Bruised but not broken

Eric Dunetz/Herald

City Council President Len Torres spoke about the way Hurricane Sandy united the community in a time of need.

Eric Dunetz/Herald

Crowds gathered in Kennedy Plaza last week to remember Hurricane Sandy.

Eric Dunetz/Herald

Jennifer Hoeppner, far left, Penny Ryan and Ann Walsh with their “Stars of Hope” at last week’s ceremony.

Eric Dunetz/Herald

West End resident Terrance Mulligan in front of his newly elevated home last weekend.

Kristie Arden/Herald

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The memory of the morning after Hurricane Sandy struck the barrier island is still vivid for Delaware Avenue resident Penny Ryan, “I remember walking out and everyone was like a zombie,” Ryan recalled. “And someone looked at me and said, ‘Well, at least we’re alive.’ And we both just started crying. And it was a total stranger.”

Three years after the storm, many of the physical scars have healed. The boardwalk has been rebuilt, and the city has undertaken numerous infrastructure projects to enhance its resiliency. But emotional memories like Ryan’s persist, and many residents are still struggling to return or rebuild their homes.

Community members and local officials, including State Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky and the City Council, gathered last Thursday in Kennedy Plaza to reflect on the harrowing shared experience of the storm. Some expressed a desire to move on, and to stop defining Long Beach by one of its darkest hours. Others pointed out that it’s important not to lose sight of what happened, and the long road of rebuilding that still lies ahead.

“It’s important that people understand that this recovery is not yet over and that we have, unfortunately, a few more years to go” said Canals resident Kevin Reilly. “But it’s also very important that the bigger scheme of things is not forgotten … We’re still here. Long Beach is doing a very good job of trying to keep the houses above the waterline, but it’s difficult.”

Many of the speakers at last week’s ceremony focused on the way the community came together after the storm. “One of the interesting that happened was our city became so unified,” said City Council President Len Torres. “All of our city workers worked around the clock.” He recalled the way the fire and police departments lost cars and equipment driving through flooded streets, and walking to City Hall every day without power or cell phones to discuss the recovery effort with state officials.

“I just hope we can all hold on to that community spirit that developed in the aftermath of the storm,” Kaminsky said. “It’s, to me, the greatest silver lining that came with Sandy.” He shared an anecdote about two feuding neighbors who finally set aside their differences after the storm.