Hurricane Leaves Lasting, Eroding Impression
Islanders gather to assess damage to Lucy Vincent Beach in Chilmark.
Islanders gather to assess damage to Lucy Vincent Beach in Chilmark.
Long rollers and plenty of foam at Lucy Vincent Beach make an unsual play spot for children.
Long rollers and plenty of foam at Lucy Vincent Beach make an unsual play spot for children.
Clif ravaged at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Clif ravaged at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Sandy left plenty of foam and debris, and carved out a chunk in the fragile, crumbling cliff at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Sandy left plenty of foam and debris, and carved out a chunk in the fragile, crumbling cliff at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Tree is felled by Sandy on Davis Lane in Edgartown.
Tree is felled by Sandy on Davis Lane in Edgartown.
South Shore home in Chilmark, located near Stonewall Pond, now stands perilously close to the edge of a cliff.
South Shore home in Chilmark, located near Stonewall Pond, now stands perilously close to the edge of a cliff.
Car left burried in sand from rushing water, across from the sea wall in Oak Bluffs.
Car left burried in sand from rushing water, across from the sea wall in Oak Bluffs.
Old jetty at the East Chop Beach Club battered by the waves.
Old jetty at the East Chop Beach Club battered by the waves.
Though Sandy has left the Island, high surf at Katama remained.
Though Sandy has left the Island, high surf at Katama remained.
Sandbags were set up to protect Schifter house on Chappaquiddick, which is in danger of falling into the ocean.
Sandbags were set up to protect Schifter house on Chappaquiddick, which is in danger of falling into the ocean.
Despite sandbags, Wasque lost an estimated 24 feet of beachfront during the storm.
Despite sandbags, Wasque lost an estimated 24 feet of beachfront during the storm.
Steve Tully of West Tisbury and Peggy Wyoars of Oak Bluffs harvest seaweed left in Sandy's wake at Oak Bluffs harbor.
Steve Tully of West Tisbury and Peggy Wyoars of Oak Bluffs harvest seaweed left in Sandy's wake at Oak Bluffs harbor.
Water still stands on some Oak Bluffs roads.
Water still stands on some Oak Bluffs roads.
Tree felled in Edgartown cemetery.
Tree felled in Edgartown cemetery.
Cracked pavement along Lobsterville Road in Aquinnah.
Cracked pavement along Lobsterville Road in Aquinnah.
Clean up begins at Squibnocket Beach in Chilmark.
Clean up begins at Squibnocket Beach in Chilmark.
Photographing the swirling surf and crumbling cliffs at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Photographing the swirling surf and crumbling cliffs at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Though the Island was spared the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, it brought with it high winds and powerful surf and left in its wake severe erosion, especially on south-facing shorelines. The ocean washed over Norton Point Beach at Katama in Edgartown, turning the eastern end of the beach into a sandbar covered with water at high tide. On Lucy Vincent Beach in Chilmark, waves carved a U-shaped chunk out of the top of the cliff, and left the beach strewn with rocks, sea foam and seaweed.