Stay or Go?

Have you noticed that when two or more are gathered together these days, it
is not for prayer but to talk about Sandy and “how did you fare” in the big
storm? It is very natural that we all share our experiences about such a
huge natural disaster because all of us, especially in the coastal states,
are greatly affected.
We all had the same calls from far-away family members, essentially saying
“Are you alive and well?² The most common response after our assurance that
we were “High, dry and safe” is one of disbelif! They had been seeing the
pictures, the burning houses, the jumbled cars and the darkened cities,
while we had been in a very strange bubble of safety and ignorance.
This storm was preceded by the most detailed and accurate tracking I had
ever seen. The weather people described the unusual confluence of events
so that even a non-scientific layperson like me could understand what was
about to befall us.
We had so much time to prepare that even the grocery
stores were able to stock and restock after we all raided the shelves of
food staples, water, candles, flashlights and matches.
We weighed whether to stay in our home in the Crest, or ride out the storm
in the Herald building. Art told me, “I am okay either way; tell me what you
want to do?” I decided to join the estimated 40 percent of Cape May County
island residents who looked at the situation, figured the elevation above
sea level, and the wind speed, and decided to stay and mind the house.
We live in a three-story home, so even if the water were higher than the surge
predicted, we had a place to go up.
All preparations completed, we settled in to wait. Our power did not go out
nor did the water breach our dunes. The Internet however did go out later
and the New York Times and Wall Street Journal weren’t delivered.
We were able to see that our area was blessedly spared loss of life, but many on the
bay-side of the island had flood and dock damage. I was in an
information-free bubble for a few days. Others talked of severe damage in
the North but I couldn’t see it.
Finally on Thursday night our TV connection was restored and we became glued
to the tragedy that this storm with the puppy-dog-sounding name had caused.
I almost felt shame at how lightly I had spoken to all those relatives who
called to see if we were still alive. They had seen the pictures which we
had been spared. They saw the fury of this storm and couldn’t believe that
we, who live only a block from the beach, could be unscathed.
Now, I am rethinking the wisdom of staying. Have we become too comfortable
with the very precise forecasts? What if the storm had come in a little to
the south and we were on the other side of the eye? Would the house have
survived?
Would the water have stayed down on our enormous beach or come
threateningly up the street? All the “what ifs” are valuable to consider
while the clean-up continues. The only thing I know for certain today is
that I am grateful, and that my heart breaks for those who are suffering.
PATRICIA HALL, the publishers wife