Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy

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1 Beach Haven, New Jersey Hurricane Sandy, a monster storm, struck the northeast with powerful winds during a convergence of high tides, creating a huge storm surge. An 11 foot wall of water slammed ashore along the New Jersey shoreline and into New York City. Thousands were forced, by flooding, from their homes. Left without power, heat, food or water and desperately in need of help, the local first responders and emergency personnel were overwhelmed dealing with the situation on their hands. Rescue and recovery was needed immediately. The Florida State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police Disaster Response Team, led by State President Jim Preston, from District 3, was mobilized. Four FOP disaster trailers (Districts 2, 3, 6 & 7) loaded with equipment and supplies, and a team of eleven FOP volunteer members, headed north, on Nov. 2 nd, to the Jersey Shore towns of Beach Haven and Long Beach Island Township to help the local New Jersey FOP police officers. Our brothers and sisters in New Jersey needed back-up. They needed to know their families and homes were being taken care of while they protected their communities. Our team arrived late at night, and was met, by the New Jersey FOP, at the island s bridge check point. The island community had been evacuated and was eerily quiet. Only first responders were on the island. In the dark, we were taken to an old Coast Guard station which was the Emergency Operations Center in Beach Haven. We were given a meal and makeshift housing. The Washington D.C Metro Lodge was on scene, with their mobile kitchen, working to feed the rescuers. Our team, in sleeping bags on mattresses, got a few hours rest before the light of day revealed the extent of the damage around us. After dawn, we met some of the local cops as they headed out to relieve the night shift. Prior to leaving the island, local restaurants had dropped off food at our location rather than let it spoil without refrigeration. Before beginning work, breakfast was served to everyone, public works, sanitation, heavy equipment crews and public safety workers. Some of the local officers needed assistance at their residences. Our team got a list of those locations, and we began our first day. Unlike Florida hurricane wind damage, these homes had been flooded by the storm surge. Foundations were washed away and sand from the beaches washed inland. Two to three feet of sand now covered the streets and home sites. The water had receded back into the ocean on one side and the bay on the other. The water lines on the home s exteriors and fences clearly showed the depth of the water, at the height of the storm. We met a Beach Haven Sergeant at his small home. His wife and two children had gone to stay with relatives. All of their possessions had been soaked by the sea water. Furniture, clothes, appliances, carpets, and toys, all were tossed out. The walls inside were wet and crumbling. Our crew began removing the sheet rock and insulation before mold could start growing in the walls. The demolition was Extreme Makeover, Hurricane Sandy style. For four days we repeated the process in home after home for cops who were grateful that someone was helping them while they continued to do their job, helping their community. Hurricane Sandy

2 New Jersey cops from around the state joined us in our work. The 100 year old tradition of the Fraternal Order of Police, cops helping cops was never better. No power, no running water or heat made conditions at the EOC difficult, but the camaraderie around the burn barrel was great between FOP members from Jersey, Florida, D.C., and Louisiana. We received word that another storm, a Nor easter was headed our way bringing high winds, cold temperatures and snow. Exhausted but full of pride, we packed up late in the day, said our good byes and headed south returning home on Nov 7 th. Everyone was tired and sore, but felt good that we made a small difference for our brothers and sisters who may some day have to travel to Florida to return the favor. The Fraternal Order of Police is an organization of over 330,000 law enforcement officers, across our nation, who works together every day. Those FOP members who went to New Jersey were Mark DeHart and Blake Beyer from Robert E. Lister Memorial Lodge 66 Charlotte County, Bobby Jenkins, District 6 Director, Kevin Carlucci, District 7 Director, William Lawless, President Pasco Lodge 29, Rich Williams and Steven Madden, Lodge 29, Jaye Master, Dan Farrell, Lodge 3100, Brian Wheeler, Orange County Corrections Lodge 86 and Jim Preston, Lodge 27/ Florida State President. Florida State President Jim Preston, Mark Dehart, Lodge 66, District 7 Director Kevin Carlucci, District 6 Director Bobby Jenkins, Jaye Master, Steve Madden, Billy Lawless, Lodge 29, Brian Wheeler, Lodge 86, Blake Beyer, Lodge 66, Rich Williams, Lodge 29, Daniel Farrell, Lodge 3100, Home owner Retired Beach Haven Sergeant Jimmy Bradshaw. Hurricane Sandy

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