New Yorkers Take Pride in Resilience, Preserve Scars from Sandy

"For some people bruised by the hurricane, the waterline has become something of a signature of survival. Most building owners and homeowners have understandably wiped away theirs as they have repaired and rebuilt what the waves gulped up, trying to forget. But quite a few, as part of their formulas to reconcile with the storm, have chosen to live with that waterline, not always knowing why," writes N.R. Kleinfield. 

"At Meade's restaurant in the South Street Seaport, customers hunched over the busy bar, washing down beers beneath spindly shadows cast through the windows. Easy to spot the waterline here. The rush of water chewed away the paint on the wall up to above five feet, leaving a smudged surface. So it remains, and will remain. Printed on the wall is what it signifies."

In this multimedia piece, Kleinfield's stories of preserving signs of damage are accompanied by audio clips of residents and business owners describing the significance the six-foot high stains hold for them.