bright, many diehard loyalists of the Donovan’s summer tiki tradition by the sea could be found sitting and just staring at what once was piled in a heap feet away from its spot of origin.
After surviving rumors of commitment to rebuilding, a sale and total obliteration flipping back and forth, Donovan’s owners have announced that they will be rebuilding. This past summer, though, one non-functional Tiki hut marked the spot. Until next season …
Here’s what the demise of the popular spot looked like in 2012, just after the storm …
All photos by Elaine Van Develde, not previously published
By Elaine Van Develde
Remember what things looked like around town two years ago?
While the low-lying areas of Rumson were smacked the hardest by Hurricane Sandy, trees were felled all over town.
They brought wires down with them as they crashed onto various mainstay structures. Piping Rock Park, near the high school, was no exception.
Meanwhile, in the West Park section, no one could get in or out. But, from a distance one could see that the water and wind parked all sorts of debris from Sea Bright on Rumson land along the Shrewsbury River.
There were boats, cabanas and more. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Retro Pic of the Day devoted to looking back on Sandy.
By Elaine Van Develde
It was two years ago that Sea Bright and low-lying parts of Rumson were ravaged by Hurricane Sandy.
Even after the wind and rain stopped and the Shrewsbury River and ocean parted and drifted back to where they belonged, people were put out of their homes and there was no getting into or out of Sea Bright.
The U.S. Army’s National Guard was called in to help. Sea Bright residents lined up for a shuttle to take them for a small window of time to grab integral belongings from their ruined homes.
Rumson police and the guardsmen blocked the bridge and food, hot beverages were served as emergency clothing was doled out.
It was a surreal scene for all involved.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will feature Sandy photos for the next two weeks, until the lights came back on at the time in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
By Elaine Van Develde
It was two years ago that Hurricane Sandy spun its wrath on the Rumson-Fair Haven area, devastating Sea Bright.
Donovan’s Reef, a mainstay summer partying spot was one of the superstorm’s worst victims.
This is what it looked like when the wind and rain stopped. Remember? Let us know which spot of Sandy decimation you remember most. Email us at [email protected].
By Elaine Van Develde
Not only is Halloween approaching, but it’s also a historic time of the year for people in the Rumson-Fair Haven area — the second anniversary of Sandy, the superstorm that crippled the coast.
So, as Rumsonites ready for Halloween, it’s also hard to forget Sandy’s wrath. That was certainly scary enough.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect found few decorations in the borough. Take a look and alert us to more ([email protected]). In the meantime, notice one Shrewsbury Avenue resident’s creative take on the anniversary and Halloween combined.
Photos by Elaine Van Develde
By Elaine Van Develde
Rumson-Fair Haven area people have been clinging onto summer days by the sea, celebrating locals’ summer into the fall.
The crowds are gone. The temperature is tepid. And the sun gently kisses the the sand and surf. Serenity and solace prevail in a Sea Bright that is still steadily recovering from Hurricane Sandy.
See for yourself.
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