Photo credit: Ann Curry
Rock Center
Phyllis Puglia has lived in Staten Island, New York, since 1997. As Hurricane Sandy approached the Northeast, she and her husband evacuated to safety, staying with family on higher ground. After the hurricane passed, she returned to her neighborhood to discover her home had been lifted by the force of the storm surge and carried away.
The 62-year-old grandmother made her way across a waterlogged field and found her greatest treasures scattered nearly a mile away. Some of the only remnants were black-and-white photos of her mother and father.
Photo credit: Ann Curry
"My pictures mean the world to me," Puglia told NBC's Ann Curry, holding photographs partially ruined by water. "This is the only wedding photograph of my mom."
On Twitter, a photo restoration expert offered to restore her damaged photos. But most of Puglia and her husband's world is gone and the prospect of starting over is daunting.
Photo credit: Ann Curry
"Our whole life is here," Puglia said through tears. "How do we start over? It took 30 years to get our home. And now he retired and we're in our 60s and where do we go? How do we start to build a life all over again?"
Standing on a pile of debris that used to be her home, Puglia said the entire experience was like a nightmare.
"I want to go home, but there's no home. I can't go home. And that's killing me."
HURRICANE SANDY: How You Can Help
Click here to watch Ann Curry's original report from Staten Island, NY, which originally aired Thursday, Nov. 1 on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams
Click here to watch Rock Center's follow-up report featuring Phyllis Puglia one week after the storm.
Leave a Comment:
Ann, please let us know how Mrs. Puglia does. Her anguish ("I want to go home, but there's no home. I can't go home.") will never leave me.
How can we donate clothes for women, men and children, stuffed animals, etc. if we live out of state??? I live in South Carolina but lived in Manhattan for awhile and cannot fathom the amount of damage to homes and the wonderful people of New York. Please post a place to send such items. Thank You!
Praying for you all!!!
This page was designed to help
So sorry for the loss of your property. You are not homeless. The 97 people in the US that lost their lives to Hurricane Sandy are truly homeless, they are gone from this earth. Pray for the dead and you will find peace and understanding.
Ann Curry, I loved your report up in Staten Island. Mrs. Puglia really touched my heart. Their lives are very challenged and very painful. Her words sum up what so many must feel: "I wanna go home, but there's no home. I can't go home!" I have been praying for Mrs Puglia as well as all my fellow NY'ers and those friends on the Jersey shore.
Can you please keep us posted as to what happens with Mr/Mrs. Puglia. Please let her know how many hearts she has touched and that prayers for her new life are over them. In Jesus' Name. Thank you.
regarding the survivors of hurricane sandy:why can't we do food drops by air to those without water and food and and other supplies like we do to third world countries after their disasters?!!
I watched the Hurricane Sandy Coming Together special last night and was really touched by the Anthony and Phyllis Puglia story. I donated to the general Red Cross fund; however, would like to do something specifically for this couple. Has a fund been established in their name or is there somewhere I could send something directly to them? If so, I would love if someone could e-mail be the details.
Phyllis broke my heart....I really didn't expect to find her just now when I Googled her name...I sooo wanted to take away her agony...hold her in my arms..and give her my little home if I could....please Ann, keep us all informed...I want to see her and everyone else smile again...God Bless....
Ann - I too would love to do something for Phyllis and her husband. I cry everytime I see her story. The anguish and desperation in her voice. My home means everything to me. It is where I brought my two son's home from the hospital to; it is where I retreated to grieve the deaths of my parents; I can't imagine loosing it and all it contains. I know I can make a donation to any charity that is accepting them, but I want to do something for Phyllis. She broke my heart. Please let us know how we can do something just for her to help ease her sorrow. I'm sure she and her husband worked hard for many years to purchase their home and now it is gone. Insurance will pay them something, but I'm sure they have many more immediate needs. How can I help Phyllis?
find me on fb and ill send you the donation page we have set up for her...
How can we donate clothes for women, men and children, stuffed animals, etc. if we live out of state??? I live in South Carolina but lived in Manhattan for awhile and cannot fathom the amount of damage to homes and the wonderful people of New York. Please post a place to send such items. Thank You!
#1.1 -
To everyone asking about my aunt Phyllis Here is a donation page us family have started for her....
To everyone that knows me you know i'm never asking for handouts or donations, But this one hits home..Please read below....
This link is for my Aunt and Uncle who have lost everything. There house ended up 5-6 blocks away from its origina
l location.
If you have been watching channel 4 and if you watched the concert, My Aunt Phyllis is the 62 yr old grandmother who lost her house. She is the one who found a pic of my grandmother her mother in all of this wreckage for everyone to see on the news. All she wants to do is GO HOME and she CAN'T!!!
Below you will find a Donation page we as a family have set up for her. I'm not asking for much $1, $2, $5, $10, $20 or more if you can...I know everyone is going through hard times right now but anything goes a long way.
She is too proud to ask for help so we are doing this on our own as a family.
Thank you to everyone
I am sure many want to help but we must all be careful of people posing as relatives to scam others. How do we know that Mr. Durando is a relative by his post alone?
My aunt cannot win...2-3 yrs before this hurricane she was on the news for a fire on Easter Sunday that Almost took out her house. Now with my uncle retired and a looming mortgage they need to start all over again. Please see the link above and help however you can
Since i cannot post the link for the donations please find me on facebook and private msg me...I can send everyone the link that way
Will Ann or Brian please pay a visit to Long Island? We are part of NY also but seems coverage stops at the 5 boroughs of NY City. In Nassau and Suffolk county many, many familes have lost everything also, including lives. The landscape of the beaches have forever been changed or gone for good. Many are still without power and heat. Please this was not only a NYC and NJ storm...
This is the link to donate to Phyllis Puglia. Every bit helps! Please remember, if you cant donate please pray for her and the family.
I was very moved by the story of Phyllis Puglia on Staten Island. I want to tell her that i have a beautiful black camel coat with a mink collar that i wish to send to her. My aunt wore it when she lived in New York and it is in excellent condition. It needs someone to keep warm and i live in California.I know it cannot replace the losses she is facing at this time but maybe it will lift her spirits a little
. If Anyone can reach her and she wishes to contact me at jcook4yourhealth@cox.net i appreciate it.
Here is the link to donate for Phyllis Puglia .
Where is the link??
Phyllis, I saw you on the news and my heart went out for you. Thank You to all of The FDNY brothers from Ladder Co.77 and Engine Co. 153 for searching in the wreckage for what's left of her belongings. In the tradition of FDNY Brotherhood that goes back over 125 years I am making a donation to help her and her family.
Keep Fighting the Good Fight....Rick Duden retired L-167 FDNY... No. Carolina