It has now been a year since Hurricane Sandy hit New York, Long Island, and New Jersey.
Many homes, businesses and lives were disruptive and destroyed. Yet many of us proved once again when things were at their very worst we found we were at our very best.
We rode out Hurricane Sandy but in the aftermath many of us lost power and some their homes not to mention many of us didn’t have gas for our cars and generators for our homes. This storm was of historic proportions – maybe even of Biblical proportions.
But Mayor Bloomberg, Gov. Cuomo, and [Nassau] County Executive Ed Mangano issued safety tips and evacuation plans where many lives were saved. Although some people didn’t take the storm seriously enough, our first responders went above and beyond the call of duty to save the many in trouble. Neighbor helped neighbor and stranger helped stranger.
As for where I live in Glen Oaks Village, we lost a number of trees and there was damage in many parts of my development but we did survived by helping one another.
Now I myself worked for Northeast Plumbing in Mineola and after the storm we had no power for a week, but we came to work and picked orders by flashlights to get necessary orders out for those in need.
I also was Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council #5911 and my council, along with many councils across the state, raised funds to supply food, medical and cleaning supplies to help the many in need. It truly, was a time to remember and yet much more needs to be done to help those still hurting.
I think our faith in God also may have gotten us through and that is a beautiful thing.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Glen Oaks Village
