Ortley Beach , New Jersey ( CNN ) -- Anthony Duszczak cast an eye towards the roiling sea and shrugged . `` We 're staying , we 're local . We 'll figure it out . '' His dad , Wayne , feels the same . `` You do n't get to see many things here normally -- everything 's pretty boring , '' he says . Not boring today , though , and it will be less so in the hours ahead . Wayne , 62 , is a retired field technician for Verizon . He lives here year round and feels safe . `` We 'll be fine , '' he tells me . `` If it floods , I 've got a boat , and if we need to get out quick I 've got a big truck . '' Anthony , 20 , was born on the island and has lived here his entire life . `` I 'm a surfer and the waves are normally good after a storm , '' he says as the wind whips down their street , shooting stinging nettles of rain into our faces . `` It 's pretty crazy but I 'm sure we 'll be OK. '' We 're on Ortley Beach on New Jersey 's barrier islands -- one of the frontlines awaiting the official arrival of Sandy . Packed with vacationers during the summer months , it 's quieter this time of year . Most of those who remain are retired , or tourism workers taking some down time . If our few hours there showed Sandy 's warm-up , her actual arrival might make Wayne and Anthony Duszczak regret their decision to stay . Hours ahead of the worst of the weather , sea water cascades down residential streets . Debris is already piling up on side streets , some of it jetsam from the ocean , some of it washed from front yards . Down the road at the Joey Harrison Surf Club , a local landmark , damage is already being done . The outside wooden deck is gone , the railings too , and the surf that is normally at least 50 yards away across the beach is rolling inside the club . A door is shattered , hanging by its hinge , the floor sodden , and members ' faces long . `` This could be worse than 1962 , '' says one of the club managers , Gordy Mack . `` If it 's like this now , who knows what it will be like tonight . '' Gordy is one of those planning to stay through the storm . As we speak , one of the biggest waves of the day smacks into the concrete patio and spills over us as we run inside . The wave follows us . More to clean up tomorrow . Local police chief Mike Mastronardy says emergency workers have done what they can . `` We 've had the mandatory evacuation order out and most folks have gone , but some are determined to stay , '' he says . `` But I 'm worried . The sea has broken through the dunes in several places and we 're not even close to the worst of this . '' The vast majority of residents have heeded the call to leave , and there 's a ghost town feeling . Those who have ignored the advice to leave are hunkered down . Not far away we find Joe Lewis taking a cell phone video of the sea coming over the dunes and coursing down a street . `` I 'm not staying -- it 's a little ridiculous , '' he says . `` I want to be able to live through this . `` It 's pretty bad . I was talking to one of my friends who was here in 62 and he 's leaving , so ... '' Joe heads to his car to leave the island , leaving his unfinished sentence to speak for itself . We head back across the bridge to the mainland . `` Glad you got back , '' says one of the police officers who 's helping block access the other way . `` Gon na be a long night . ''
On New Jersey 's barrier islands , most residents are leaving . A few locals remain to see out Hurricane Sandy . Rising water breaks through dunes and floods streets .