We Are Jersey Strong And Rebuilding Long Beach Island

Here in New Jersey, We Are Jersey Strong and Rebuilding Long Beach Island one day at a time. Things are going smoothly with rebuilding our Island considering what Hurricane Sandy left us with. It will take some time, but when all done, L.B.I will better than before Super Storm Sandy devastated it.

There were towns on the Island that were hit much harder than others, but everyone is working together in hopes to have the Island up and running for the Summer season.

Workers have been up and down the beaches for months rebuilding our dunes that Hurricane Sandy took with her. Sand has been trucked in and heavy equipment have been moving the sand back up to where the dunes once stood.

They have built the dunes up much higher than previously, due to the fact, if another storm comes like Sandy the new higher dunes will protect the homes better and our Island.

In a few different areas on Long Beach Island the Ocean met the Bay. The devastation was horrible, and so much was lost, but we the people of New Jersey will rebuild, bigger and better than before.

My first visit to the Island after the storm hit and we were aloud to enter the Island, tears came for my eyes and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. For someone like myself that was brought up on L.B.I. my memories were the best in my life and to see how the Island changed overnight was truly heartbreaking to say the least. Memories flashed before my eyes remembering different places, and now to see them gone was the most horrible thing you could imagine.

Things are coming together and moving along smoothly for what I have seen each day I ride up and down the 18 mile stretch of the Island.

Down at the South end of Long Beach Island is a town called Holgate. This is one of the places that really got hit hard from Hurricane Sandy. Beautiful homes that sat right on the Ocean totally destroyed, and across the street homes were swept right off their foundations smashing into the homes next door. At the end of the Island (Holgate) is the Beach Haven Inlet. The inlet between L.B.I and Atlantic City.

In that same area was a mobile home park, called Long Beach Island Trailer Park. Mobile homes crashed into each other as the Ocean waves took everything it's path.

Most homes you look at, you can see right through the home and see nothing, but wall studs. These homes all had to be gutted. Ripping out all the sheet rock and insulation from being soaked from feet of water in each home.

My sister's home on the bay in Ship Bottom was also gutted to the studs, but the damage and mold was too much to repair, so in about a week or so she will be having the home torn down and getting ready to put the new home on piles 11 feet above sea level. Hopefully this will be high enough in case of another storm like Hurricane Sandy comes ashore, which I pray that never happens again, but who knows the way our climate is changing each year.

A few businesses are now open on the Island, which is a pleasant thing to see. Miniature Golf, Wawa, 7-11 and a few Restaurants. A few Hotels/Motels are also opening one by one.

Everyone on the Island has, and is still working so hard to get ready for the Summer and hope that Hurricane Sandy didn't scare anyone away. We are open everyone, so come on down to L.B.I. for your Summer Vacation, just like before!

So many homes have been torn down and being rebuilt at a higher elevations. Many of homes are up for sale, due to the storm. I have seen homes for $1.00 that are gutted and all they ask is to move the home off the lot so that they can either sell the lot, or rebuild a new home. I guess maybe it is less expensive that way rather than pay to demo the home. That's my guess, but how much would moving a home to a different location cost? I am sure tons of money is my guess.

KEEP STAYING STRONG NEW JERSEY, AND THE RESIDENTS AND HOME OWNERS ON LONG BEACH ISLAND. REMEMBER, WE ARE JERSEY STRONG AND NOTHING WILL GET US DOWN, INCLUDING HURRICANE SANDY!