Sandy’s Aftermath: Devastation in Staten Island by Eugene Richards

5 minute read

TIME assigned photographer Eugene Richards to document the devastation on Staten Island following Superstorm Sandy. Over four days, Richards recorded the total destruction in the communities along the island’s South Shore, illustrating the storm’s deep impact across the entire borough.

Richards spoke to LightBox producer Vaughn Wallace about his experience on assignment. Their conversation has been edited.

Vaughn Wallace: Talk to me about first arriving on Staten Island.

Eugene Richards: The first set of pictures that we had are out in a swamp. It was a very surreal marsh, covered with what looked like totally submerged houses. About a half mile into this area, we found this woman — totally alone — standing there. Her name was Susan. I didn’t want to intrude — I think she was trying to contemplate the tragedy, the same way everybody is. She proceeded to kneel down on what was the roof of her father’s house…over one of the rooms.

Little American flags were appearing all over the place on Staten Island — I think out of desperation. Also I think it was a protest, because people were getting very angry at what they felt was a lack of services. I’d say 30% of the homes had flags on them in some capacity. They kept popping up – people would try to find flags and raise them on broomsticks in the middle of the street.

VW: You saw the flags as symbols of protest?

ER: As symbols of defiance. We were talking constantly with people about how the mood was so scarily positive. Everyone else said it was just positive, but we thought that underneath it was a level of shock that will settle in — people and even local businesses like Surety Bond Florida company people were working to help each other non-stop.

This area seemed like a neighborhood of particularly hardworking and professional people — they set to work right away, tearing out the insides of their houses with an energy that was amazing. They reminded me of worker bees. They were working very, very hard until the homes ultimately became shells.

VW: In some of these photographs, we see what you’re referencing. But what can we not see?

ER: What you can’t see in the photographs is the language. One of the more revealing pictures is of a man named Kevin working on Cedar Grove Ave. We went up to his house and there was a flag out front and a note about the marathon to people in the neighborhood — everyone was very mad that the marathon was going to happen.

And then out of the basement came this guy. We were very shy about approaching him — covered with dirt, steam coming off his head in the cold, with he and his wife cleaning out their entire house onto the pavement. He chose to write ‘Thanks Sandy’ on his house rather than the profanity that many would have written.

This is the way everyone was — [an attitude] you can’t see in the pictures. To feel the graciousness of everyone was surprising. Nobody was telling jokes, nobody was laughing, but there was much kindness. That’s what doesn’t show here: the calm utility of the people.

VW: How would you describe the disaster you witnessed over the weekend?

ER: In many cases, I think it’s the end of a way of life — the innocence is gone. Cedar Grove Beach — it was kind of a secret. You were close to the beach and it was beautiful…a very special opportunity for people who aren’t particularly wealthy to live a pretty good life.

Maybe that’s what speaks to us all. I don’t know about you, but the dream of all of us is to have a house on the beach. It’s my dream. I think that’s what speaks to a lot of people — these residents in their own way managed to live this dream and this is the result of it.

VW: You’ve photographed conflict and sadness throughout your career. How does this disaster compare to things you’ve witnessed elsewhere?

ER: It was different. Acceptance, first off, that this was nature — not a man-made tragedy. On the other hand, the difference is that people in other places I’ve gone to have nothing. These people [on Staten Island] had 20 to 30 years of things they’ve worked their asses off to have…the bulk of people were concerned with their photographs and irreplaceable personal things. The prom pictures, the family pictures, the few things they had left over from their heritage, their parents. That kind of thing was gone — much more devastating than anything else.

VW: One of your more powerful images is a pinboard of family photos that people had pulled out of the rubble.

ER: Curiously, I think in a way that the photographs have taken on another meaning, like proof that they exist in a certain way as people. Photographs have taken on a totem quality in our society, maybe more than they should. The photos do have a significance — that we exist and we have roots.

We were there when a man found a picture of his friend who died in 9/11 – a little snapshot. So he was very exceedingly happy.

VW: So in some ways, these photographs are proof of existence and proof of what used to be. Your photographs, then, amplify what these found objects are already saying.

ER: I think they were pleased that someone recognized they were alive.


Eugene Richards is an award-winning American photographer. LightBox previously featured his project and book, ‘War is Personal.’

Vaughn Wallace is the producer of LightBox. Follow him on Twitter @vaughnwallace.

More photos: The Toil After the Storm: Life in Sandy’s Wake


Image: Jane Caravello, who lost her home on Kissam Avenue, spray-painted street numbers onto the remains of her house and her neighbors' homes, to aid insurance adjustors with property damage assessment. Thirteen houses were ripped from their foundations on this block.
The following photographs were taken between Nov. 3 - 7, 2012. Jane Caravello, who lost her home on Kissam Avenue, spray-painted street numbers onto the remains of her house and her neighbors', to aid insurance adjustors with property damage assessment. Thirteen houses were ripped from their foundations on this block.Eugene Richards for TIME
Image: Nor’Easter snow settles on decks and roofs carried by flood water and wind from Kissam Avenue to the marsh along Mill Road during Superstorm Sandy.
Nor’Easter snow settles on decks and roofs carried by flood water and wind from Kissam Avenue to the marsh along Mill Road during Superstorm Sandy.Eugene Richards for TIME
Image: Nor'Easter snow settles on decks and roofs carried by flood water and wind from Kissam Avenue to the marsh along Mill Road.
Nor'Easter snow settles on decks and roofs carried by flood water and wind from Kissam Avenue to the marsh along Mill Road.Eugene Richards for TIME
Image: Removal of debris on Wavecrest Street, close to Cedar Grove BeachÑan area hit hard by the storm.
Removal of debris on Wavecrest Street, close to Cedar Grove BeachÑan area hit hard by the storm.Eugene Richards for TIME
Image: Nor’Easter snow settles on roofs and household debris carried by flood water and wind from Kissam Avenue to the marsh along Mill Road during Superstorm Sandy.
Nor’Easter snow settles on roofs and household debris carried by flood water and wind from Kissam Avenue to the marsh along Mill Road during Superstorm Sandy.Eugene Richards for TIME
Image: In the midst of of a Nor'Easter, U.S. Marines walk past a pleasure boat that had drifted onto Cedar Grove Avenue in New Dorp.
In the midst of of a Nor'Easter, U.S. Marines walk past a pleasure boat that had drifted onto Cedar Grove Avenue in New Dorp.Eugene Richards for TIME
Image: Motorists line up for gasoline at a Mobil station on the corner of Hylan Boulevard and Midland Avenue in Staten Island.
Motorists line up for gasoline at a Mobil station on the corner of Hylan Boulevard and Midland Avenue in Staten Island.Eugene Richards for TIME
Image: Susan Aman searches through the remains of her father’s home, which had been located on Kissam Avenue, but was carried by the flood water into the marsh along Mill Road. She believes that she is crouching on top of what had been her father’s bedroom.
Susan Aman searches through the remains of her father’s home, which had been located on Kissam Avenue, but was carried by the flood water into the marsh along Mill Road. She believes that she is crouching on top of what had been her father’s bedroom. Eugene Richards for TIME
A house cracked open with its front torn off, in Tottenville.
A house cracked open with its front torn off, in Tottenville.Eugene Richards for TIME
The marsh along Mill Road, where many homes were carried by flood waters during Superstorm Sandy.
The marsh along Mill Road, where many homes were carried by flood waters during Superstorm Sandy.Eugene Richards for TIME
Photographs of local residents found in the woods by high school students. Amanda Casella and Lauren Sabota tacked them to plaster board at the corner of Billop and Brighton in Tottenville in the hopes that they will be retrieved.
Photographs of local residents found in the woods by high school students. Amanda Casella and Lauren Sabota tacked them to plaster board at the corner of Billop and Brighton in Tottenville in the hopes that they will be retrieved. Eugene Richards for TIME
A statue of the Virgin Mary in front of Alice and Neal Lauro’s home near Cedar Grove Beach in New Dorp withstood flooding up to the first floor during the ’92 Nor’easter and flooding up to the second floor during Superstorm Sandy.
A statue of the Virgin Mary in front of Alice and Neal Lauro’s home near Cedar Grove Beach in New Dorp withstood flooding up to the first floor during the ’92 Nor’easter and flooding up to the second floor during Superstorm Sandy.Eugene Richards for TIME
The New York Sanitation Department clears away debris from residents’ homes on Garibaldi Avenue, a block from Cedar Grove Beach in New Dorp.
The New York Sanitation Department clears away debris from residents’ homes on Garibaldi Avenue, a block from Cedar Grove Beach in New Dorp. Eugene Richards for TIME
Neighbors and their families living on Cedar Grove Avenue, the block closest to Cedar Grove Beach in New Dorp, take a break from removing debris from their homes six days after Superstorm Sandy.
Neighbors and their families living on Cedar Grove Avenue, the block closest to Cedar Grove Beach in New Dorp, take a break from removing debris from their homes six days after Superstorm Sandy. Eugene Richards for TIME
Clothing, blankets, supplies and water, mostly donated by fellow Staten Islanders, are distributed at Egbert Intermediate School in Midland Beach.
Clothing, blankets, supplies and water, mostly donated by fellow Staten Islanders, are distributed at Egbert Intermediate School in Midland Beach. Eugene Richards for TIME
Residents filled the street with debris from their homes on Neutral Avenue.
Residents filled the street with debris from their homes on Neutral Avenue.Eugene Richards for TIME
Kevin Oefelein and his daughter Heather embrace outside the doorway of the destroyed first floor of their home on Cedar Grove Avenue in New Dorp.
Kevin Oefelein and his daughter Heather embrace outside the doorway of the destroyed first floor of their home on Cedar Grove Avenue in New Dorp.Eugene Richards for TIME
Image: Neighborhood teens walk along roofs of houses that were carried by floodwater into the marsh along Mill Road.
Neighborhood teens walk along roofs of houses that were carried by floodwater into the marsh along Mill Road. Eugene Richards for TIME
Christine Callan searches for photographs of her children among the debris of what had been her home on Kissam Avenue in Oakwood.
Christine Callan searches for photographs of her children among the debris of what had been her home on Kissam Avenue in Oakwood. Eugene Richards for TIME
Jackie Oefelein, who lives on Cedar Grove Avenue, throws the last bit of debris from her house into a garbage truck.
Jackie Oefelein, who lives on Cedar Grove Avenue, throws the last bit of debris from her house into a garbage truck. Eugene Richards for TIME
The marsh is visible through the window of Eddie Alvarez's house in Oakwood. The back of the house was lifted from its foundation and thrown sideways by the surge during the storm. Eddie, his wife, two dogs and a bird rode out the storm in the attic until they were rescued in the early morning by six firefighters.
The marsh is visible through the window of Eddie Alvarez's house in Oakwood. The back of the house was lifted from its foundation and thrown sideways by the surge during the storm. Eddie, his wife, two dogs and a bird rode out the storm in the attic until they were rescued in the early morning by six firefighters.Eugene Richards for TIME
A small road along Cedar Grove Beach in New Dorp was covered by sand.
A small road along Cedar Grove Beach in New Dorp was covered by sand.Eugene Richards for TIME
Residents and volunteers warm themselves near a fire on Cedar Grove Avenue. The volunteers—moms from Great Kills and members of Hallowed Sons, a motorcycle club from Bay Ridge in Brooklyn—provided hot food and supplies to those in need.
Residents and volunteers warm themselves near a fire on Cedar Grove Avenue. The volunteers—moms from Great Kills and members of Hallowed Sons, a motorcycle club from Bay Ridge in Brooklyn—provided hot food and supplies to those in need. Eugene Richards for TIME
Members of Hallowed Sons set up volunteer operations in a storefront on Cedar Grove Avenue in New Dorp. The Carl Vincent Bini Memorial Foundation also pitched in, providing generators, tents, picnic tables, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Members of Hallowed Sons set up volunteer operations in a storefront on Cedar Grove Avenue in New Dorp. The Carl Vincent Bini Memorial Foundation also pitched in, providing generators, tents, picnic tables, hamburgers and hot dogs.Eugene Richards for TIME
Private contractors help remove storm debris from Marine Way in New Dorp during the evening hours.
Private contractors help remove storm debris from Marine Way in New Dorp during the evening hours.Eugene Richards for TIME
A police officer in front of the field on Ebbitts Street, where debris from flooded homes had piled up, checked neighborhood homes for looters.
A police officer in front of the field on Ebbitts Street, where debris from flooded homes had piled up, checked neighborhood homes for looters. Eugene Richards for TIME
Kevin Oefelein cleans debris from the first floor and basement of his house. Kevin and his wife Jackie were at home when the flood waters rose to chest height. They waded to the corner of Ebbitts Street and were able to drive away.
Kevin Oefelein cleans debris from the first floor and basement of his house. Kevin and his wife Jackie were at home when the flood waters rose to chest height. They waded to the corner of Ebbitts Street and were able to drive away.Eugene Richards for TIME

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