Wind, Rain, Flickering Lights and Finally, a Sigh of Relief

Hurricane Irene rolled into town Saturday afternoon, bringing the type of ominous, dark clouds that let you know something  is about to happen. Thousands of people up and down the East coast had prepared for this storm, stocking up on groceries, bottled water, candles, batteries and anything else you might need during a potential natural disaster.

A sense of uncertainty lingered in the air of all of the major retailers, with empty shelves lining the walls where bread was once stocked. On one hand, the Weather Channel and News 12 were prediction the storm of the century, a category 3 or 4 hurricane making its way to our homes. On the other hand, stations like New Jersey 101.5 were giving warnings of media hype and public overreaction. The devastation could have been like we had never seen before and something we were definitely not equipped to handle. What if we were to be trapped in our houses or apartments with no power or no water for the next two days, a week, or maybe more?

Last minute shoppers made their way home as the first drops of rain began to fall. Governor Christie issued a state of emergency, evacuating residents from their towns in preparation for Irene’s arrival.

Even those who didn’t believe the storm to be a threat had an edge of doubt in their minds, with some refusing to evacuate even the most coastal towns. Shelters began to fill up, as more were opened to hold the growing number of evacuees. They arrived by the bus full, hoping there would be safety and room for them and their family.

As the storm grew closer, newscasters delivered a play-by-play of its path. Soon the storm was a less-threatening category 2, and predicted to be a category 1 or a tropical storm by the time it reached New Jersey. Almost a relief, meteorologists still warned that there is no such thing as a small hurricane. We would soon know just how true that statement could be.   

Rain continued to fall as the evening went on Saturday, sometimes as a drizzle and gradually becoming a steady downpour. By 9 p.m., the hurricane-force winds began to shake the trees of the neighborhood, letting residents know that Irene had finally arrived.

As the storm began to pour inches of water on the garden state, winds took trees out of the ground, placing them on houses, cars and power lines. Thousands of people would soon see the power outages that the media had been predicting, as transformers shorted out and lit up the streets.

Along with the rain and wind then came what many people feared: tornados. As if the hurricane weren’t bad enough, now another natural disaster had joined the party.

The rain continued into the morning, finally letting up mid-morning. The streets were flooded with water, with residents wading through knee-deep just to cross the road. Some places even needed major construction, like the bridge that caved in on Ravine Drive in Matawan. Township workers and police watched, keeping the public away as they waiting to see if the dam would break as well. Other places had branches strewn about, sometimes entire trees broken in half or town up from the roots. The community could be seen cleaning up their yards, local business taking the board down from their windows. Signs had been put up around the town reading things such as “Come on Irene,” “Kiss My Glass Irene,” and a local church even posted a clever, “Let the Son Shine.”

Now that the storm has subsided, some residents have been left without power and all residents with debri-covered lawns. As the public breathes a sigh of relief knowing they are safe from this storm, many can be heard saying a few simple words, “It could have been a lot worse.”