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"  At 7:15 I get a photo from a friend who lives close by, the water is up to the sidewalk line at 12th and Avenue C. An hour later she sends me a video of Avenue C in front of a raging river. Wind is blowing intensely and the water flow is headed south down Avenue C. I live four blocks south on 8th and C. Being that we were considered to be in a Zone B flood zone, I was expecting the water to flow across 10th street and taper off by the time it reached our block, but I was completely wrong. While sipping hot toddies and watching a cheesy action flick curled up on the couch with my roommates Bryan, Tiana, and our friend from LA, Emma, I take a peep outside. Water is up to car tires and cresting on to our sidewalk. We are giddy with nervous energy and start to consider potential flooding in our apartment. Within 20 minutes of our last check up water is now at the step of our building entrance and flirting with the front door. At this moment, I realize water will be in our apartment, in what capacity, I am unsure. I grab a half drunk keg from our backyard. Bryan and I lift the rubber mat at the entrance way in hopes to plug the water entering the doorway and prop the keg behind it for reinforcement. The attempt is feeble at best, water begins pouring in anywhere the rubber mat is not. We come back into our apartment and start thinking what the next step is. Fears of water rising high enough to get in AC vent sets in. We grab towels and plastic and attempt to reinforce the AC unit hole. We cover the exterior with plastic, tape it shut, and try to jam the removed AC unit against metal panel to fight the pressure of the water. Almost immediately after the whole unit is taped shut, water breaks through. The AC unit hole is a foot off the ground, our apartment is about to flood. We decide to seek refuge with our very welcoming neighbors on the 3rd floor. At this point, water is ankle high. Keys, phone, wallet, emergency money, and passport all on hand, we head upstairs. After we are all safe upstairs we decide to head back downstairs to grab more food for us and our hosts. Upon returning water is now at my knees. My surfboard is surfing in living room, my bed frame is fully covered in water and the mattress is halfway soaked. My roommate&amp;#039;s bed is floating in her room and we laugh in astonishment as we fill my bag with more stuff. Upon opening the fridge , the bottom crisper drawers bust out from water pressure and float into the living room. The force of the water is too strong to close the fridge door.  The damage was extensive, but we are all very happy and blessed to be safe and and to not have experienced the horrors seen in Belmar, Atlantic City, Midland Beach, Rockaway, Breezy Point, all other lovely shore points.  If you live in the NYC area and are interested in volunteering your time please click here. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/news/a10738/hurricane-sandy-experience/>