Superstorm Sandy – Looking Back 10 Years Later

TOMS RIVER – This month marks 10 years since Superstorm Sandy hit the Jersey Shore coastline and many other towns on the east coast. A day before Toms River’s trick-or-treat day on October 29th, the surge of Sandy forever changed the shape of the Jersey shore. Many Ocean County towns were devastated by Sandy. The Ocean County Planning Board estimated that more than 25,000 people in Ocean County were still displaced because of the storm a year later.

“A decade after Superstorm Sandy, we continue to remember those whose lives were upended, and we are grateful for all those who came together to help families rebuild their lives,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International.

Habitat for Humanity International drove twenty-four vans from Atlanta to New Jersey with tools to help with the rebuilding of Northern Ocean Habitat and neighboring impacted Habitat affiliate areas.

Under the leadership of Suzan Fichtner at that time, Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity joined the Ocean County Long Term Recovery Team becoming a part of the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Response in response to the need for extensive home repairs after Sandy.

“Words cannot express the sadness and despair that we witnessed as our neighbors lost everything, said Suzan Fichtner, Northern Ocean Habitat’s Executive Director during the time when Sandy hit, “A home holds our treasures, our memories, our photos, our belongings, only to be swept away forever. Yet out of the rubble, we witnessed the best of humanity! Strangers became friends, neighbors cared for neighbors, businesses shared their resources, nonprofits created a collaborative recovery, and heroes came in the form "Care-A-Vanners," and stayed for weeks upon weeks rebuilding homes and hope for all of us. I am proud to have been a member of the Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group! Together, we created a recovery plan that worked for everyone!”

In partnership with Compass 82, they restored 60 homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy through funding from numerous local and national grants, including an $80,000 Wells Fargo grant: six Berkeley homes, nine Brick homes, three Jackson homes, one Manchester home, two Point Pleasant Beach homes, one Point Pleasant home, four Seaside Heights homes, two South Toms River homes, 27 Toms River homes, and four Ocean Gate homes.

“One of Habitat for Humanity’s ongoing commitments is to help people around the world who are affected by disasters,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, "Our heart goes out to those who are suffering from the latest events.” Hurricane Ian made landfall on the west coast of Florida Wednesday night into Thursday on September 29th with 150 mph winds, exactly one month from the anniversary of Sandy.

Over the past ten years, Northern Ocean Habitat has expanded its programs from Disaster Relief to critical home repair programs to serve Ocean County homeowners in need. These programs help seniors age-in-place with ADA modifications to the bathroom, creating walker stairs, installing ramps, and more. They are essential for the high senior population in Ocean County, and Northern Ocean Habitat works closely with Senior Services and its community partners for cross referrals and helping seniors in need.

Northern Ocean Habitat’s home repair programs also provide critical repairs, regardless of age such as roof replacements, plumbing, electrical, flooring, and other repairs needed to restore the home and ensure it’s a decent place to live. To date, Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity has built 21 homes, provided over 320 critical home repairs, and restored over 50 homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

"Superstorm Sandy exposed the need for critical home repairs for those in need in our communities, said Kristine Novakowski, Northern Ocean Habitat’s current Executive Director, “The connections and partnerships we created during this time increased our capacity to where we are today; serving over 50 families per year with our critical home repair programs."

To learn more about Northern Ocean Habitat’s home repair programs, call 732-818-9500 x 102.

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, a New Jersey-based affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, was founded in 1999. Through volunteerism, skilled labor, and donations of money and materials, the organization rehabilitates and builds safe houses alongside its homeowner/ partner families. Northern Ocean Habitat also operates the ReStore, a retail shop that generates funds through sales of donated goods and keeps tons of materials out of landfills. The ReStore proceeds are to support new home builds and its Neighborhood Revitalization programs. The Neighborhood Revitalization initiative includes the Home Preservation, Housing Plus Aging in Place, A Brush with Kindness, and Veteran Repair programs. These programs provide home renovations addressing health and/or safety issues, all with the goal of keeping residents in the comfort of their own homes. To learn more, visit https://northernoceanhabitat.o...