Hurricane Sandy has made an impact all over the East Coast, bringing destruction, chaos, and tragedy to everyone in her path. The hurricane has definitely had an impact on Fairfield University students, but has had a greater impact on people in New Jersey and New York.
The Jersey shore is the place that I call home. It is where all of my summers have been spent since I can remember. Now, streets are covered in sand, homes washed away, streets flooded, businesses destroyed, and all that is left are the memories people have of the sunny beaches where they spent their endless, summer days.
It is a horrible feeling to have to take everything from your home due to a mandatory evacuation, knowing you may never see the place you call home again. Unfortunately, so many people were required to do so this past week due to Sandy.
Fairfield seniors will never get to experience the real “senior year” because of this storm, but it definitely will be a senior year they will never forget.
However, going beyond the small town of Fairfield, bigger problems arise. Millions of people in New Jersey have been without power for over a week. Gas rations are in effect, allotting small portions of gas on “odd and even” days. People are without homes, cars, food. Over 100 deaths have been reported. New Jersey looks like a war zone.
I went home with the expectation that I would only be there for two days the weekend before the storm. Instead, I was trapped, with no power, down trees, flooded streets, and destruction all around. Yes, Fairfield students have suffered greatly, but a greater suffering is going on in places in New Jersey such as Seaside Heights and Atlantic City.
In both places, everything is gone. The Red Cross has been working hard to gather items for people in need. Power companies from out of state are coming to New Jersey to try and fix all of the damage that has been done. People are without lights and water! It is a scary sight to see; one that I never thought the good old Jersey shore would ever experience.
The storm made landfall in New Jersey, but has also impacted parts of New York. Lower Manhattan was hit very hard due to the storm. Subways were flooded and still are, making it extremely difficult for people to get to work. Staten Island has suffered many deaths due to fires. Long Island has lost many beaches and flooded drastically.
The point is, everyone along the East Coast is suffering. Tragedy has swept across the tri-state. The damage that has been done is going to take a long time to fix. Boardwalks were destroyed, homes were flooded, and power and gas still remain an issue. These are not things that can just be fixed over night. They are going to take a lot of time and money to fix.
It was upsetting to find that my high school is completely underwater and is going to cost millions of dollars to fix. This storm is not just as simple as picking up some down trees and draining water out of buildings. It is going to require people coming together and putting their time, effort, and money into restoring people’s way of life.
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