By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
“As soon as I hear something to do with Sandy, I get a flashback of what happened and it’s just so emotional that you’re in a bad mood, and you can’t get out of it,” said Evan Burkard.
Sandy struck two years ago, but 13-year-old Evan says he’s still devastated. The seventh-grader lives with his cousin and grandparents. Their waterfront rental was wiped out by the storm. Together they had to find a new home.
“When I was in the fifth grade a lot of kids were able to stay in their houses and I was really jealous. I was thinking in my head, that’s not fair. I really want to stay in this house,” said 12-year-old Jasmine Burkard.
“You can’t wipe away the emotional hurt that you have,” said Brick Township resident Pat Minor.
Which is why the cousins joined the Sandy Support Group for Children at the Visitation Relief Center in Brick — a grassroots non-profit created days after the storm. Here, children do arts and crafts, dance and simply talk and listen.
“It has an emotional toll on them. They’re stressed out, they’re confused. Then there’s the fear of what if that happens again,” said Visitation Relief Center volunteer Danielle Prachthauser.
“When I get a bad forecast, everyone in the family gets anxious. It’s like what’s going to happen now,” Minor said.
Hurricane preparedness is a big part of the kids’ counseling sessions. The non-profit also has a food bank, offers free appliances, household items, furniture, free tool rentals and more. A team of case managers, counselors and a support group are here for adults too.
“It’s like an uphill battle. You’re still constantly trying to get things together,” said Brick Township resident Albert Workfield.
“It takes a lot out of you. You work so hard to make it your home and then things beyond your control take over,” said Mark Turmelle of Brick Township.
The Turmelle family finally returned home, but soon they’ll have to leave again when their house is elevated.
“I miss the way things were before, before Sandy hit and everything was peaceful and quiet,” said 15-year-old Brandon Turmelle.
“Even to this day, when I look, it’s too much to look at, and it’s like I try to move on but sometimes I would have dreams that my family were killed in the storm,” said Zee Turmelle.
Twenty-one-year-old Zee Turmelle started working here part-time.
“I guess trying to help others is helping us,” Mark Turmelle said.
The Visitation Relief Center’s currently serving about 1,800 families. That number’s increased substantially since Sandy struck. Twelve to 14 new families walk through these doors weekly looking for help.
Kids like Evan have found comfort here.
“I’m not alone and I have people to lean on,” he said.
The Visitation Relief Center’s expanding to meet the growing needs of storm victims like Evan who vows to keep coming back.