Shore Catering's Winter following Hurricane Sandy: Restore the Shore

Route 35 South

As Spring rolls forward we want to take a moment to reflect on a historic winter that we will all remember.   It’s been five months since Hurricane Sandy has permanently changed our lives and the shape of the Jersey Shore forever.  What many of us thought would be another typical hurricane turned out to be the 2^nd worst to hit the United States in terms of deaths and destruction.  Sandy is the largest produced in the Atlantic at over 1100 miles wide and causing an estimated 75 billion dollars (33 Billion in New Jersey alone) worth of damage when it’s thirteen-foot storm surge made landfall. 

            I remember working our last Clambake of 2012, what I considered a nice fall day, slightly overcast and a chill in the air.  Saturday October 27^th, in Toms River New Jersey, our customers enjoyed lobsters in their backyard as they prepped the backyard for the hurricane.  They discussed how Hurricane Irene the year before was made out to be a big deal.  I think most people believed the media cried wolf and that this storm wouldn’t be as bad as some forecasted.

Needless to say we all know what followed, I had the unique perspective of being almost too close to the damage of Sandy.  I was about a mile up the road from the Mantoloking Bridge, which we heard a report that it washed away (see attached video “Miracle of Route 35”).  The next morning I spoke to my brother who works for Jersey Central Power and Light and he told me it would be 2 weeks before most of us get power back and months before areas severely effected.  Over 2.6 millions customers in the state of New Jersey were without power.

Shore Catering and A & S Deli opened up for business a few days after the storm.  We were without power and working by candlelight. Our store was extremely busy since few places in Brick were open for business.  We had prepared over 1200 lbs. of ice to help keep our food from spoiling. I had to drive down to Manahawkin, New Jersey to find a generator so we would have power. 

Soon after the U.S. Coast Guard called, they were in need of food to support their facility and workers.  Most of the bases in New Jersey were damaged, so everyone was working out of Sandy Hook first to restore operation at that base.  Our job was to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for 200 people daily.  The realization that we had no power, refrigeration, and the complexity of simple tasks like getting gas or ordering from our vendors made our job increasingly difficult.  We banded together like so many other people through the United States, we rented an 18 foot refrigerated trailer, bought a second generator and fought the traffic and gas lines all the way up to Sandy Hook to provide the United States Coast Guard with food for the next six weeks.  Shore Catering finally regained power on the 10^th day, which made our lives somewhat easier.  The men and woman of the U.S. Coast guard were so grateful to have hot meals while they dealt with the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy.

As time passed, our daily routines began to resemble normal.  It wasn’t until we started providing food for New Jersey Natural Gas when I saw firsthand how devastating the storm was and how long the recovery effort would take.  Shore Catering supported the storm team of 200 men and women working from Mantoloking to Seaside Heights daily with fresh salads, soup, and sandwiches.  New Jersey Natural Gas has done a wonderful job and provided our food to contractors and the National Guard while working on the barrier island. 

We also helped a variety of church groups and shelters with donations of hot and cold food platters.  We chipped in to help support family and friends with clothes, furniture and other supplies to help our community. We also provided bags of ice free of charge to help keep perishables from spoiling during the power outage.

            The good news is our business is strong and preparing for another great summer.  Shore Catering continues to grow and we have expanded our menu’s, vehicles and social media presence by improving our Facebook page, Wedding Wire page, created our own blog and modified our website.  We have seen tremendous interest to cater weddings this year as well as our clambakes and barbecues. Many of our venues and beach houses we catered at have suffered severe damage, which forced us to reach out and build new relationships.  I am inspired by the hard work, dedication, and compassion shown towards New Jersey and it’s residents.   I hope we all appreciate the benefits of living at the Jersey Shore and support given to us from those in and out of our communities.  We thank our friends, family and customers in hopes that everyone continues to have a happy and healthy year as we begin our spring season.

Please check out our current Facebook Promotion.  Like us on Facebook and nominate us for NJNG’s Love to $ave, Love the Shore Campaign for local businesses for chances to win prizes.