Hurricane Sandy may have given Langley a five-day weekend and some time to, but it also caused over 20 deaths, over 12,000 power outages in the area and the destruction of hundreds of homes.

Many Langley students lost power and resorted to the use of flashlights and candles. Some students, like senior Erin Long, maintained their power with the help of underground landlines.

Students with power opened their houses to the ones less fortunate. Long was one of those gracious students. “I let [senior] Allie Buttarazzi come over and shower,” she said.

“I went over to my best friend’s house to hang out Sunday night,” said senior Riley Cutler.

Hurricane Sandy was considered a category one hurricane, but residents in the Virginia and Maryland did not see the worst of it. Sandy hit its hardest up north, especially in the New Jersey and New York region. Many people along the Jersey shore and the New York coast were forced to evacuate, leaving their houses behind.

Langley junior Katherine Gallo is dealing with the damage of her beach house in Long Beach Island.  After examining the aftermath of Sandy, Gallo came to find out that her beloved summer vacation spot was greatly damaged. Although the main wall was torn off, the shed was completely destroyed, Gallo is staying optimistic and hoping to rebuild soon.

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Photos by Harris LaTeef, Bijan Todd, and Cathy Kiess.

Graphic by Chris Name