The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach
The cleanup continues in Westerly near Misquamicut State Beach as homeowners place debris created by superstorm Sandy along Atlantic Ave. for pickup. View the photo gallery.
WESTERLY, R.I. -- "We'll be open for business for Spring Fest" on the second weekend in May, said Caswell Cooke Jr., executive director of the Misquamicut Business Association, who said the recovery has been nonstop since superstorm Sandy hit on Oct. 29.
Close to 650 volunteers, coordinated by Serve Rhode Island, have cleaned out about 200 properties, he said Thursday night, with more coming Friday and the weekend.
Volunteers will still be needed in the coming weeks, he said, after contractors haul away debris left streetside and homeowners get word about insurance and federal assistance.
Misquamicut's main street, Atlantic Avenue, has been cleared from under an estimated 6 feet of sand. The sand is being piled at the Misquamicut State Beach parking lot, for sifting, testing and eventual distributing on beaches stripped by the storm surge, he said.
"Atlantic Avenue was our New Jersey in Rhode Island."