Metro

Ready to dance up a storm

Not even Sandy’s wrath can ruin a girl’s prom night.

Teenage victims of October’s killer storm were having a ball yesterday, busy choosing from nearly 1,000 donated prom dresses and accessories in the packed cafeteria of New Dorp HS in Staten Island.

“It’s like a gift. It’s nice to see that out of a tragedy can come something nice,” said Nicole Stone, 18, a New Dorp senior.

Stone, her half-sister and dad were rescued by kayak from the top floor of their Dongan Hills home after water poured in through the windows and doors.

“It was terrifying,” she recalled. “You didn’t know when the water was going to stop.”

But all the bad memories seemed to wash away when she and her aunt, Angelique, chose a fancy — and free — chocolate-brown satin gown with a form-fitting bodice and a bouffant skirt, donated by David’s Bridal.

She also selected a matching shawl, a pair of H&M gold high heels and a sequined clutch.

She said she didn’t have a date so would likely go with friends.

Monica Yupa, 17, a senior at Staten Island Technical HS, selected a white, floor-length, halter dress with sequin accents. She also got a pair of pink suede pumps from H&M, beaded hairpins and barrettes.

Yupa’s Midland Beach home was destroyed, and her only clothes are the ones she packed when the family evacuated.

“It’s just tough for my family, because we try to save what we can, and it’s great that they’re helping with that,” she said.

“People really gave the best they can, not [just] what they can.”

“I love that it’s been so long since the storm, but people are still helping out. They haven’t forgot about us,” Yupa said.

Her mom, Maria, 54, said she wouldn’t have been able to afford a fancy dress.

“She has worked very hard at school, so she deserves to go to the prom,” she said.

The event was organized by disaster-relief charity Where to Turn, which spent months reaching out to businesses across the country.

“There were so many families impacted by Sandy. We didn’t want them to miss out on prom — something every girl should go to,” said the group’s executive director, Dennis McKeon, adding that anyone from storm-hit areas of the city, Long Island and New Jersey was invited.

Organizers said 105 families turned out for the event, and everyone got a dress.

About 200 gowns were too hideous for organizers to even offer.

“Somebody must have really went deep into their closets,” McKeon said.

They were donated to school theater programs.