In Highlands, the Cleanup Begins (PHOTOS)
Residents clear out homes of items destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
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Tom Kranis takes a break from cleaning out his Hurricane Sandy-damaged home.
Photos (10)
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Mary Kranis has lived in her Shrewsbury Avenue home for 33 years but has been a Highlands resident her entire life. Taking a break from clearing out her family’s water-logged belongings the weekend after Hurricane Sandy brought the bay into her home, Kranis expressed pride in her hometown.
“We’re the ones who always stick together. We all help each other. It’s more of a neighborhood,” Kranis said. Almost on cue, a neighbor drove up offering hot coffee. “See, there’s a lot of that.”
Despite a flooded home—in fact, three flooded homes among her relatives, Kranis was grateful. The volunteers have been wonderful, she said, and she had the support of friends and fellow Highlands residents. Members of her church, Atlantic Highlands United Methodist, brought food and took away clothing to be laundered. Off-duty police officers have stopped by at night to see if the residents needed anything.
“It could have been worse. At least we’re here,” Kranis said.
After her home, which is elevated about six feet, survived the 1992 storm that flooded much of Highlands, Kranis and her neighbors expected to wait out Sandy. When the morning before the storm came and the water reached their sidewalks, she and much of the neighborhood decided to leave. They were glad they did. One resident who stayed survived a terrifying night with waves crashing into the windows. Boats from the Twin Lights Marina up the road were tossed into the street by the storm.
The cleanup will take weeks, Kranis said. But in the meantime, she and her neighbors try to find time for humor as they sort through the mess. She pointed to signs made on the damaged property left at the curb.
“You see all the stuff we wrote over there? Everyone’s adding to it,” Kranis said.
One sign read “Waterfront Property for Sale,” another, leaning on a fence post next to an Elmo doll left out to dry, read “Elmo Doesn’t Like Sandy.”
Next door, another pile of destroyed belongings was left out to the curb. The sign there read, “Welcome To Paradise.”
maria magali pereira dos santos
5:52 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Irmãos americanos: lamento não estar perto para poder ajudá-los. Em 2005 estive nesta linda e simpática cidade. Durante o Sandy imaginava que ela estava sendo atingida e sofri junto com vocês. Orei muito e continuo orando para que o Senho,r nosso Pai, volva sua face para todos os que sofreram perdas com a tempestade e dê forças para reconstruir. Que o Sandy tenha sido, também, uma oportunidade para uma solidariedade maior. Abraços de uma brasileira aqui do Sul do Brasil. Magali
Madison Kranis
8:31 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I've lived in Highlands my whole life (15 years) and we all see everyone is doing so much to help out. The teachers of Highlands Elementary School and Henry Hudson Regional School have been down helping and showing everyone they want to help us. One of the teachers said, "How could we not come help? We're a family!" On Bay Ave. Jesus Fellowship Calvary Chapel has been doing so much!! Everyday having food and soups and hot drinks for the town. The times I went over they are also so supportive. On a day I was really not in the mood to do anything my gym teacher who was helping out there hugs me and told me "Everything is going to be alright" and to "Keep your head up kiddo." This is a true community not even just times of devastation...all the time. Think about it do you know you're neighbors names? If you do do you talk to them? Do you even smile and wave? My neighbors and my family help each other EVERYDAY we sit together make jokes help one another redecorate or even just lending them a lawn mower for a few hours. That is how it should be...we love our neighbors and we love Highlands and we love our country. Also, I just want to say I know we got lucky it's just our first floor damaged I know people who lost everything ...clothes....bed....shoes...blankets....couches....everything.
-Madi
(Mary's daughter)
Jacklyn Corley
8:18 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Thanks for posting this, Madi. I was really grateful to get to spend some time talking to you and your mom and dad. Your mom had such a positive attitude in spite of what had to be a hellish week. I hope your family and your neighbors are getting through this second storm all right.
Julie Tapke
6:13 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Madi, That was so well written and I am so proud of your enthusiasm and positive outlook. The town of Highlands has been completely devastated by Hurricane Sandy, but the community will remain strong and united. If there is anything the Teacher's Association can do to help any of your families please ask, we all want to help you rebuild the town of Highlands!
Julie Tapke
Highlands Elementary School Teacher