Sandy

Just a couple days home and we got hit by a hurricane-Northeaster mixed storm (aka Sandy). We were prepared with batteries, water, charged cellphones, fully fueled car etc. Our new home was in the mandatory evacuation zone and we decided to spend the night with friends. Our house if high enough and far enough from the water, but there would be (and was no) access to our area, though a lot of neighbors stayed put.

Of course we had to go and check out the waves at the beach (before the majority of the storm).

 "My first hurricane"

 It was windier than it seems.

And the surfers are unstoppable (there must have been 15 out there) - our beach is a good spot, as the wind is blocked by bonnet point and the waves fray less than at other places. I did not want to swim in the ocean at the point though.

 A young sea state.

 Hurriance watchers. The waves came rolling and crushing in. It was loud and could clearly be hear from home.

 Freezer breakfast after we lost power (as expected). It stayed out for several days.

The aftermath. So much cleanup and damage. One of the roads to our place was destroyed, the waves had lifted the asphalt of the ground, on the other road big rocks blocked the path. The houses near the pond were flooded for days.

Nobuhiro's university only very temporarily lost power, so he could and had to work, while we used the power to toast some bread and eat dinner in his office.

 This is usually a drivable street.

Beach treasures

 Also a road to the school's pier.

 It's not so clear from the photo - the beach is 2-3m lower and the ocean had flooded the street. Silvan is playing helicopter - there were many circling the skies evaluating the damage - and everything was quiet and powerless.