Aftermath

                                                      Photo: coastalcare.org

By now most of us are aware of the devastating blow hurricane Sandy delivered to our Alma mater  state, New Jersey. There are 36 classmates and their families who still live there and by a rough count, around 12 of them live along or near the Jersey shore. Ten counties have been declared federal disaster zones, including Union County where HTHS was. Several of our classmates still live there. I have tried to contact Lou Bace Hogan by email and phone with no success. Power may still be down there. Charlie sent out several emails just before the storm to those he knew lived along the coast urging them to get out. He has only heard from Ella Mae Weikel Roessner, she "is safe but homeless." Not hearing from any of the others can be a frightening experience especially when we are used to communications brought to our livingrooms at lightening speed in this Twenty-first Century. All we can do is wait and pray that all our NJ classmates and others in the affected areas of Sandy are alive and safe.

I know that many of my classmates, for whatever reasons known only to themselves, refuse to participate in the class blog. I also know that many of my classmates have visited the blog numerous times before the reunion and, especially, afterwards to see all the great photos of  members of our class enjoying themselves at a superb location in, Spring Lake, that may no longer resemble what they experienced. We just don't know what is happening.

So, I am making this plea to all classmates regardless of where you live: If you know of anyone who has been hurt by this storm or is now safe from it, please let us all know here on the blog. If you are from Jersey by all means do let us know how everything is going for you and any others that you know of as power and communications permit. It's one of those times a blog can be useful in almost real time communications and getting the word out. We are all concerned.

Use the comment button just below to say anything or add anything you feel appropriate. This is not about me or you. It's about all of us.

Update 11-5-12  Elaine Reinberg Martin has an offer of assistance for any of our New Jersey classmates who find themselves in need. Don't be shy about asking for help. Check out the comments link. Caution: Do not divulge personal info like tele#, email or home addresses in the comments section. Use the class roster to get in contact with a specific classmate. If you don't have that you can email me at the email address at above right on this page. I can email you the info that you are looking for.
Update 11-5-12 #2 After checking around I found this useful source of information. Westfield Patch. I tried calling several classmates in Westfield with no success, however, power is supposed to be back on by this evening. Perhaps as early as tomorrow we may get more firsthand information about what has happened. As far as Westfield is concerned. As to our classmates and friends along the coast that may take a while longer.
Update 11-7-12 Spoke briefly with Lou yesterday via cell phone. She and her family are all OK though Westfield is "a mess" and power has not been fully restored. Not for her house. The Westfield Patch, strangely, has nothing about this continued power problem except that schools will be closed today in anticipation of another strong and cold nor'easter aimed at NJ and NY later today.
The chief culprit does appear to be downed trees throughout Westfield. Lou's son-in-law, Kevin, in the Westfield FD told her that 25 homes have been condemned and 75 more have structural problems.
Also spoke with Tom Polese and his wife, Doris. According to Tom, the King's home in Spring Lake where the reunion was held has been spared, though other shoreline communities like Mantoloking, Long Branch, Atlantic City and Asbury Park have severe damage.
Update 11-7-12 #2 Received an email from Lou and she finally has power, though many in Westfield still do not. She reports that Kathy Helmstetter, Becky Maher and Carole Plowcha are all OK.
Update 11-8-12 From an email sent by Lou, there is now 3" of snow on the ground in Westfield as of 7:30 AM EST. Those offers from Wisconsin and Massachusetts are looking more and more appealing aren't they, Jersey folk? If there was only some member of the class who owned a hotel on Oahu.....


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