Charlie Lord has seen his share of storms come through the Jersey Shore.
The 55-year resident of Lavallette remembers '62. He remembers the Halloween storm of 1991, the Perfect Storm, the December 1992 nor'easter that tore up much of the Jersey Shore, and he remembers the close calls of Hurricane Gloria in 1985 and, of course, Hurricane Irene in 2011.
He figured that Hurricane Sandy would be no different.
"My wife wanted to leave but I said no," Lord said, a few days after he finally got off the island. "Next time, I'll go."
For a frightening hour on Oct. 30, Lord said, he wasn't sure they were going to survive.
When the ocean breached the dunes, he said, the water rose quickly around his Vance Avenue home. Within minutes his front yard was flooded, and quickly the water reached the second step of his home.
"As I was standing there, a chunk of something came up, our porch lifted up and crashed," and pieces went everywhere, he said. "At that point I looked at my wife and said, 'I think I made a fatal mistake. I am sorry.' "
"I wish to hell I'd gotten off when the governor told us to get off," he said. "He was right."
Hear Charlie tell his story in his own words by clicking the video above.
We have a big advantage when it comes to a disaster warning. You have time to leave as opposed to an earthquake or tornado. This was something that dominated the news for days prior and if that wasn't enough to shake up people then what is? They were extremely lucky families to be able to talk about it now.
Just another liability our hard working rescue personnel have to put there life on the line for.
I didnt disrespect the EMS Rescue, I simply was pointing that Charlie Lord did not listen!!!! I take precautions on every bad weather that is projected to our area. It's not just this guy! it's a lot of them. If the media came up to me and asked me I would of ran the other runaway for being so stupid!!
READ WHAT HE SAID ONE MORE TIME!! If you dont get it read it again REDONRED This guy lives through HURRICANES !!!! He is a Problem the next one you may find him floating stomach down Charlie Lord has seen his share of storms come through the Jersey Shore. The 55-year resident of Lavallette remembers '62. """He remembers the Halloween storm of 1991, the Perfect Storm, the December 1992 nor'easter that tore up much of the Jersey Shore, and he remembers the close calls of Hurricane Gloria in 1985""" and, of course, Hurricane Irene in 2011. He figured that Hurricane Sandy would be no different. There you go a person that does not know any better!!!
What I hope is that others who stayed -- or those who think about staying in the future -- will listen to his story and see themselves in him, and will listen to what he's saying, that he should have gotten out. That's why I thought this story was important to share.
But the blame is not on you it is the people that stay behind, is the problem. You posted that this guy stayed just like the last 4 or 5 hurricanes he lived through, I lived on the water in LBI all my life. We bought a home here and I decided to stay out of the flood zone! I do not want that problem anyway you know when you post about the good and bad stories people are going to comment positive and negitive. People get personal too. I don't know why you deleted my post. I wasn't a problem. I was merely pointing out how people are. I think you should of left it but you have the control so be it
Mmmmm
COULD BE ME, BUT THEN AGAIN IF I'M A SHE YOU KNOW NOT WHO I PROFESS TO BE I MAY BE A WITCH FROM THE BROOM FACTORY....AH HA HA HA HA HA HAHA! WITCHEVER. I'M HAPPY THE LORD MADE IT OUT. THE LORD WAS WITH HIM...OR ME. DONTCHA SEE.............COULD IT HAVE BEEN ME??????????????????
Congratulations. !!! You made it to being certified white trash!!! Stick the broom up in you know where