Very valid points.
The saving grace of this storm concerning the barrier islands is that most of these homes are second homes, and buttoned up for the winter, or just inhabited on weekends into the fall.
The barrier islands are fairly deserted in these winter months, except for weekends.
More folks in recent years have retired to these homes preferring to live year round, becasue in the non tourist season you have the ocean and bay to yourselves.
Seaside Heights has a weekend crowd during these months and mostly welfare recipients who take over the hotels once the tourists depart by Labor Day.
For a place like Seaside Heights that absolutely depends on tourism, all of thew items folks come there for have disappeared—the beach, the boardwalk, the bars, the amusements.
The other thing to be thankful for is this storm happened on October 29th and not July 29th or August 29th, at the height of the tourist season.The tourist season now is all but over, the money has been made, and the memories abundant of a great summer at the Jersey Shore.
Places like Staten Island and Toms River,and other places in NY and NJ that were affected by the storm surge where folks live year round, is far more of an impact than the barrier island.
You’re right; this could have been worse at a different time of year, and it is worse in the “year-round areas” to the north.
The shore is nicest in the spring & fall...