Residents of Seaside Heights and Seaside Park know all too well how soon the anniversary of Sandy's unpleasant visit to town was approaching. The superstorm's messy fingerprints remain visible in many forms, from excess sand in the streets to partially demolished homes to storm-damage businesses left closed until further notice.
In the summer of 2013, things seemed to be returning to normal though. Or as normal as things can get for a vacation town that welcomes boisterous visitors from all over the world. Tourists returned to see the damage on the boardwalk but also to see old haunts like Funtown Pier, Lucky Leo's, Coin Castle, The Sawmill and more.
Some of these same visitors have returned to Seaside to try and comprehend the devastation wrought by flame and wind. The day after the storm, appropriately enough Friday the 13th, Governor Christie again came to reassure the residents and the state, pledging that the town will be rebuilt. While reporters looked for new leads regarding the September 12th fire's origin, Governor Christie reminded the crowd that the firefighters were still in the process of putting out numerous hot spots and that while an investigation would take place, the priority was making certain that no additional fires sparked up by accident. The New Jersey governor, clad in a Princeton fleece, then took to the sky to take several helicopter passes over the ruins of the town.
Below him, locals chatted amiably with law enforcement and crowd control representatives, enjoying the cooler air and watching the ocean waves creep toward the charred remains of Funtown Pier. If one turned south and look at the boards running away from the flame-damaged zone, Seaside Park looked remarkably peaceful. Bikers circled the area. Runners jogged past the now-closed bathhouse. Dogwalkers avoided the fire hose-related puddles. In the distance to the south, several surfers were seen capitalizing on the weather and waves.
But there will be no ice cream from Kohr's to celebrate the weather. No one will settle down to watch the Yankees playoff run at Three Brothers Pizza or The Sawmill tonight.
Tonight, as they did almost a year ago, the residents of Seaside Heights and Seaside Park prepare to re-evaluate what the future holds for their town. Only this time, it will require more than laying down new boards and tearing out drywall. As the state ads claim, New Jersey residents have been "stronger than the storm".
This time Seaside will have to rise, quite literally, from the ashes.