The Aftermath Of Hurricane Irene On The Waterfront In Momauguin East Haven Connecticut

The Aftermath Of Hurricane Irene On The Waterfront In Momauguin East Haven Connecticut

One of the hardest hit and devastated areas from Hurricane Irene was on the waterfront in Momauguin East Haven Connecticut.  Momauguin was in the direct path of the eye of the storm and was slammed from the intensity of the winds and crushing waves from the surge of the high tide on Sunday morning. 

There were twenty five homes destroyed or found to be structurally unsound  by Hurricane Irene along Cosey Beach Avenue, in Morgan Point and in the Silver Sands area.  From what I was able to see on the news and from posting on Facebook the photos of the damage to the area was so extensive.  Residents from the area were not allowed to access their homes until the extent of the damage was determined.

My heart is breaking for the loss and the suffering so many are experiencing from the devastation Hurricane Irene caused to their homes and to their neighborhoods.  While the residents are coping with the massive clean-up of the debris and rubble they can be thankful that there was no loss of life or injuries.

Today I took a drive to Momauguin and walked from the Sandpiper Restaurant all the way down to the end of Cosey Beach Avenue so I could see for myself the scope of the damage from the storm. 

This was the first home I saw as I walked down the street and couldn't believe how the walls of this home were torn apart yet the bedroom upstairs was left untouched with the bed still made.

The following photos are of some of the other homes destroyed by Hurricane Irene.  As I passed each home it was just overwhelming to see how destructive Hurricane Irene was to Momauguin.

The entire area looked like a war zone with the members of the Connecticut National Guard in trucks, military payloaders and standing by guarding the area from looting being burglarized.

There were piles of debris being stacked in front of these homes as residents began the task of carrying out their furniture, clothing, appliances, children's toys, personal belongings and pieces of lumber that was a somber reminder of what was once part of their deck or home.   Many could only hope that they would find something that could be salvaged.

The ferocious strength and intensity of the surge of water was so strong that it dislocated the wood fencing leaving remnants of of many of these homes on the opposite side of the street.

As I walked back to my truck to drive home I could only think of these families and the painstaking journey that lay ahead of them as they begin the process of either rebuilding or leaving the shattered memories of the devastation behind them.

Copyright © 2011 by Donna Bigda, All Rights Reserved ...*The Aftermath Of Hurricane Irene On The Waterfront In Momauguin East Haven Connecticut"