HURRICANE SANDY
It was October 28th and already the news was nonstop about Sandy. The Windows in our 36th street apt had been taped up with crosses as we had read on the internet, and Maia our oldest daughter was already sleeping in our bedroom ( something we only do on special occasions like endless feverish nights and this time the Hurricane.) We were prepared for some damage like last year with Hurricane Irene. Water had come through the AC units and damaged some of the wood flooring in our home. We were watching the news and listening to when the worst would come. The wind at night shook the apt walls and made sounds similar to those heard when on a boat.
We woke up on Oct 29th and nothing had happened... yet. My husband went to the East riverside by our apt to check the water levels and they were already at the level of the sidewalk. The waves were crashing onto the docks and water was spilling onto the ferry's entrance and covering the bottom of the benches placed there to look at sunsets. It was only 10 am and the worst was yet to come said the news casts everywhere. Between the moon and the winds, two hurricanes blasting at the same time over the northeast , the water levels were supposed to get at a high of ten feet or more. Our apt building is in a Zone A. This was a sign that we should evacuate emmidiately. I was 39 weeks pregnant with our second daughter and had decided that this time around we would deliver at NYU medical Center instead of Lenox Hill because of the closeness to our home and my first delivery being an under three hour record delivery. That day we packed a small carry on with the basic toiletries Arts and Crafts things for Maia and her dudu bunny. We took a taxi to my uncles apt on the upper west side for the night. We thought it would be a short and fun stay. The outcome was very different.
That night the horrors of hurricane Sandy started coming all over the news, how water levels had risen so much that even downtown and zone A buildings in NYC were underwater. Our neighbor was texting us to make sure that the things on our terrace were still there and not flying missiles on the street. His last text at 12:30 pm was " lobby is underwater and no power, will shutdown to save the battery, wish me luck"
We could see the fields of the upper west side filled with water as if they belonged to the river itself. the winds were gushing, and the water we had saved in the bathtub was rocking from one side to the other. Between twitter pictures and facebook images we saw what was going on. Another neighbor on our floor texted " there are two jetskis with police men on first avenue"
It is hard to even imagine such a thing. Maia's school had sent us an email with the cancellation of all activities until further notice and I was already having some small of contractions. NYU was being evacuated as they got hit very hard by the rising waters in their basement. Where their radiology department and research departments were. I had no Hospital to deliver in and couldn't get in touch with my OB to ask him what I should do. My husband had just started working at Lenox Hill so we decided to find a Dr there and deliver at Lenox. Thursday I met with my OB from NYU and he said I was 3 Cm's and the baby's head was very low. The next day I met my Lenox Hill OB at 8:00 am. He saw me at 8:30 and said " girl you are 5 Cm's go straight to the hospital and Ill see you there in two hours.
Not only hit by Hurricane Sandy our second child decided it would be a great idea to come 10 days before her scheduled due date. Marcella Isabel was born on Nov 2nd 2012 at 3:07 pm at Lenox Hill Hospital at a tiny 5.13 ounces and a very long 20.5 inches. We went back to my uncles and lived there for the next ten days.
Our building's lobby was completely ruined. Elevators were filled with water, the offices and playroom completely destroyed and we had no electricity, heat or water. It looked like a war zone. The carpets had been stripped, and all furniture was thrown out except for the heavy stone tables. We got 7 feet in the Lobby this not counting the basement, which was under water too.
We are living in our building with all amenities restored, thinking to ourselves...
will this mess happen again?
A week later I went to photograph in the most affected areas of New York State. State Island, Coney Island and the Far Rockaways. What devastation I witnessed. Not one home spared from the rising water, the sand and the wind. My images are not of destruction but of quiet places where a week before there was life. Colorful blue skies and empty playgrounds and beaches. Landscapes of the spaces where hundreds used to go to get away from their stress and relax under the sun. these places are now a strong and eternal reminder of how vulnerable we are when it comes to nature. Nature will take its course and we are in the way.
Lara Alcantara Lansberg
CONEY ISLAND
CONEY ISLAND
FAR ROCKAWAY
