Got back late yesterday afternoon (Thanksgiving) from JFK after spending about 3 1/2 weeks doing FEMA inspections in New York. On the 6 hour flight back I had time to reflect on super-storm Sandy and its effects on the East coast.

Spent the first two weeks working flooded basement apartments from lower Manhattan up to Central Park, then out towards Long Island in the town of Oceanside for 5 or 6 days, then finished up back in lower Manhattan.

Going up and down the storied avenues (Madison Ave, 5th Ave), the theater district around 42nd street and of course all around the World Trade Center, it appears everything is business is usual – but far from it. Lower Manhattan was deeply flooded, knocking entire 40 – 60 floor buildings out of commission. Lower Manhattan streets are clogged with huge portable generators that provide just essential, emergency power to these buildings. Many of these high rise buildings are apartments and their occupants have been forced to leave. In one case, the building “hopes” to be back in business in March, 2013.

The Metropolitan Hospital in mid-town has a high rise apartment across the street on 1st Avenue for employees. The building was heavily flooded and was red tagged by the city. In my first week, I’d meet with tenants outside the lobby as they sought emergency FEMA assistance. Each day, one floor at a time, tenants could walk up to their floor (stairwells in darkness with flashlights) and only carry out emergency clothes, laptops, etc. One gentleman told me he was forced to rent a car and sleep in it – all open hotels (with power) were booked solid.

Driving up and down 5th Avenue, I’d call Leslie and be amazed at the crowds along the sidewalks of the tony shops – you’d never know there was a major crisis occurring in the lives of tens of thousands of people.

But some of the little things amused me. Some streets are so narrow that drivers tuck in their exterior mirrors – you pass literally inches away from clipping them.

Oceanside was suburbia – with average flooding that I saw maybe 2 – 3 feet deep in split level homes. Time and again people told me, “We’ve lived here 40 years and never had water in the house”.

Imagine mid-town Ventura near Pacific View mall inundated with 2 – 3 feet of water; sounds impossible, but that’s what the east coast got hit with.

One poignant moment came as Myra, a 92 year old sharp senior was brought back to her apartment by her 60ish son. We all entered the apartment together for the first time since the storm. Upon entering, she burst into tears at the sight. Furniture can be replaced, but not the irreplaceable photos and momentos collected over a lifetime.

Another difficult situation was a somewhat challenged senior in a Red Cross shelter. I went to find her home in a walk-out basement (flooded out) but (according to neighbors) the elderly owner of the home upstairs was no where to be found. There were two flooded cars in the street out front. That situation involved working with a social worker and another case worker who would ultimately handle this long term situation.

I’ve told people these FEMA deployments are a perverse vacation for me – so far removed from my “day job”. My roommate from Colorado and I would be up around 4:30 am, be on the road between 5 – 5:30 and get back around 7pm (or as late as 9pm). Generally, we’d be in bed by 8:30 and asleep before 9pm. So this Thanksgiving weekend, I’m catching up on sleep and football!