The Startling Sight of Raised Houses

In Port Monmouth, the houses tell the Hurricane Sandy story. 

In a drive through the streets of this section of Middletown that got swamped with severe flooding from Compton and Pew's Creeks, there are plenty of fine, neatly kept homes where folks appear to be getting on with life as they knew it before Oct. 29. 

But on the edges are some lonely houses that sit bruised and broken, their insides piled up in soggy piles at the curb. And then there are the handful who seem to be triumph in the face of adversity, homes hoisted high up off the ground by owners who are determined to meet the rules that will allow them go back to their home by the water.  

A photo of a one-story house we posted on the Middletown-NJ Patch Facebook page sparked various startled responses from some readers.  "Holy moly!!!!" said one.

"Gives new meaning to the term 'raised ranch'" said another.

The ranch is up so high that you can see the houses behind hit, framed in the space between the floor and the earth. "hahaha," said one reader. "Cool picture, tho, it looks like the house is balanced on that center pier....just want to go and spin it around hahaha"

But others couldn't help wondering how the disabled could be accommodated. "Hope nobody is handicapped. Will be possible to get in or out," wrote one reader. 

An EMS volunteer questioned how volunteers would help people in emergencies. "...it is going to be very difficult getting patients out of these homes. We may need lift assistance at all of the calls. Two people aren't going to be able to get a patient down by themselves."

Another reader said, "I'm sorry but I think these houses look so weird like this. I understand the flood factor but they don't look safe to be honest."

A number of people expressed their thoughts about the changing landscape, so alien from the old Port Monmouth. "The future of Bayshore housing," quipped one. 

"This is up the block from me & is what they want me to do! It is over kill!" said one reader. "How do you get groceries up there let along furniture & appliances! I say Stop filling in & building on the marsh & ocean! Get those flood gates going! We need some protection here!"