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Tuesday, December 15, 1992 – 32 Years Ago
The nor’easter that struck in December 1992 unleashed devastating impacts on the New Jersey coastline, with wind gusts peaking at 90 miles per hour. Offshore, towering waves reached heights of 25 feet, while low-lying coastal neighborhoods experienced severe flooding, seeing water levels rise by as much as four feet over a span of four days. In a swift response to the destruction, President George H.W. Bush would announce disaster declarations for Monmouth and Ocean counties, where initial damage estimates neared $500 million, an amount that adjusts to approximately $1.1 billion in today’s currency.
Today, tide may turn at last
The situation at the shore appears to be characterized by a contrasting narrative.
As floodwaters receded in parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties yesterday, heavy machinery worked to transfer sand from prominent oceanfront areas onto severely eroded beaches. However, in various locales, residents continued to grapple with the aftermath of the storm as waters stubbornly rose again, encroaching on already waterlogged homes.
Meteorologists have adjusted their forecasts, indicating that this morning might mark the final high tide to inundate the back bays. They anticipate a shift in winds this afternoon, which should ideally help push water back out to sea, although cloud coverage may linger over much of the region.
High tides surprised Shore folk
In spite of advanced alerts from the National Weather Service, many residents along the Shore were taken aback by the rapid onset and height of the tides during the weekend nor’easter.
The shock from the storm underscored the importance of understanding winter storm dynamics, especially since warnings were issued a day in advance for many in southern New Jersey.
“Honestly, the lead time for warnings was adequate this time around,” remarked Jay Krieger, head of the National Weather Service’s Atlantic County office. “Our notifications went out six hours prior to those in New York.”
Evacuees who fled southern Ocean County’s waterfront homes on Friday revealed that they underestimated the storm’s potential severity. Others, like Manasquan resident Mickey Lamo, expressed frustration towards local emergency officials for not implementing evacuation orders sooner.
Lamo described waking up on Friday morning to find water creeping towards his home’s foundation, with his vehicle partially submerged.
“For every minor storm, they have emergency vehicles out with sirens,” he noted. “But this time, there was silence. I would have left or at least moved my car if I’d been warned.”
Jill Fisler, whose Port Monmouth home was flooded, shared her own frustrations: “We weren’t given clear instructions to evacuate. It felt like none of us were ready for this. Our apartment is ruined from top to bottom.”
Fisler recounted the harrowing experience of waiting nine hours for emergency responders as floodwaters rose to a precarious four feet around her family.
Trump lobbies; senators back bets
TRENTON – As Donald Trump actively sought support within the Statehouse, the state Senate moved forward with a narrow approval for a proposal aimed at allowing Atlantic City casinos to offer sports betting, putting the question to voters.
Trump, who hinted at returning for the Assembly vote later in the week, was among a host of notable figures advocating for the sports-betting initiative for the November 1993 general election ballot. While significant figures like the Commissioner of the NBA and the incoming head of the NHL voiced their opposition, proponents included the chairman of Bally’s casinos.
Ultimately, Trump emerged as a key figure in the lobbying efforts, drawing attention to the potentially dire consequences for the casino industry should sports betting fail to materialize.
“Atlantic City is facing serious challenges,” Trump emphasized, underscoring the necessity for growth within the industry. “The survival of these operations hinges on our ability to adapt.”
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park Press NJ archives for Dec. 15
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