Former Worksop man recounts Superstorm Sandy terror

Former Valley pupil Phil Eyre said the superstorm hit his family hard on Monday night and that it could be 10 days before power is restored.

Phil, golf director at Hollow Brook Golf Course, moved to America just months after the 9/11 attacks.

He said: “My family is safe which is the main thing. We lost a few shingles off the roof but otherwise nothing major.”

“The way people have helped each other is amazing. Some of the roads are like war zones but once power is back we will soon return to normal.”

Phil said they are managing to get by with a portable generator running lights, hot water and hot, but said without any TV or internet they have not seen many pictures of the disaster.

“Petrol is becoming hard to find. Most gas stations have no power and those that do are running out due to high demand,” he said.

“Phone lines are inconsistent and text messages are on a delay and sometimes not going through.”

But he said that despite the chaos, people are still working hard to resume normal life.

“At the golf course we lost a lot of trees and one fell on and destroyed a bridge. We should have nine holes open for play by Saturday,” he said.

“The highlight of all this was last night when the kids in the neighbourhood ensured Halloween went ahead.”

“My 2 year old daughter, Anika, was out there dressed as lady bug girl and the smile on her face interacting with all the other kids made all the problems go away,” he said.

“I have also had many friends and family who have been sending messages from the UK, which means the world to me.”