Friday, 02 November 2012

Hurricane Sandy lived up to her name earlier this week.

Not only was she a superstorm, but she churned up and deposited acres of sand on the New Jersey coast. The tidal highs combined with the power of the storm to create a devastating surge.

Power is still out for residents in 15 states and Washington, D.C. In New York, Connecticut and New Jersey neighborhoods were destroyed and communities flooded. And of course, the fishing industry has been severely disrupted.

Ahead of the storm, flight cancellations and regional preparation (and, yes, some panic) shut down restaurants and seafood supply chains across the Eastern Seaboard.

Now in the recovery stage, we worry not only about lost boats, lost time, lost landings and lost wholesale supplies but also loss of infrastructure and resources.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and President Obama made for a powerful joint force earlier this week to pave the way for recovery funds, supplies and support. However, the fishing industry still needs Christie to reach out to acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank to open the channels for relief funds that can help our friends and colleagues in the tristate area get back to work.

Until then, please continue to direct aid to the Red Cross and your thoughts and prayers to our fellow citizens in need. And as many of you already do, be sure to buy local fish to support the fishermen as they get back to work, and the auction houses and processors as they get their businesses operating again.

The Jersey Shore may never be the same again, but the people will rise again from this disaster.