Hurricane Sandy Leaves Her Footprint on Cape Charles

A&N Electric lineman prepares to remove exposed utility lines behind Sea Breeze Apartments Tuesday after Hurricane Sandy washed out the foundation. The Town of Cape Charles has condemned the building, and residents have been evacuated. (Wave photo)

Mayor Dora Sullivan surveyed damage to the condemned unit of Sea Breeze Apartments.

Photos by CAPE CHARLES WAVE

October 30, 2012

“Can New Breakwaters Save Sea Breeze Apartments?” read a Wave headline on August 28.

Exactly two months later, Hurricane Sandy answered the question with an emphatic NO.

The only question remaining is how much worse the damage might have been without the new breakwaters.

Next door to Sea Breeze on Washington Avenue, the Historic District’s newest home (c. 2011) boasts on homeaway.com that it’s only 150 feet from the beach.

As of yesterday, that is an understatement.

Storm surge breached the breakwater behind Sea Breeze Apartments, washing out the foundation.

With condemnation of Sea Breeze unit, this house built in 2011 on a $400,000 lot is now the closest home to the beach in Cape Charles — about 10 feet closer than last week.

Palm trees outside the Palace Theatre tell which way the wind was blowing.

Hurricane Sandy ignored the rule at Cape Charles beach.

North end of Cape Charles Beach moved onto Bay Avenue.

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6 Responses to “Hurricane Sandy Leaves Her Footprint on Cape Charles”

  1. Dana Lascu on October 30th, 2012 11:35 pm

    OY!

  2. Bruce Lindeman on October 31st, 2012 7:34 am

    I feel for the folks at Sea Breeze, but after seeing and hearing about greater losses up the Shore, Cape Charles certainly dodged a bullet this time. Our losses here in town could’ve been much, much greater.

  3. Ada Linton on October 31st, 2012 10:22 am

    Our prayers and thoughts go out to the residents of Sea Breeze Apartments.

  4. Joyce Walker Smith on October 31st, 2012 1:19 pm

    My prayers to all the residents of Sea Breeze Apartments and the entire Cape Charles area of all who are in some way affected by this tragic incident. God is still in the blessing business and remember you may have lost material items but you still have your lives. You will be blessed with so much more than you lost. God bless you all.

  5. Kearn Schemm on November 1st, 2012 11:26 am

    One more proof of why Cape Charles needs a protective dune barrier the full length of the beach. Dunes covered with dunegrass and low trees are nature’s way of protecting the coast and man is well advised to copy this where possible. We can build and maintain healthy protective dunes with relative ease on the Cape Charles beach.

  6. Stefanie Hadden on November 1st, 2012 11:58 am

    I surely hope that the town does not take this opportunity to tear down Sea Breeze Apartments and replace them with million-dollar single-family homes. People of ALL income brackets and socio-econmic levels need and deserve affordable, attractive housing. I know there are those who are champing at the bit to get their hands on this prime waterfront property. Let’s please proceed with caution and respect here.
    Thank you.