LBI, New Jersey

[XYSRUS]

Can anyone tell me how LBI is recently? We stay every year in Barnegat Light and I was wondering how the island and businesses are doing. We love it there!

[Janepod]

You need LBIJim.

[Ginny Favers]

I can't answer that question, but I was just thinking how when the news stops reporting, the rest of the world starts to think that things are getting back to normal. My parents just went back to Seaside, where we lived for a number of years, and they were very saddened to see how destroyed it was. In their words, it looked like a war zone, and they thought it will take many years to recover. So sad.

[java]

Not great. Cleanup is still going on! months later. They keep saying parts of the shore(think Jenkinson's ect) are going to be open this summer. I am not convinced on LBI- They are trying though. Money is the problem. I have heard of ridiculous FEMA settlements. ($7000 for a guy that lost his house and his business, what is that going to do?)

[cabanafrau]

I have no idea about the community OP is asking about, but I echo what a previous poster said about what happens when media coverage dries up. A week or two ago I heard that many people are still without power due to Sandy. I cannot imagine. Obviously that doesn't even begin to address those who had homes and/or businesses damaged or wiped out.

Maybe the media could pull a few reporters off Kardashigan watch & update me & others who are curious how things are progressing.

[Eeyore'sthebest]

OP - Check out www.nj1015.com for updates as well as www.nj.com. I would also check out the individual town's websites for updates. But I definitely would plan an alternative vacation if I were you this year.

[FergieTCat]

Originally Posted by cabanafrau

Maybe the media could pull a few reporters off Kardashigan watch & update me & others who are curious how things are progressing.

The reporters moved onto Beyonce-gate. They'll be back in a few.

[minnie1012]

The governor said yesterday that he expects some of the shore to open by July 4th but not all. He said parts of each town should be open, but not all businesses, amusements. He wasn't specific to LBI but just the "shore" in general.

[minnie1012]

The governor said yesterday that he expects some of the shore to open by July 4th but not all. He said parts of each town should be open, but not all homes, businesses, amusements etc. He wasn't specific to LBI but just the "shore" in general.

Are you on facebook? There are alot of pages specific to shore towns that update the public:

A few that my friends subscribe to for LBI are, LBI source and My LBI Life

[Buckalew11]

Originally Posted by minnie1012

The governor said yesterday that he expects some of the shore to open by July 4th but not all. He said parts of each town should be open, but not all homes, businesses, amusements etc. He wasn't specific to LBI but just the "shore" in general.

Are you on facebook? There are alot of pages specific to shore towns that update the public:

A few that my friends subscribe to for LBI are, LBI source and My LBI Life

Facebook has been great for LBI updates--through the storm and now. I was able to give LBIJim links that he did not have through these FB sources. I think they were very helpful!

[tuckerkeys]

Originally Posted by java

Not great. Cleanup is still going on! months later. They keep saying parts of the shore(think Jenkinson's ect) are going to be open this summer. I am not convinced on LBI- They are trying though. Money is the problem. I have heard of ridiculous FEMA settlements. ($7000 for a guy that lost his house and his business, what is that going to do?)

WHAT? Where have you heard this? on the internet?

anyway, I live year round on LBI ( in Ship Bottom ) to answer your question, Barnegat Light is 100% fine. It is the highest and widest town on the island & suffered almost NO damage up there. Everything is open up there, in fact everything from Surf City north is open b/c they had almost NO water damage ( only lots and lots of sand!)

check out lbiisalive.com, lbi source on facebook, lbi is open on fb....

The island will be pretty much back open this summer, with a few businesses not being able to re open ( but they weren't doing that well to begin with before Sandy...) I own a business, am heavily involved with the revitalization of the island businesses & grass route info on getting the word out that we're a-ok! We've all been rolling our eyes at the bad press lately about LBI but this is all about attracting people to other shore area towns, getting them to try something other than LBI.

And to add a GOOD story about insurance, I got my claim from flood already ( we had 32" of water in my garage but not my home as we're elevated) we had no issues b/c we READ our policy and knew what was & was not covered. The home owners who thought their 100k landscaping, outdoor kitchens, pools, hot tubs etc etc would be covered obviously did not read their policy. We also have experienced storms before, KNEW it would be a flood event so we prepared well in advance ( as well as stayed ) and moved cars off island, put things up over 5' and did not expect not much damage....

anyway, YES LBI is open come on down this summer!

[Buckalew11]

^^^ This is what I'm hearing on FB from lbi source and relatives and friends.

When I read what java said, I was shocked as that is not what I'm reading or being told.

Happy to hear that it IS good news. I did read that Holgate was pretty bad.

[java]

No not on the Internet. Admittedly not the greatest news source, but I saw them on arnold Diaz. It was a sad story.

And my friends house In ship bottom got damaged. I am glad you are fine and my info is only second hand. I will pass that along to a friend from the Midwest that wants to rent there and I was unsure. Basing only on what my friend had experienced. Is that new delicious donut shop ok?

[tuckerkeys]

also wanted to mention that 2 weeks ago, when it was in the 60's in NJ I spent a lot of time on my beach picking up drift wood, shells, sea glass, sand dollars...My beach actually got BIGGER from superstorm sandy - a result of the southerly flow of the tides & bringing in sand from the northern part of the island. Everything is pretty much cleaned up from the front of peoples houses, Dec 21 was the last day for homeowners to put out at the street & it's all off the island now. Anyone who waited has to put into a dumpster now.

Holgate got the brunt of the damage. It is pretty narrow and low elevation. Beach Haven was next, then the township. If you are in a wide part of the island, you seemed to be ok. Narrow, not so much. I live in a pretty wide part of Ship Bottom We still saw 4' of water in my neighborhood. The last significant storm to bring water to the island was the Dec 1992 nor'easter, which was our benchmark to prep for sandy ( where there was 2' of water in my neighborhood) When we re did my home in 2006, we made sure to elevate as high as we could go b/c we've been through floods before & will again. With the new flood maps I'm still above grade. Our neighbors to the east of us spent $300,000 2 years ago to completely remodel their house. They did not elevate ( and did it little by little so they did not have to elevate w/ the 50% law ) anyway the entire 1st floor is a loss. They are fixing again and guess what - NOT elevating again......There are SO many stories like this I can;t even start.

[XYSRUS]

Originally Posted by tuckerkeys

WHAT? Where have you heard this? on the internet?

anyway, I live year round on LBI ( in Ship Bottom ) to answer your question, Barnegat Light is 100% fine. It is the highest and widest town on the island & suffered almost NO damage up there. Everything is open up there, in fact everything from Surf City north is open b/c they had almost NO water damage ( only lots and lots of sand!)

check out lbiisalive.com, lbi source on facebook, lbi is open on fb....

The island will be pretty much back open this summer, with a few businesses not being able to re open ( but they weren't doing that well to begin with before Sandy...) I own a business, am heavily involved with the revitalization of the island businesses & grass route info on getting the word out that we're a-ok! We've all been rolling our eyes at the bad press lately about LBI but this is all about attracting people to other shore area towns, getting them to try something other than LBI.

And to add a GOOD story about insurance, I got my claim from flood already ( we had 32" of water in my garage but not my home as we're elevated) we had no issues b/c we READ our policy and knew what was & was not covered. The home owners who thought their 100k landscaping, outdoor kitchens, pools, hot tubs etc etc would be covered obviously did not read their policy. We also have experienced storms before, KNEW it would be a flood event so we prepared well in advance ( as well as stayed ) and moved cars off island, put things up over 5' and did not expect not much damage....

anyway, YES LBI is open come on down this summer!

I was coming anyway, no matter what! Good to hear good news!