Breezy Point, New York
By Shannon Stapleton
Driving into the city I was listening to NPR talking about it being the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Sandy.
At first I couldn’t believe it had been six months already, and then I thought more about it and it seemed like years ago. The last time I was in Breezy Point and the Rockaways not much had changed.
The area of Breezy Point was still littered with fire and storm damaged homes throughout the seaside community. Arriving today the specific area that was ravaged by fire was completely different. The remains of homes had been taken away and the land flattened and filled with sand.
Shells of houses’ foundations and patriotic flags were all to be seen. A few heavy construction vehicles were busy working and served as the only real sign of life around the area.
I made a photo of a man inside a home in silhouette that for me defined what I was seeing. A once lively seaside community that in the past would be preparing for another summer by the sea is now a bit of a ghost town with few residents back to welcome spring and cherish another summer at the beach.
