Like so many people, I watched in real time on TV earlier this week as Hurricane Sandy pounded away at the Jersey Shore, a place I spent many summers with my Philadelphia-based family growing up. Although news coverage showed extensive footage of the shore, days passed and we didn’t know if our beach home was still standing.
Now living and working in Manhattan — which suffered its own devastation from the storm and still has limited power, electricity and public transportation — checking on our summer house in Brigantine, N.J. (or even getting out of the city) wouldn’t come any time soon. Not to mention, bridges on and off the beach island were completely blocked by officials.
After combing through pictures taken post-Sandy and not succeeding to identify our street, I turned to Twitter. It became clear that real estate company Ashore Reality (@BrigantineDeals) was responding to individual tweets from Brigantine home owners, who were blocked from returning to the island, and providing them with as much information about their neighborhoods as possible.
“So many people turned to Twitter to ask how their houses were doing and they had no source of information,” Dennis Allen, owner of Ashore Reality, told me in a phone interview. “I decided to drive around and take pictures of their homes to put their minds at ease.”
Allen tweeted his phone number and urged those who wanted a picture of their home to be in touch. He also posted pictures online for evacuees to check out the status of their neighborhoods.
“The texts just started to come in, and although I was nervous about putting my phone number out there, I’m so glad I’ve been able to help people throughout this process,” said Allen, adding about 40 people have already taken him up on the offer.
Boats are scattered everywhere on 12th Street North. twitter.com/BrigantineDeal…
— Ashore Realty Inc (@BrigantineDeals) November 2, 2012
Water level came up 4 1/2 feet on 8th Street North (see water line on this outside shower) twitter.com/BrigantineDeal…
— Ashore Realty Inc (@BrigantineDeals) November 2, 2012
“About 60% of those who ask for a picture don’t have too much damage, while 40% aren’t as lucky,” he said. “One lady asked me to check on her boat. I had to tell her that what was left of it was in the neighbor’s yard. I just had to tell another that a dock from the bay was now in their driveway.”
Although some real estate agents on the island have been making the rounds and checking on homes for clients, Allen is doing this for anyone that asks, including me. Fortunately for my family, I received a few texts from him this morning with pictures of our home still standing and relatively unharmed, with the exception of a broken window.
This story may seem small in comparison to some heroic actions detailed over the past few days, but it’s these little acts of kindness — when coupled with the power of the Internet — that can truly make a huge difference during a time of distress.
@brigantinedeals thanks so much for getting back to me & for all the work you & others are doing! I appreciate it more than I can say.
— Lauren (@__LMB) November 2, 2012
In the words of Allen — Brigantine’s valiant Twitter hero, bringing information to evacuees from afar — “it’s the least we can do to help each other out.”
Image via @BrigantineDeals
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"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens." Via Official New York City Fire Department
"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens."
"Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall."
Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins
"No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It's amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city."
A submerged escalator at the South Ferry subway station in Lower Manhattan. Via MTA
People bail water from a basement of an East Village business. Via Brennan Cavanaugh
"Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head lamps."
Via Nick Sherman
"Hurricane Sandy damage in Belmar, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012." Via Talk Radio News Service
"Aerial views of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, Oct. 30, 2012."
Via U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released
via Meghan Pipe
"John Schmidt, of the West Virginia Field Office, photographed his backyard during Hurricane Sandy." Via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
"President Obama visits the American Red Cross Digital Command Center following Hurricane Sandy"
Via Dell
"Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment Oct. 30 in Portsmouth, Va. "
"Spc. Anthony Monte along with Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, mobilized for Hurricane Sandy provide assistance to displaced residents at an emergency shelter at the Werblin Recreation Center, Piscataway Township, N.J., Oct. 29, 2012."Via U.S. Army
"Virginia National Guard Soldiers trudged through high water and cut trees to clear a path for two rescue missions that transported seven adults and one child to safety at two locations on Cattail Road in the Mears, Va. area Oct. 30." Via The National Gaurd
- New York City Subway Stations Turn Into Eery, Empty Platforms
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- Incredible Viral Soldier Pic Debunked by Military
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- How Will Hurricane Sandy Affect The Internet? [VIDEO]
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"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens." Via Official New York City Fire Department
"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens."
Via Official New York City Fire Department
"Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall."
Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins
Via North Carolina Department of Public Transportation
"No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It's amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city."
A submerged escalator at the South Ferry subway station in Lower Manhattan. Via MTA
People bail water from a basement of an East Village business. Via Brennan Cavanaugh
"Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head lamps."
Via Nick Sherman
Via jesseandgreg
A truck is submerged in Battery Park, Manhattan. Via Andrea Canning
"Hurricane Sandy damage in Belmar, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012." Via Talk Radio News Service
"Aerial views of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, Oct. 30, 2012."
Via U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released
Via Andrew Cuomo
Via thejkinz
A street underwater. Via thejkinz
A tree uprooted in Long Island, New York. Via nikki_skye
via Meghan Pipe
Via lafontainenissan
Via miss_pagano
"Main St. After Hurricane Sandy" Via DumboNYC
"Jane's carousel is basically an island now. Poor horses." Via andjelicaaa
Via toastmatic
Via katemcdermott7
"John Schmidt, of the West Virginia Field Office, photographed his backyard during Hurricane Sandy." Via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
Via juspostbellum
Via anitaaaaaaaaaa3
"President Obama visits the American Red Cross Digital Command Center following Hurricane Sandy"
Via Dell
"Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment Oct. 30 in Portsmouth, Va. "
Via Virginia Guard Public Affairs
"Spc. Anthony Monte along with Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, mobilized for Hurricane Sandy provide assistance to displaced residents at an emergency shelter at the Werblin Recreation Center, Piscataway Township, N.J., Oct. 29, 2012."Via U.S. Army
Via John deGuzman
"Virginia National Guard Soldiers trudged through high water and cut trees to clear a path for two rescue missions that transported seven adults and one child to safety at two locations on Cattail Road in the Mears, Va. area Oct. 30." Via The National Gaurd
A car that has been smashed by a tree in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Via CSondi
Source : feeds[dot]mashable[dot]com
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