Cleaning Up After Sandy in Bayville

Bayville homeowners returned to badly flooded homes after Hurricane Sandy. Without power four days after the storm, they're still struggling to clean up the mess with the help of friends and the community.

Jennifer Pascucci lives on Bayville Avenue and the sight in front of her home was similar to her neighbors: bags of trash, soggy books, and furniture warped from dampness. She came home to a flooded basement after evacuating Monday.

"The water came up to the ceiling, to the top step, and the wind came whipping in and blew the garage door in so when I came home I had no garage," she said.

She spent Thursday afternoon cleaning out the basement with a group of friends and neighbors; men hauled spent furniture and appliances away in a truck. Though Jennifer took most precious belongings out of the basement before she left, a few were left behind and served as bitter reminders of Hurricane Sandy's impact upon her return.

"As we were pumping out the first night, a lot of things came floating by like pictures and my daughters' awards," she said. "It's very eerie to be in your basement up to your chest in water and pushing all your belongings inside; it's quiet except for the sound of generators and chainsaws all around you."

Jennifer put things worth saving in a pile to dry, but most wound up in the trash. "I have to be brutal," she said.

Jennifer's cleanup efforts were powered by friends and the pumps by the generosity of her neighbor, who shared his generator. Speaking to her neighbors, she said that most people are getting by with help from those closest to them while waiting for power to return for the fifth day in a row since Hurricane Sandy. Only a few businesses are open in Bayville, including Ralph's Pizza, Bayville Beverage, IGA, and the pharmacy, all running on generators.

"Everybody shows up to help, it's amazing," she said. "I'm borrowing stuff from the neighbors and my neighbor had me plugged into his generator to keep the pumps going."

The presidential and numbered streets in Bayville were hit particularly hard by flooding during Hurricane Sandy, with effects much more severe than Irene. Low lying areas such as those were issued a mandatory evacuation on Monday, followed by a forced evacuation by Army National Guard troops for any who stayed behind.

Bayville seemed to have recovered its bearings on Thursday afternoon, even though power was still out and trees still littered side roads. Main roads were clear and Bayville Road was open to traffic, although West Shore Road remains closed to through traffic. Police are letting residents on Shore Road in from either end with police monitoring a collapsed portion of the road. No word yet on how or when the road will be repaired.

In the case of flooding, residents should dry out belongings as soon as possible and be weary of electrical outlets if and when the power goes back on, especially if flooding is from saltwater, which conducts electricity. Mold is also a concern. For tips on how to clean up you home after flooding and who to call, read the attached PDF Red Cross guide.