NEWS & VIEWS

The Social Storm

We evacuated the barrier islands, escaped to New York and had Facebook to thank for updating us on Hurricane Irene along the way.

By Geoff Rosenberger
Add Comment Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Aug. 29, 2011

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Geoff’s Page: The Social Storm
Out and About: AC meets Manhattan
Dateline: 08.28.11

 
Governor Christie orders mandatory evacuation of barrier islands.

It seemed wise to go.

March 2010, a construction crane next to my apartment complex broke lose and we were forced to evacuate in a door to door sweep.

Midtown Manhattan seemed safe haven. In the event electricity was lost, or damage was severe, they’d work hard to fix everything for millions of people more quickly than they would on a barrier island or in the suburbs for a handful of people.
 
All news all the time. That’s the new world order. Endless stations with endless reports. Every tree downed became a story.
 
Those of us native to barrier islands are always at the beach when a storm is coming, and, depending on severity, during and after it passes.

It is the magnet that holds us together regardless of what the winds tear apart.
 
As I type, Irene has left Atlantic City intact, and is heading to NYC.

Here, news reports are still showing signs of incoming floods. The local TV station my sister was watching just stopped transmitting, and power still might go out; but, for me, and all of us forced from Atlantic City, the storm has passed.
 
Thank you Facebook friends for pictures of the ocean, the town, the area, with constant updates I could not receive otherwise being here in New York.

You kept us all connected to our home, our roots, and God’s glory.

It felt as though we never left town.

Geoff Rosenberger is a Broker Associate at Marketplace Realty. Read more of the new acweekly.com columnist, Atlantic City resident and self-proclaimed visionary's "Geoff's Page," including local snap shots, thoughts, Atlantic City news, random musings, GLBT-related news, The Real Report, and happenings every week — only at acweekly.com.

E-mail Geoff at geoffrosenberger@comcast.net or call him at 609-385-7585.

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