Public Employee Press

Surviving Sandy
''I was sure I would drown"

Assistant School Lunch Cook Joann Cannon went through the trauma of believing she would drown as Hurricane Sandy flooded her family's home in the low-lying Midland Beach neighborhood on the east shore of Staten Island. Undaunted by her ordeal, the Local 372 member quickly returned to her job preparing nutritious meals for the students at nearby IS 2.

"It was like a tsunami," said her husband Chris.

Like many others on their street, they did not evacuate. Having grown up on Staten Island and lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, they thought Sandy would be only a nuisance and not the superstorm that took more than 100 lives, with the worst toll on Staten Island. The flood came suddenly, and soon their bedroom was awash with water two feet deep.

"I was sure I was going to drown," said Joann, recalling her feelings as the water started to flood their living room.

Their son-in law, who lives nearby, found a boat and rescued the couple and their 16-year-old son, Joe. The Cannons have been staying with their relatives since the flood while they attempt to repair their home. They wasted no time in contacting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and received some financial aid while waiting for New York City Rapid Repair, the agency set up by the city to help Sandy victims, restore electric power, heat and hot water.

Across the street from the Cannons on Hamden Avenue, a family of four was stranded on their roof for hours and a house was swept off its foundation. Along Midland Avenue, the neighborhood's main commercial strip that leads to the beach, most of the mom-and-pop stores were still closed in mid-December.

Telephone poles were plastered with leaflets from electricians and contractors offering their services to help repair Sandy's devastating damage.

The Cannons hope to return home when the repairs are completed. They were able to salvage most of their financial documents and now come back frequently to retrieve belongings.

Only a couple of days after the storm, Joann returned to her job at IS 2. "The union also gave us a hand," she said. "We really appreciate it."

—Alfredo Alvarado