Family Leaves Long Valley After Irene Engulfed Home

Michael and Allison Savino knew their West Mill Road home was close to the South Branch of the Raritan River. But not close enough to make a negative impact on their home.

Or so they thought.

When Hurricane Irene ripped through Washington Township on Aug. 27, 2011, the river behind the Savino's home didn't peak until the early hours the following morning. 

Allison Savino's mother, who owned the adjacent property, called her daughter and told them they needed to get out and fast once she saw the river rising.

What happened next was nothing short of unimaginable. 

The river broke the banks and rushed up to and inside the Savino's home, demolishing the septic system and interior of the basement and first level of the structure. 

In the aftermath, the house needed to be stripped down to the bare bones, Michael Savino said. 

With a toddler in tow, the family felt it was best to start new and moved out of state. The property was officially sold in February, Savino said, to a family friend who will restore the property.

It took five months for the family's insurance company to settle the claim, and originally the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offered the Savinos a phone and a crib. Savino said the agency ended up giving a small amount of help. 

The nightmare day and months afterward are now a memory, but one the family will surely never forget. 

Attached to this article is a video taken by Michael Savino of the flood waters swirling through his property and the effects it had on his home.