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April 05, 1984 - The Storm of '84Page 16 The Suffolk Times April 5, 1984 Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh NESTING SWAN - -Some swans had already started to nest but during the big storm of '84 lost everything. Nature has a way of bouncing back. Let's hope everyone has that chance of renewal. 3p0�� 5 �■ SPRING I BICYCLE CHECK -UP 1 95, w /coupon , reg. price $14.95 ; • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK SUNDAY 12 - 5 SPECIAL .. 0 The Storm of 84 By PAULSTOUTENBURGH The big storm of '84 made many of us realize we can't take for granted that catastrophes will never happen. Places like downtown Riverhead, the oceanfront along the south shore, Iron Pier, South Jamesport, New Suffolk, Greenport and a thousand individual heartbreaks vouch that it can happen and did. There will be one part of that storm that each of us will remember in his own special way. Mine was the feeling of utter helplessness and insignificance as I stood outside the barn that morning after feeding the rain - drenched cows and chickens. All night we'd heard the wind howling in the bare trees outside and in the frenzy of dressing for the foul weather that morning I hadn't yet really appreciated the tremendous force of the storm. Even the downed limbs on the lawn outside did not prepare me for the power that blew. When the feeding was done and I closed the door behind me I had time to reflect outside in the shelter of the building what was going on and 1 suddenly realized the We will honor all other Video Club memberships until April 30th ---- Id ------------------------------------------- GETTING IN SHAPE? Video Members Get 10% Off All Repairs, Accessories & purchases in Bike Shop. Bent A Video Machine $995 For 24 Hrs. - Most tapes are 48 hr. rental. Jamesport Bike & Video MAIN ROAD, JAMESPORT 722 -4705 Southold COMING SOON ... Southampton Video Video COLONIAL CORNERS SOUTHOLD 765 -5265 Introducing wuualm the Ting 7 DC-21 3RE 3 Titan! 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It seemed there were gusts of wind of hurricane magnitude that created a noise of a thousand machines roaring at a high pitch. The bare limbs of the trees above thrashing back and forth was frightening and occasionally as I stood there a dead limb would come crashing down, reinforcing the fury that was boiling about me. Should anything need my help, it would have been lost in the turmoil. I was nothing but a bystander. On my way back to the house I passed trees tugging at their roots to yield to the storm. In doing so, great masses of earth around their base heaved up and down as the wind pressed on their wind -torn limbs above. Could they hold out or would they lay over like the weaker evergreens whose great masses of greenery acted as huge sails listing them over in the wind? This was nature's way of weeding out the old, the sick, and the unqualified. They would fall first. The strong would be left to pass on their genes to another generation. No Escape Photography is part of my life and so I had to visit some of the more tattered areas. Through foot -deep waters my brave little car waded. Everywhere there was turmoil spurred on by hurricane winds that forced water up into our bays and overflowed into streets, yards, and cellars. Downed telephone and electric wires lay like long black snakes everywhere and over the earth were battered remains of trees, limbs, leaves and grasses that seemed to escape no one. Our local disaster area was the sleepy little fishing village of New Suffolk. An area that seemed to have been passed by in time yet when it comes to foul weather takes the brunt of most of our storms. So in this storm, I knew it would be dealt a staggering blow. The small and usual tranquil bay had turned into a madness of ugly, crashing waves that were bent on destroying everything and anything that stood in its way. Whether it was in Southold or Riverhead or Southampton or wherever, each took its "lickins." Roads were torn up, houses washed off their footings and flooding spread everywhere into the lowlands. Days later as I sat looking over my newly -raked lawn, I could see little to remind me of the storm. Yet I know others are still drying out. Oh, I can see an evergreen along the hedge row that will never be righted but the forced forsythia that brings its yellow glow inside, reminds us there are better days ahead. Nature has a way of healing its wounds. As much as we hate to see her destructive force, it is all part of a changing world that has continued since the start of time. If we learn anything from history or of past events it is clear by now that we should try to live more within its limitations. Far too many try to change the world to suit them, neglecting to realize that the wrath of the gods occasionally kicks up its heels whether we like it or not. Man has already changed much of the world he lives in, but there is an edge or grey area that he should not enter. It is in this area that the greatest turmoil and heartbreaks take place.