Those that were not openly sobbing in front of shells of their former homes, wandered among the scattered remains of their existence, glassy-eyed and shocked.What was once a comfortable, suburban middle-class enclave now looked downright post-apocalyptic.

Ana and Marlena were forced to park a couple of blocks from the apartment on Olympia Boulevard and make the last leg of the trek on foot, picking their way through sticks and unidentifiable shards of people’s lives that was ankle deep in some places. The home itself was still under water. Ana had to hug the vinyl siding as she inched her way around to the side entrance that led to the small one bedroom her mother clearly couldn’t call home any more.

Photo: Courtesy of Cindy Melera Photography