REPRINTED FROM 8-12-2010
The DA Beach Club undergoes repairs several months after the devastating
unnamed storm of December 11, 1992.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M BTR AY 10-16, 2019 73
BRONX SCENE
Nor’easter of 1992
Combine an incoming high
tide, a full moon and a raging
Nor’easter and the combination
spells disaster for those
living along the waterfront.
Such was the case during the
early morning hours of Friday,
December 11, 1992. The fi erce
winds caused the waves, some
cresting at fi fteen feet or more,
to crash upon the shore wreaking
havoc along the way. Some
once sturdy concrete walls began
to shatter while wooden
piers were torn asunder.
Grand trees along the path of
the storm began to tumble and
boats of all dimensions, including
at least one barge, littered
the shoreline and began their
incursion further inland as the
tide continued to surge.
City Island residents were
left stranded when their bridge
was temporarily closed for
safety measures and King Avenue
homeowners were especially
hard hit. JP’s Seafood
Restaurant suffered damages
amounting to about $400,000
and unfortunately the owner
failed to insure it. P. S. 175
held students until a parent
or guardian showed up to get
them safely home. The school
then served as a shelter although
only two people stayed
overnight. Most displaced
residents stayed with family
or friends both on and off the
island. Edgewater Park sustained
severe losses with several
houses being totaled while
about six dozen others suffered
extensive damage. The Edgewater
Volunteer Hose Company
was a blessing for many
of those families who had to
be evacuated. When the fi re
truck could no longer navigate
the fl ooded streets, boats
were used to rescue stranded
families. The ladies auxiliary
was also out in force preparing
fresh hot coffee and soup
throughout the day and night
for all those rescued. The Red
Cross also had personnel on
the scene. Over two dozen
people stayed overnight at the
Edgewater fi rehouse where it
was safe and warm.
The various other communities
along the shore also had
great losses. I remember Jim
McQuade telling me that he lost
his dock and other residents of
Locust Point and Schuyler Hill
had similar stories to tell. It
was in Schuyler Hill where the
sand barge came crashing into
the seawall at Hammond Cove
east of Pennyfi eld Avenue. St.
Frances de Chantal Parish and
Preston High School opened
their facilities to all those looking
for shelter. The entire community
reached out to those
in need with many offering to
take in those who could not return
to their homes that evening.
The Red Cross was also
on site in the event that some
people needed food or housing
vouchers.
Jerry Vogt, owner of the
Golden Beach Club, lost both
his jetty and dock. The other
beach clubs sustained similar
damage as well as losing several
tons of sand from their
beaches. The DA Beach Club
lost not only tons of sand, but
also the ramp that leads down
to their dock as well as their
fencing. The Throggs Neck
Memorial Post of the American
Legion lost everything that was
not tied down and also suffered
severe damage to the interior
of the building. No waterfront
property was left undamaged
and the repairs often extended
into the spring. The storm of
December, 1992 had no name
but it certainly left a scar on
the community which many
will forever remember.