We are thankful to hear of many desiring to help. It is reasonable to anticipate opportunities for teams or individuals to help both on Long Island and in the Toms River area. Thank you for your patience in allowing us the time required to coordinate this response effort and to allow the first responders to finish their work of making conditions safe for us to enter.

In the first 3 days since Hurricane Sandy’s fury, we have heard reports from many OPC pastors that their congregations had weathered the storm with little or no impact. Many do continue to be without power and this is certainly beyond inconvenient. But we are not yet aware of any loss of life and little loss of property in the many reports we have received.

There were three regional areas from which we had received little information and in which we feared the greatest impact. These three areas were: Wildwood New Jersey, Toms River New Jersey and Long Island New York. 

WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY

Today, November 1, David Haney and I met with Pastor Jim Zozzaro and Elder Jon Stevenson in Wildwood, NJ. We met over lunch at the A&LP sandwich shop in Wildwood, owned by Joe, a member of Calvary OPC in Wildwood. We could not believe the footage that Joe shared with us of the two feet of sea water sloshing up against the front door just two days before. The restaurant had been so meticulously scrubbed down and cleaned up by his diligent staff and the restaurant was once again serving up its famous cheese steak sandwiches! His restaurant is a good picture of how much of Wildwood has responded to the effects of the storm. They have been able to clean up and move on! At 2.5 feet above sea level, they are accustomed to cleaning up after several feet of flooding caused by heavy storms backing up the city storm drainage system. We can be thankful that the impact of the storm on the two OPC churches and members in Wildwood and the Boardwalk Chapel has been minimal, all things considered!

Chapel Director, John Stevenson, reports on that ministry: 

Although the main threat to the Chapel was the wind, the roof was found to be secure. There were some missing shingles but that is a common occurrence when brisk winter winds sweep across the 17 year old roof. Ocean waves had minimal impact due to the annual increasing width of the beach between rising tides and the Chapel. 

Additionally, the Chapel is partially shielded by a sand dune built to protect the nearby Wildwood Convention Center. The power of the storm surge was apparent in the drastic sand patterns around some of the 36 cinder block pillars holding up the Chapel. However, each pillar is secured to a concrete slab atop a 20-30 foot long piling driven into the ground. (“… a wise man … built his house on the rock.” Matt. 7:24) A walk through of the Chapel interior revealed no damage other than two mattresses ruined by water leaking from a nearby window. 

During the summer, the Chapel staff resides in the Dunn House dorm – lovingly named after the late Rev. Leslie Dunn who helped the PNJ start the work in 1945. It was secure in every way during the storm with no apparent leaks or broken windows. It sits in the middle of the Island between the ocean and the back bay and is not affected by storm tossed waves from the east side or high tide flooding from the west. However, water damage is a problem due to the age of the three bathrooms slated for much needed renovations. Once a volunteer team is secured and material procured the work can begin in March 2013. 

The director’s residence, the Kay House, was donated to the Chapel by a Miss Mary Kay in the 50s. It stood firm against Sandy’s gusty bravado – only small roof leakages in two spots.2 But it could not prevent the salt water intrusion from a full moon back bay high tide. The 15 inches of water surrounding the house forced a rupture in the basement stairwell allowing water to flow freely into the basement beyond the capacity of a very efficient sump pump. The water heater, gas furnace, washer, and dryer were all impacted. The Chapel’s very efficient plumber promised that the heater and furnace would be up and running within 48 hours and so they were. The ten year old appliances will probably be taken to the curb.

Any of a number of variations to the storm’s path could have altered this report significantly. But thanks and praise be to our God who ordains all that comes to pass. (“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41)

TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY

The Tom’s River area is a very different story. Pastor Jim is the ministerial adviser for the OPC in Toms River, NJ. For the past 5 years, this congregation has been renting a facility across the bay on the barrier island community of Seaside Heights. The Seaside area, as we understand it, has been absolutely devastated. Unlike the barrier island community of Wildwood which is 7 blocks wide, Seaside is a very narrow island – only 4 blocks wide, at most! This area, on the north side of the eye of the storm, received the brunt of the storm surge. Currently, the government officials are not allowing anyone on the island, as responders continue to perform search and rescue operations and seek to defuse the danger of exposed gas lines. It is not anticipated that anyone will be allowed on the island until next week at the earliest.

Several church members’ homes are on the Seaside island. Most had evacuated prior to the storm, and we understand that those who did weather the storm in their residence on the island survived the tumult. On Saturday, we hope to meet with the church leaders in Toms River to learn of the specific needs of the church families and how we might help. Please pray for a good outcome to this meeting and that the Lord would bless us with clear direction going forward.

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

Regarding Long Island, we understand that much of this region, including many in the Franklin Square OPC, are without power. We also have reason to believe that potentially 5 or 6 church members’ homes have been flooded as a result of the heavy storm surge that pushed up against the southern edge of Long Island. We plan a drive up there tomorrow with some generators, fuel and water, with the hope of assessing the needs that might be there. Please pray for safe passage and a successful assessment. 

We are thankful to hear of many desiring to help. It is reasonable to anticipate opportunities for teams or individuals to help both on Long Island and in the Toms River area. Thank you for your patience in allowing us the time required to coordinate this response effort and to allow the first responders to finish their work of making conditions safe for us to enter.

Our Lord is master of all! We rely on His help in all things. Please pray for the many who are hurting from this natural disaster and that we might know how best to minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ and to bring that cup of cold water in the name of Christ to those who don’t yet know him.

Source