Surfing after Sandy

i surfed at home (ocnj) for the first time post-storm this past thursday. it felt weird, like i shouldn't be doing what i was doing. probably the first (& hopefully only) time i've felt guilty going surfing, but i definitely needed it after a solid week of recovery/clean up work.

 

I'm going to be in LI for Thanksgiving ... do you think there would there be any water quality issues if I went as far east as Southampton or even Montauk?

 

You should be okay that far east, I was out around Mastic and the water was clean and no debris

 

This is the first time I can ever remember feeling guilty about checking my spots. The devastating affects of this storm are everywhere.

 

I know what you mean, but after all it is nature...brings this to thought, think about all the other places in the world that go through turmoil like this or greater...we hear about it on the news for a week then its out of our lives. Like Japan or Haiti or even New Orleans... when actually there is a lot of distress still going on it those areas a long time after the disaster occurs. Now it is different, because it is here and we see it everywhere... these are difficult times my friends, not for the North East but the whole world. Famine, genocide, natural disasters in one place after another, the media keeps things under wraps pretty well though... here come the holidays!!! Sandy will be pretty obsolete once the thanksgiving-black friday-cyber monday-christmas deals/stories return.

 

Last week I know a couple of people got sick from the water after surfing the snowstorm. As far as debris I'm not sure, but if debris is still floating around it is quite dangerous

 

i live in southampton and i went the friday right after the storm and the water was fine. It was just a little dark

 

How was the water quality?? Any debris floating around???

 

In Puerto Rico we are in the water just before the storm hits and the very next day, that is usually the best day because the offshore winds!!!

 

I don't think you should have felt guilty at all man. Surfing in your hometown after a week of cleanup and recovery? If anything you DESERVED to be out catch some nice waves and shredding. I can only imagine how much damage was done up there, and what people are going through. If I were a millionaire, I'd donate as much time and money as possible to helping the cause - but if it's good surf - I'm in the water.

 

In terms of water quality in Long Beach, NY, it's fine. I know many people who have gone in and have had no problems; I went in today and it was fine. Yes there is some debris especially on the eastern end but for the most part the water is clean.

I contacted the EPA recently and inquired about the water quality - they stated that although there is partially treated sewage flowing into reynolds channel (which by the way, never makes contact with long beach), The recent tests state that the water quality from the plant would actually be deemed safe for swimming (this is because the water is still being chlorinated and solids are being removed). They also stated that although it is impossible to know for sure, in general the ocean dilutes a lot of these materials fairly quickly - It's the bays and such where these water quality problems would arise.

 

As of yesterday there's still an advisory in Mantaloking, Lavallette, Seaside, and a bunch of other towns not to use their water supply for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, pets, etc. because they haven't assessed their systems or had the opportunity to start monitoring water quality.

I'm not saying, "don't go surfing." I'm saying there are a lot of unknowns and with that comes risk. Keep in mind that the water quality testing done recently by the EPA and DEP, results here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bmw/sandyatlanticocean.html ...showed no excessive levels of bacteria in nearshore waters. They were looking for a plume, and the results from samples taken at that time did not indicate a plume exists. Looking at the results, you'll see the highest readings are at the mouth of Sandy Hook Bay, and in the Lavallette/Mantaloking areas... no shocker there... and a complete lack of testing for quite a stretch, with known sewage facilities in that area. And we also don't know how and when the samples were taken, regarding tide, wind, wave action, currents, etc. Was it a worse case scenario or a best case scenario? Again... not saying the water's unsafe. Just saying there are a lot of unknown variables.

 

I rode Monmouth County NJ during Athena (Thurs, Nov 8). It was fun, I've never ridden a swell with so much north in it in NJ. It looked like all the floating debris had washed up and had been bulldozed into big piles away from the water. I didn't see any floating debris during my session. The water was the color of a jersey shore lake; chocolate brown. By Sunday night I was feeling like I had a cold and I've been dealing with a pretty gnarly sinus infection since. I never get sick. I'd recommend to wait it out longer if the water is still cloudy brown.

 

We live in OCNJ also and house was flooded throughout first floor. It has been a tough few weeks and I am only starting to have time to think about surfing again. Many people have said that if you have any immune issues, you should probably hold off. It is heartbreaking, because this time of year, before the water gets too cold, is usually the big reward. Frustrating. Either way, I have heard the sea bottom is very different that you may expect - va con cuidado.

 

the 90th street surfline cam is back up intermittently and i saw a guy out. looks totally different with no boardwalk and i think it's a right now(!). as far as water quality? i'm waiting until they sort out the reynolds channel treatment plant stuff before i go back in anywhere in the rockaways. december is a pretty flat month anyway so probably won't miss many sessions..

ethically, i don't feel comfortable traveling to a community that's not returned to some semblance of normal life just to surf. if anyone does surf, it should be locals, but to each his own. really, i don't think anyone should judge from the outside of these damaged communities.

 

Wait sooooo was I not supposed to go out at all? I surfed the day after the storm no problem in Long Branch. Had perfect head high+ waves to myself. National Guard was not letting anyone in my hometown. So it was Allll mine. Probably one of the best swells I ever surfed. It was world class. Jay Bay type waves

 

^No debris, didn't smell funny, seemed actually cleaner than most days. (Not that you can see the bacteria)

 

Are any of those posting to this thread about surfing in LB coming from the city? I've read a few reports of locals being unhappy with people heading there for a surf, and I'd hate to ruffle feathers in that way, but missing all these swells is driving me nuts. I've been volunteering and giving money to the relief effort, but don't expect someone who's lost their home to give me much slack for that ...

 

Funny - I had the EXACT same sessions. Best NJ day I have ever had.