Sunday afternoon on the pier. By Paul Goldfinger
Deputy Mayor Eric Houghtaling and Deborah Carbone, dietary assistant at the Neptune Senior Center. NHS kitchen. Sunday.
Please share your experiences at this COMMENTS location. Please send us photos to Blogfinger@verizon.net. If you find that your computers don’t work due to loss of power, send us your news, observations, and comments by cell phone email at Blogfinger@verizon.net. Or call a friend who has computer access and have them send us an email or make a comment in your name. We intend to stay connected even if we have to board a cruise ship headed out to sea; or one of those Navy vessels that left Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday to ride out the storm somewhere east of here.
— Paul Goldfinger
SOUNDTRACK: Clash:
I’m an Aussie who has spent 3 wonderful holidays at your Ocean Grove. We have a sister city in Victoria, Australia, so it’s special. My brother married a lovely American and now lives in PA and holidays each July in Ocean Grove.
I was so upset to see all the devastation. My country has had its own share of devastation, but we always bounce back as I’m sure you all will.
My thoughts are with you all and look forward to returning to your lovely town maybe in the next 2 years.
All take care and keep safe
Thank you for all the energy you have put into reports. I know it is an emotional time for all.
New York / Cookman? Anyone know?
Anyone know how Cookman Ave is doing????
Thank you for all the storm information and updates you’ve posted. We’ve been following along with great interest from the relative safety of Philadelphia, but as do many, many others we have concerns about our summer property in the Grove.
Your reports, as they are specific to our community, have been tremendously helpful to us.
Our summer home is a ground level apartment in Arlington Court; we are on the northwest corner of Pitman and Central avenues. Can you tell us if the flooding has crossed Central Avenue at this point? If so, we are in trouble, because of our low height, etc.
Our own personal situation notwithstanding, your reporting has been fantastic and we’d like to thank you again for your efforts (staff included). Please be safe as we all move through what hopefully will be the final day of this nasty business.
Best Regards from the City of Brotherly Love!
Larry & Terry Matthews
Thank you, Blogfinger, for your most excellent reporting on the biggest storm ever to pound our boards. Our house stands on the corner of Abbott and Beach, and we’ve been grateful for you and your site, as our primary news source. We live in Alaska, now, and thanks to you and our stalwart friends and neighbors (who are also Blogfinger fans), we feel close to our beloved Ocean Grove in this epic crisis. We wish everyone a good outcome — and a speedy recovery!
My grandmother’s house is on Broadway in Ocean Grove. I’m very worried. if anyone is still taking pictures I would appreciate it if you would take a few of them. The last name is Ogden. I can’t get ahold of them.
Thanks Chrissy for the info, Lynden
Prayers are with all who stayed. What is it like on Pennsylvania and Embury?
Anxiously reading the blog and all comments because we and all of our surrounding neighbors evacuated as directed so I have no idea if there is any power on Broadway or how high the water got there! Any information would be greatly appreciated. It’s stressful to not be there but thankful to Blogfinger for reporting the goings on.
Where is the flooding on Inskip? We are at the east end by Francis Asbury.
Water from ocean on Abbott all the way up to New York and Broadway. Seems like receding slightly now. No power but generator is going and TV is on. Of course, the family has chosen to watch Mel Brooks Spaceballs. We have had enough of Sandy.
I just got a call from a neighbor saying that water is entering the first floor of his home on Inskip Ave. Given that my house is next door, I don’t have much hope of a dry home upon my eventual return. And, this is my happy place!
I just spoke to a friend living on Cookman Avenue about four blocks in. She said she was fine; however, the house was shaking (typical of Victorians). The line cut out shortly into the conversation. Very sad to hear about the pier. My grandpa volunteers there in the Summer. The youth programs should try to throw a fundraiser this summer to help re-build the pier and any homes damaged.
Broadway and New York flooded with storm surge. Came up Abbott as well. Only up to curb line this high on Abbott. Seems to have receded slightly in tide cycle. Sump pits are dry but generator is going for tv and lights….good luck all.
Does anyone know the situation on Beach and Bath?
Thanks so much, Blogfinger. You do a real service for those of us in OG and those who can’t be there tonight. And thanks to everyone else for info.
Be safe.
Does anyone have info on Cookman please. My wife is there and can’t reach her.
Power seems to be out on Bath Avenue — I’m not there, but my answering machine is no longer answering.
Be safe everyone!
Oy. A real shame. Stay safe all.
Sadly, Fat Al, those reports are true.
People are twittering that the pier is gone. Strangers, so no idea if they are at all credible as sources.
I’ve been watching a lot of TV and reading a lot of Internet, and it appears to me that Atlantic City got clobbered, and that there’s weather to the north of us, but that our specific area of the coast seems to be a relatively clear spot within the storminess.
I realize our tidal surge hasn’t happened yet — it’s due at 8:20 — but if we get past that surge OK, maybe we will actually dodge this bullet. I’m afraid of being too optimistic yet, but still … keep your fingers crossed.
Does anyone have any information about Embury Ave in the area of St. Paul’s church?
I live in an old Victorian on the western part of Wesley Lake – Stout house. All my neighbors have gone. The house feels fine, and I feel fine. I am hoping the the best for all.
Dear Mr. Finger, As a new OG’er, I want to thank you for your service to our community. I am in NYC and you are my link to my home (if it’s still there) on Ocean Pathway. Keep it coming. Appreciate it, Annie Albrecht
Editor’s note: Hi Annie: Thank you. We will try to keep it coming. Now if I can just find the rest of my name. There’s something missing, but I can’t put my finger on it. Actually I sort of like “Mr. Finger.” I’m getting tired of the Goldfinger jokes and that damn theme song.
Oh, and by the way Annie, the sun will come up tomorrow….or maybe Wednesday.
Thanks Ellen. I like your style. Write some more for Blogfinger and submit it. Maybe you can take a picture of that “flat-roofed building.”
A roof has begun to peel off a red three-story building just cater-corner from my house at Mt Zion, near New York Ave. It’s a flat-roofed building, and the “roof” seems to be tar paper. It just let go with a bang and has curled itself up against the chimney, gently flopping a bit in the wind. It’s a ticklish situation. Awaiting the arrival of the eye to see what happens.
Thanks to the Blogfinger staff for the updates and photos. Please everyone stay safe.
Does anyone know if there is any flooding along Clark, Cookman or Inskip? Thank you to everyone who is posting and be safe.
The power is still on @ Mt. Tabor Way, and the pier was still there @ 10 am Monday. Cops chasing all from Boardwalk. I took pics from Olin Street by the houses.
I want to add our appreciation for the on-going coverage that Blogfinger is providing to all Ocean Grovers – very impressive.
Wanted to thank you for your coverage of the storm and its effect on OG. We had to leave because we live across from Fletcher Lake. We are so grateful for the link you are providing so that we can have some connection with what is happening at home.
JW. I’m sure you will be fine. Please do keep this blog informed as to what is going on there, the conditions, etc.
Police vehicle was in the Cookman and Delaware avenue vicinity earlier this morning with a broadcast message that was unintelligible to our ears. So we called the township emergency number. Am paraphrasing the message: basically, we were told that people living on Inskip, Clark, and Cookman Avenues are asked to evacuate; otherwise, if there’s a personal emergency in the home, the responders are not coming to get us. All things considered, we’re staying put.
At 10:01 am I received a call from my alarm monitoring company that the power is out at my house in the Grove. Is the weather that extreme already down there? It’s hardly raining here in Pennington, N.J. and only mild wind.
If the pier is destroyed, they should rebuild it using the larger diameter poles. I’ve always thought it looked a bit fragile.
The pier was closed off when I got there @ 6pm Sunday. The waves were just hitting the platform of the fishing pier. I would say about 15 ft. and it was still low tide. So I bet the sand barriers are gone by now. I also saw a cruise ship going by heading south out of NYC and I guess Newark Airport was still letting planes land. The planes were coming in from the east to west and as soon as they got to the shoreline they turned north. Flying very low. Amazing!
People finding fear when looking into a storm, often ask for mercy or relief.
I wondered if I asked it for mercy, whether this storm would say — or think — it was deserved.
If I told it my history, of great relaxation or relief walking the boardwalks or shores, would it bring a break to me, and allow me to walk joyfully again.
Was my story strong enough, or my relief great enough, to all allow one more undeserved reprise from deserved consequences.
A break from disaster, and it cannot now be earned, or ever enjoyed by me fully. Never-the-less, I ask, as an undeserving New Jersey boy, for an event of mercy.
Just walked down to the boardwalk. The fishing club has shifted noticeably towards the south. I would guess at least 5-10 ft. What is amazing though is the number of people I watched climbing over the yellow tape to walk down the pier to get a closer look!
Just read a FB message from an aquaintance saying the OG pier is starting to shift! It was posted approx. 30 minutes ago; she was on the boardwalk, so it must be noticable. Rather sad.
Thank you for keeping those of us who are out of town informed about how things are going in the Grove. Good luck and prayers to all our friends and neighbors on Mt. Hermon!
Clearing the drains is an effort in frivolity. Even if they are clear, the water will have nowhere to go. And seriously, those who think about staying, do not do so, or do not call 911 and expect to get rescued. Asking our EMTs and firemen to risk their lives to save yours is inconsiderate at the least.