I can now say I have been in a Hurricane. I hope that is crossed off the list never to return again. No longer on my to do list :) Hurricane Sandy was only a category one, we thought it was going to be more like a tropical storm nothing really to worry about. Chris had Monday off, so we waited all day for it to hit. Around 6pm the winds were crazy, we just sat by our window watching as trees fell. We woke up to this...
We were out of power for seven days, our house was freezing (it got to 54 degrees). We gathered up fire wood from our neighborhood, had flashlights, and just hung around for a couple days. Chris had the week off because the trains were not working. Around Friday the gas stations had run out of gas, both of our cars were on empty, which left us homebound all weekend. I have never seen anything like this before, over 75 cars lined up to use gas and only one gas station open in our entire town. It was like that for four days. We hit our low about Sunday, when it started to get colder and our power was still not on, so we stayed two nights with our Bishop and his sweet family.
Our power came back on Tuesday morning in time for the election. I have never been so happy about
anything in my life...I even cried!! We got lucky because the next morning we woke up to six inches of snow. We were so thankful for a warm house...
This last Saturday and Sunday we were able to serve with Mormon Helping Hands over in Rockaway, NY. It was unbelievable, a beautiful neighborhood on the beach was thrashed. The houses were half gone, garbage everywhere, cars ruined, sand on top of buildings, and basements destroyed. We spent an entire day helping a family demolish their basement.
Even though this was quite the last two weeks, I can honestly say I have learned so much from this crazy Hurricane. Chris and I feel more prepared for future events, now knowing what to expect. (forget your sugar and flour, there are no stoves. Also have as much gas as your car needs to evacuate)
I have grown to love New York more than I ever thought I would. I guess you do love the people you serve. Also I am amazed at the love and help people in our ward showed us.
3 comments:
Wow, I am so glad you guys are safe! Over here in Idaho, I feel so useless... and that makes me feel guilty! I am so glad you got to serve other people more in need than you, though everything you have gone through has not been easy! I am so proud of you and the church for helping so much. Is there anything we can do over here in Idaho!?
What an awesome story! You need to read those books Jill and be crazy like me :) The craziness wears off!
So glad you guys were safe!!!!! I just watched a movie on the church newsroom website about the helpings hands in Rockaway {i think!}. I watched for you!!! Miss you girl :)
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