Hurricane sandy

[OhYouBigBadBeast]

Looking potentially very serious indeed for the eastern seaboard of the US, perhaps including NYC if some models are correct. The storm will probably be extra tropical but nevertheless if it interacts with a trough modelled off the east coast that could bring down arctic air then the result could be approaching catastrophic, with utterly torrential rain, severe blizzards, hurricane force winds and severe storm surges all being possible.

I think people will be getting very worried about this. Mon tues weds are the days to be watching. Lets hope the storm turns east away from the us coast.

[TalkinPeace2]

There is no power in New York south of 40th street
no traffic lights
no electric
no cellphones
no landlines
no heat
and failing gas ...

Its OK - I'm in touch with his residents association
BUT
lots of people are walking to where there is light and food but may not have taken dead phones - or for those over 75, do not own such a thing.

it will take weeks to find out if everybody is OK - and this is New York
Imagine what its like for those whose family are in countries without wifi hotspots

[OhYoubadbadKitten]

I hope you can talk to him soon.

For those in other countries, it must be desperate.

[alcibiades]

I think one of the advantages of the internet is that not only do we get access to shedloads of info, we can also get to hear the voices of people who have a direct experience of these severe events. This event has dropped from being headline news, which might give the impression to a lot of people that it's all over and done with. And in my younger days (very much pre-internet) I might have assumed the same thing.

But hearing from people here, especially TalkinPeace2, has made me realise that it isn't over, and it's not likely to be for some time to come.

[Eliza22]

Talkinpeace2, I hope you hear something soon.

[TalkinPeace2]

nyti.ms/SfwDDN
no chance of power and phones till Saturday now for my Dad. Will hopefully be able to contact him by the end of the weekend - assuming he's OK.
but watch the video
no traffic lights - no elevators to 17th floor apartments ....

[TheCatInTheHairnet]

It's getting crazier by the second. Still no power, loooong lines to get gas, and now reports of a winter storm heading our way. Power still not expected to come back for at least another week. I haven't even seen any electricity companies in our neighbourhood.

And we're in the areas that are "just inconvenienced". The powers that be are only going to be able to sell us that line for a couple more days. People are getting more and more irritated and distressed. It's a bit scary, tbh.

[OhYoubadbadKitten]

What more do you think could be done Cat?

[OhYoubadbadKitten]

Thanks for the link Talkin, it must make it very hard for emergency services to reach people in need in apartment blocks. Very very difficult for disabled people too.

[mumblechum1]

DS just got back from JFK this morning. Said as they drove through NJ from Washington it was pretty dire. They glimpsed the Manhattan skyline late afternoon but from where they were (George Washington Bridge Ithink) a lot of it was still in darkness.

I'm glad he's home safe and sound. He's still my baby even though he's 6 foot 3 with stubble

[mumblechum1]

$6 dollars for a small bottle of water in the shop he went into on the way thru' NJ.

[ElaineBenes]

He should report that store if he remembers the name. Price gouging is illegal in NJ.

[TalkinPeace2]

$10 for a flashlight in lower Manhattan.

Worrying about niceties like ramping up prices is the LEAST of the worries to old folks like my Dad, stuck in their apartment buildings with no light, heat, water, gas, phone, fresh food.
And none likely for several days yet.

At least I assume he's in his apartment because I have no way of finding out.

[blackcurrants]

We don't have power in Westfield, nj, and it is starting to worry me how to keep the flat warm. DS is only 2 and we all have colds. We really were ready for 3-4 hours without power or heat but who can prepare for 7-10 days without buying a generator and stockpiling fuel?! Our library is now open and so we are going there during the day to play in the warm and charge all our phones. We are lucky, we have 2 cars and each have nearly a quarter of a tank of petrol. We are biking evefywhere but it's getting too cold to do that with DS!

[TunipTheHollowVegemalLantern]

Keep smiling Blackcurrants. Hope things improve soon x

[TalkinPeace2]

(Blackcurrants)
Do you have somebody you can houseshare with - camp in their spare room? Somebody who has an open fire ideally! Are there evacuation centres in your area - as the ones in Manhattan are still going.

[ElaineBenes]

Blackcurrants

Hang in there - I have friends in Highland Park, Lawrenceville, Trenton and Princeton who have all just got their power back today and yesterday! Hopefully it won't be too long for you.

[ElaineBenes]

And you're welcome to come to us in Queens to shower, do laundry etc if you'd like to - although with the traffic and the petrol situation it might not be such a great idea!!

[fledtoscotland]

Siting in a restaurant in Times Square right now. No obvious evidence of sandy but a few trees down. Lower manhattan still affected but about 34th st up is business as normal

[TalkinPeace2]

Lower manhattan still affected
too right it is
still no lights, heat, elevators, phones
garages still flooded
fridges full of rotting food
and still no idea if my Dad is OK

[ElaineBenes]

Power is coming back to lower manhattan. It's already back in the les, TriBeCa, soho and Murray hill. Should all be back today so you will be able to contact your dad. Staten island and long island are still a mess with no power.

[TalkinPeace2]

Have spoken to my Dad.
He's OK. Cold, dark, bored of eating what little food he has left, but OK.
His building will have no heat and hot water before Thanksgiving though .....
His power comes from the 14th street substation so is still limited - lights but no sockets in the buildings so far.

[OhYoubadbadKitten]

No heat before thanksgiving? That's going to be very hard. Is there anywhere local to him offering at least a day time refuge?

[TalkinPeace2]

Don't know yet.
About 5,000 of the people in the apartment complex are in the same situation.
Once the power is on he can use electric heaters but the main heating and the hot water is from the ConEd steam pipes that were badly damaged by flooding.
No hot water in bathrooms for another month.
VERY hard on families.

[OhYoubadbadKitten]

Crikey! It just shows the difficulty of the task doesn't it. I do not envy those people at all.

[TheCatInTheHairnet]

TP2, are you not in NY yourself? Did I get that right. I'm in the Burbs, but if he needs anything, happy to help out. It will distract me from my own freezing, dark home!!