Atlantic City and the Hurricane; Pictures of the Week 31 October 2012

When hurricane Sandy hit Atlantic City, New Jersey, 70% of the town was flooded and sections of the famous beach-side boardwalk have been ripped up. Clearing up operations begin today and the news is that the poorer suburbs have been particularly badly hit by floodwater, fires and loss of utilities. Twenty thousand people have been evacuated and cannot return to their homes and businesses.
Despite the appearance of the photo on the left, most major businesses along the boardwalk are still standing and appear relatively unscathed. Some smaller premises including Berkeley's Saltwater Taffee Shop, have suffered much more extensive damage.

Believe It or Not is meant to look like this. It is
 billed as a 'museum' of the
improbable, with freakish exhibits.

Atlantic City boardwalk heading towards the Taj Mahal
Casino. Part of the boardwalk has been ripped up by the
hurricane and the casino has suffered damage to upper floors and its
elaborate roof
 

I took these pictures eleven years ago, on 20 September 2001. There is no information as yet that 'Believe It or Not' looks in worse condition after Hurricane Sandy than it did then.

Without power, with much of the remaining boardwalk covered in sand and with water in all the wrong places, all these sea-front businesses are closed until further notice.  Some locals whose jobs are dependant on them hope the casinos will be be up and running again by the week-end. I do wonder who they expect to attract, in current conditions. The Atlantic City casino business was losing custom even before the hurricane, due to the financial climate.

The barrier islands just off-shore have suffered worse damage than the city itself and the island resort of Ocean City just down the coast was completely inundated.

You can see some photos of Atlantic City after the hurricane at: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/atlantic-city-hurricane-sandy_n_2045158.html?utm_hp_ref=green#slide=more260308

And Ocean City at:
http://oceancity.patch.com/articles/photo-gallery-storm-on-monday-in-ocean-city#photo-11936521

Good luck, Atlantic City and your neighbours. Maybe things will begin to work again in time for November 23; That's when Aerosmith are due to arrive and play an Atlantic City gig on their "Global Warming Tour".