We are fine. No trees down. No damage. We went through a rather harrowing 14 hours with constant high winds; very fierce, terrifying winds. Amazingly, we never lost power. The lights flickered several times during the course of the day and each time we thought, this is it. But the power stayed on. We are very lucky. During Hurricane Irene last year, the metropolitan NYC area escaped with very little damage while Upstate NY (including our little area) sustained major, major damage. This time, the positions were reversed. Upstate NY seems to be okay, but New Jersey and NYC have sustained the brunt of the damage.
We had the television on most of the day. Our local news comes out of Manhattan and we watched in horror as Manhattan was flooded, transformers blew up, trees fell and power was lost. Atlantic City was flooded. The amount of damage is astronomical. Millions of people are without power in NY, NJ and CT. As of this morning 90% of the homes on Long Island were without power. Homes have burned to the ground, subways are flooded. It’s heartbreaking. My heart goes out to everyone whose home has sustained damage and/or is trying to cope with a loss of power. This storm was a monster.
And we keep hearing that these are going to occur more and more in the coming years. Little did I think we would be dealing with hurricanes when we moved here.
I slept very little last night – I think I was too keyed up from the tension of the day. But I’m very, very grateful that we are safe, that our house is safe, that our trees are still standing. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.
Scroll down one post for my book review (I wrote it and scheduled it to post today, not knowing whether we would have power.) It’s a wonderful mystery and I’m giving away a copy.
Happy Tuesday.
Dear Claudia–So very, very relieved to hear you, Don and Scout are safe! Thought of you all night while watching the storm on television. The amount of damage is staggering–hard to wrap your mind around the devastation. Thank you for letting us know you are okay. xxoo, Martha
Claudia,
I am so glad that you let us know how you are. So very thankful all is ok for you. I did not sleep because of gusty winds making me nervous in the night. And I was thinking and praying for those in much worse situations. You give so much to us. Book reviews, the opportunity to buy beautifully knitted items. Pictures of your home which really inspire me in many ways. Hugs…..you made it through the frightening weather.
Happy to hear yall are okay.
The storm coverage is devastating.
Prayers and good thoughts go out as everyone recovers.
I am happy to hear that you are safe and sound. It is amazing that you had so little damage and did;t lose power. xo Diana
Glad to know you are all safe and sound! I bet it was a long, nerve wracking day!
I’m so happy to hear you made it through without harm. Get some rest today!
So good to know you three and the cottage made it through that storm. I have still not heard from many other blogger and Instagram friends. Worried about them. Try to get some sleep now.
So glad to hear “all is well.” Was thinking about you and others last night and today. Life can sure be an adventure!
So glad you made it through alright. I saw photos of NYC and NJ and couldn’t believe it. We lived there for years and never had to go through anything even close to this. The worse thing might have been a black out in the summer in NYC.
Maybe all the global warming naysayers will have a change of heart. I know our weather in Georgia has been totally crazy the past two years.
So happy to hear that you are okay!!
xo Kris
I’m so relieved to read this! I was so scared for you, Don and Scout. Many thanks for posting this.
So glad to see you made it through the storm safely. Great to see your post up today and hear from you.
I’m so glad to hear that you are ok and back online! This storm could have been so much worse if those along the shores hadn’t evacuated. Terrible images on the news today…makes me so sad to see places I’ve visited in such a sorry state, and any loss of life is too much.
I’ve a few branches down here and the river is rising with the rain, but all in all a lucky escape. Glad to hear you came through it fine!
That is so good to hear Claudia :D I have been thinking of my East Coast family, friends and blog friends since yesterday. I sincerely hope all their news is as good as yours, but my heart bleeds for all the people who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods :(
Blessings that you are safe from the storm.
thank you for the update, dear Claudia. I am so thankful that all is safe in your place in the world.♥
I am relieved to hear that you and your beloved trees made it through last night. I hope you are able to rest today. So, so sad for the many that are suffering now and have lost much. Hoping Sandy peters out soon! Stay safe!
Thank you for posting. So glad you and yours escaped the wrath of Sandy. Thinking about the recovery for those not as fortunate. Happy Tuesday.
So glad you had no damage. We were very lucky as well. It was hard to watch the news from over here in Amsterdam but our daughter kept us up to date. My heart goes out to those families in Queens who lost their homes.
I am so glad you are OK! This was a horrible storm and the loss of homes, power and so much damage is so hard to see. Praying for all! Hugs, Linda
So glad to hear you’re OK! I’ve been watching the news and it’s just awful.
I am do happy you guys weathered the storm safely and with little damage. I was thinking about you watching news of the hurricane last night on CNN
Claudia, I am so relieved that you all are okay. I have been praying for you. I am so saddened by all of the loss this storm has brought. My thoughts and prayers remain with all of the people affected.
Hugs,
Laura
I am so glad to hear that you and your family and your house are okay!!
So glad to hear from you. I woke up several times during the night and thought about you and prayed for you. So glad you didn’t have any damage. God is good!!
Judy
Dear Claudia, I’m so glad to hear that you are well. So much devastation across many states. But as with every catastrophe, the cleanup and rebuilding will begin. Blessings to one and all, Tammy
So, so glad you are safe.
Hugs,
M
So glad you are okay! That was quite a storm. We are feeling winds all the way out here, and Lake Michigan is kicking out some powerful waves of her own! Hope all folks out East will see relief soon! ;)
Glad to hear you and your loved ones are safe!!
Claudia, I don’t watch much TV, but keep hearing, in blogland, about this horrible storm, and how it is affecting people. I’m so happy to hear that you are okay. I am sending prayers that everyone in the areas of this storm will be safe. Hugs, Debi
So glad you’re okay!
So thankful to hear you all are okay.
So glad to hear you’re OK Claudia.
I was sure your power would be out but I’d had you on my mind and thought to check in anyway just in case. Glad all is well there! :) We did not have the high winds that they predicted here in western pa ( they predicted 60 mph / more like 35 mph )
LOL…so yesterday I spent an hour taking everything down to the cellar or moving it into my living room ( wind chimes hanging from lamps..that sort of thing ) and today I spent another hour moving half of it back
Not complaining though…we were lucky. So many are not :(
I’m so glad to hear you and your things are safe. We have watched news coverage of the disaster from the safety of our farmhouse in Oregon. I think global warming is kicking butt now and am worried about how much worse it will get. ((hugs)), Teresa
Thank God you and your husband are safe and dry. You are blessed to still have power. We take so much for granted until the lights go out. Hopefully, tonight you will get some much needed rest.
Blessings and thanks for the update, my friend,
Carolynn
Hallelujah!!!! So glad ya’ll weathered the storm.
Dear Claudia,
Just dropping by to say I am so glad the storm spared you this time. I live in Washington State, but grew up in Virginia. My dad was in the Navy and I have memories of hurricane warnings. My dad would be called out to sea because that’s where they take the ships during a hurricane. My mom would be left with 5 children that she had to pack up and take to the local shelter (public school) where we would be housed on cots and floors and be fed enmasse. I thought it was an adventure. I’m sure my mom did not.
Hoping for fewer storms in your future,
Clara
I’m glad to hear that you are okay. :-)
I agree, Claudia. Our precious planet can only take so much abuse. No doubt we’ll be seeing ‘odd weather patterns’ more and more frequently as time goes on. When I was a child, a tornado or earthquake was unthinkable in New England. And we’ve had them several times in the past few years.
I watched coverage of the storm while traveling overseas, so I’m glad to check your blog and see you and yours are fine.