Hurricane Sandy: My Story

I've had a hearty dinner with my family. I've showered and will soon be off to a warm bed. I think on how many fellow New Yorkers are living without these amenities at this very moment, nearly a week since Hurricane Sandy began. Many are without water, heat, electricity and some have gone days without food.

On Sunday October 28, 2012 I was told that a hurricane was making it's way over to New York. I didn't think much of it because last year's hurricane Irene didn't do much damage. It lasted a day or so and that was it. After church on Sunday, I was hearing talk of 60 mph winds, Con Edison (electricity provider in NY) planning to shut off electricity and the threats a major hurricane could pose to my city. My mind went into fast action mode and wondered if Hurricane Sandy could do as much damage as Hurricane Katrina. 

Once safe in the confines of my apartment, I had no idea that outside the brick facade, there were winds violently raging and tossing about.

Monday morning we went to my grandma's house and watched the news. What I saw and heard from that day until now has left me... shocked! Storm surges, out-if-control fires, gas shortages, starvation and more than 50 people dead or missing is unthinkable. 

Having a church service on Wednesday proved pretty much impossible so we had home church. Before the service began, we considered a portion of scripture; one that I think was perfect for the trial we were facing.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging 

Psalm 46:1-3

I think on this verse and the fact that Jesus is the calm in the midst of the storm. I put my trust in him and know that through Him, I can be strong.

You're probably reading this and are thinking, "Wow, she was at the heart of this catastrophe " Thank God I was not! I was safe but could hear the winds, pelting rain and even saw the hood of a SmartCar begin ripped off of the car. 

Can you imagine my surprise when I came home to see all of this right in front of my building?

A once strong and very much alive tree is now down and on it's way to death.

Uprooted roots ave made their way above the surface.

Can any good come out of this disaster? Yes, every cloud has a silver lining, and the silver lining in this situation was that a sister of our church gave birth on November 1, 2012. We don't know the name and won't find out until she is presented.

I wanted to thank all of my blogger friends who texted me and messaged me via instagram to make sure that I was okay. Thanks Kathryn, Arianna and Hadassah.