The Jersey Shore Update

Depending on who you talk to was it a Hurricane or a Super Storm.  Doesn't really matter to this person because they lost everything.  

The mass devastation in this area leaves my head spinning.  I can't seem to get my brain to comprehend what these people have lost and the immense suffering that will continue to go on long after Tom and I are gone.  Through it all they have kept their heads up high and been very kind to us as we did our jobs to get them the assistance they needed so much from FEMA.  In the first week the money was coming fast and furious. People were getting help within days of their inspections reaching FEMA.  Maybe it's coincidence, I think not, but after the election the money has dwindled and all but stopped.  Applicants have contacted me and told me they were denied and wanted to know why.  I have no answer as we are simply the collectors of information on their damages and then we submit that to FEMA.  

As the days rolled by and inspections came in we continued our working thinking we were helping.  All the while actually giving people hope of some help only to have it snatched away by big brother.  (I am a bit bitter).  

Based on the applications we were told were coming in we thought we'd be here for at least a couple of months.  The total applications are some where around 300,000.  

This boat was at a dock behind this house on the street.  I have seen many of these. 

We decided to move south to be closer to Tom's area because he was commuting almost an hour each way every day.  So we left the campground this past Monday 11-19-12, where we had paid for a full month without a refund and booked a month about 35 miles south in a place called Bayville, NJ.  We left to do our inspections and upon our return that evening Tom got the call he was released.  Anger, disappointment and sadness does not even describe the full depth of my feelings.   So many more people needed our help.  That's when things began to unravel.  We came to realize that inspections were being held by FEMA until insurance companies made up their minds what they were going to pay.    The sad part about that is that insurance companies are either not paying, not paying much (depending on the policy), taking months to even inspect properties or not calling these poor people back.  So everything is grinding to a halt.  

I pumped out as many inspections as I could yesterday hoping I would get more only to get a call last evening that I was released and I needed to send in any inspections which I had not scheduled.   

Tom went to the office and talked to the owners who were understanding and are now only charging us for a week and we will be leaving here Sunday.  

We have cried with people hearing their stories of riding out the storm, waking up in the night to find 2 feet of more of water on the first floor of their homes, and coming back after the storm to find their lives drowned in contaminated muddy sea water.  The smell in some homes was unreal.  Talking with people who found their photos floating, heirloom furniture completely destroyed, and new remodels just finished all turned to trash.  

One lady found out she had breast cancer the Friday before the storm, was told she had to surgery quickly for it and then lost her entire home all in 3 days.  The tears were plentiful that day.  

Many have terrific attitudes and don't want to take more than they need to get back on their feet.  They just need a little push and that's what we thought we were doing.  I am disappointed and I don't think I can do this again unless it's on a level of simply helping out on a volunteer capacity.

We worked hard and helped some I know.  I wish we could have helped more. These communities are coming together and working together to rebuild.  My heart goes out to New Jersey and the Jersey Shore.  

Don't mess with this neighborhood.