The last seven days have been one of the most difficult weeks many of us have ever faced; some have not survived. As the case with any major incident, once the skies clear a bit we must assess, heal and learn because there will be a next time. There always is.
Hurricane Sandy pounded the northeast and the New Jersey Shore area in particular. I saw heroism, fear, good neighbors, tragedy and hope in this mess.
Friends and co-workers lost their homes. People in our community died, children were lost, this is the painful truth and the legacy of this storm. There is another side as well. And it is in the midst of this swirling chaos that it revealed itself.
Neighbors welcoming neighbors and friends into their homes in the middle of the night. Police officers, fire fighters and other emergency workers moving with speed and dedication to save lives and property. Members of the community saying thank you, people showing restraint even when their nerves were worn thin. This is the hope that was revealed. We pulled together.
I was working the past six days. There were countless numbers of residents of my community that brought food, drink and thanks to my officers as they toiled around the clock protecting the community. We were all in the same position, trying to survive. Many of the officers had families at home alone during the storm and in the days afterward. They found it easier to leave them and do their duty because they had friends and family to count on and people who understood their struggles.
We have made it to Storm day plus 7. The true reality of the loss is really just beginning to become apparent. We must maintain the cohesiveness and good will we displayed during the initial crisis. Things will get better.
In the coming days we will bury our dead, clear the debris of our losses and begin again to live. There is little consolation to those who lost someone, so we, the survivors must pray for them and lend our hands to support them. It is only through this process that we can truly help each other rebuild. Then we must plan for the next event. It looms just down the road. We may not be able to see it clearly but its there. How we prepare and learn from this incident, the good and the bad, will help us tomorrow.
God bless us all and watch over us.
