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Subscribe to RSSHoboken, N.J., became a virtual island when Sandy forced 500 million gallons into the city. NBC's Katy Tur reports.
HOBOKEN, N.J. – One of the most densely populated square miles in the U.S. is still full of floodwater and still out of power, and residents are starting to run out of patience with post-Sandy life.
“They’re saying we might not have power till Monday,” said Jessica Van Binsbergen, 28, a Hoboken, N.J., resident, who was waiting for a ferry to Manhattan. “There’s a lot of flooding where I live. I’m headed to a friend’s.”
Van Binsbergen, her cat in tow, was standing in a line of hundreds of people – all of whom were eager to get out of Hoboken, a densely packed city of about 50,000 people along the Hudson River. Water up to four feet high remained pooled in some areas of the city, and flooded many of the basement apartments that line the streets; on Wednesday, National Guard vehicles arrived to assist with rescues and delivering meals to stranded people.
A Hoboken police officer estimated his department had performed “a couple hundred” rescues since the storm hit.
Gary Hershorn / Reuters
A woman makes her way through the floodwaters in Hoboken, N.J., on Wednesday.
‘It’s been nonstop,” the officer, who said he wasn’t authorized by the city to speak on the record, told NBC News as he and another officer, both wearing high rain boots, waded over to an apartment surrounded by deep floodwaters to help a woman with a liver condition. “We started doing rescues 28 hours ago and haven’t slept.”
Three of Hoboken’s four firehouses were flooded by Sandy, Battalion Chief Louis Moyeno said.
Gary Hershorn / Reuters
A man carries his wife through the floodwaters in Hoboken, N.J., on Wednesday.
“This is the only operational firehouse left,” he said, standing outside Hoboken Fire Department, Engine No. 2 on Washington Street. “The water has receded, but there is no power to any of the other firehouses, and there’s water damage.”
Omar Vicioso, 31, said Sandy poured water into his basement, and left cars floating in his street. He was eager to get back to his work at a boutique store in Manhattan, he said, but wasn’t sure when that would happen.
“All the cars were scattered around,” he said. “I don’t have a car -- I usually take public transportation -- but obviously that’s not happening. With my phone down, the PATH [train]down, the buses not working, it’s kind of a waiting game.”
Craig Ruttle / AP
David Bagatelle, of Hoboken, N.J., walks from his residence through high water in Hoboken, N.J., on Wednesday.
A couple blocks away, William Mirlas, a contractor with a water removal company, was pumping water from a Hoboken resident’s home.
“He had four to five feet [in here],” Mirlas said. “When I opened the door to his room, it was just like a movie: The water came in from outside, just like a river.”
In addition to the man’s furniture, his wallet and clothing were soaking wet, Mirlas said.
While the National Guard was assisting local crews with rescue efforts, residents tried to keep from going stir-crazy.
Craig Ruttle / AP
A dog named Shaggy is handed from a National Guard truck to National Guard personnel after the dog and his owner left a flooded building in Hoboken, N.J., on Wednesday.
Amid the darkness that encased nearly all of Hoboken, there was one bright spot: One neighborhood had power, and its inhabitants were happy to share.
“Re-charge your morning!” read signs posted around 11th Street. “Free coffee and power outlets!”
In other parts of Hoboken, loud sump pumps reverberated down streets where fake cobwebs and other Halloween trimmings decorated darkened, flooded storefronts and homes. But on and around 11th Street, residents seemed to be having a block party rather than making a post-hurricane clamor for electricity.
John Makely / NBC News
Rey Erney, right, plugs his phone in on a neighbor's front steps along Eleventh street.
John and Jeanne-Marie Scura, who live on Garden Street near 11th, have four children – but by Wednesday morning, a group of about 15 kids had settled in comfortably into their home, happy to take advantage of their TV and computer.
Related story: Amid storm, a desperate search for power
“We never lost power,” John Scura said. “People were asking us if they could charge their stuff because they saw our lights on. People brought food [in exchange].”
Their electricity luck didn’t extend to their local pharmacy, however, where the Scuras were trying to get antibiotics for one of their kids, who had strep throat.
Dale Shulmistra, his girlfriend, and their dog came to hang out and recharge their cell phones from a few blocks away. “The generosity – the thoughtfulness of these people is fantastic. I’ve seen a couple of them before, talked to a couple before. It’s nice to hear other people’s stories [from Sandy].”
The power party attracted dozens of people throughout the day on both sides of the street, where power strips hung from extension cords out of first-floor windows.
“Do you guys need some coffee?” Theresa Howard, 47, who put up the fliers and organized the event yesterday, yelled to people as they walked down the street.
“Someone said this restores their faith in mankind. There’s just so much bad stuff going in , this is just such a simple thing, it was all we could do,” she told NBC News. “People are really thankful … Even a police officer said, ‘This is what makes Hoboken so great. This is what it used to be.’”
Meanwhile Wednesday, President Barack Obama toured New Jersey's battered coastline, saying the federal government was "going to be here for the long haul" for that state and 15 others dealing with destruction and power outages after Sandy, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ordered that Halloween trick-or-treating be postponed in his state until Monday due to unsafe conditions.
Sandy killed at least 47 people in the U.S. after having killed at least 71 in the Caribbean.
Superstorm Sandy made landfall Monday evening on a destructive and deadly path across the Northeast.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Obama surveying NJ disaster; Navy sends carriers to help
- Devastated NY community built by firefighters burned beyond their reach
- For some who stayed behind in New York, it wasn't too bad
- Flames rage anew in barrier island town ravaged by Sandy
- Sandy leaves trail of destruction, disbelief in its path
- Toppled tree exposes skeletal remains, cement box
- Your Sandy photos: Show us the heroes in your life
- New York's post-Sandy divide: Those with power and those without
- By the numbers: Superstorm Sandy
Leave a Comment:
Democrat, republicans, swing voters,non-voters are wonderful American people when we have problems like the Sandy storm. All working together as one.
The only person that cares about the election right now is the one that doesn't deserve to be elected! I'm curious to know if this is how he was programmed.
Sandy is an Ominous name for this storm because the water can drain or be pumped but the Sand is much harder to get rid.
Sandy sure gives a mean blow job! Sorry, I just can't stop saying that...
Leroy, you are depriving avillage somewhere of its idiot.
I was anxiously waiting to see how many international "friends" and allies immediately came to our assistance...
Do we not have the resources to handle this on our own and need outside help?
After what Romney said about the UK do you really think they would offer to help? You want him as your President get used to doing things on your own!
confussed......(fits)
Romney? how about barry giveing the queen a book about HIMSELF while mooschele pawed her?
colonel A.
we dont need outside help though, it would be nice if they had offered, but tell ya what why dont we just keep our own money and call it even, how about that?,,,,,,,,,,,,,
The U.K. has it's own problems. The soil is saturated and they expect to be rescuing people from floods this month sometime. Funny. People there don't seem to hate disaster victims like we do.
Neighbors come together to help each other in trying times. God speed with your recovery. These people are setting the example for others to rebuild neighborhoods and people's lives.
Pray that they have a warm night there and be safe and sound, good night.
tell me , all you republicans out there , all you democrats out there , all you americans out there , '' how can governor romney '' go on his campaign fiasco , the day after this storm hit these beautiful citizens , and say he is going to eliminate '' fema services to hard hit americans '' ??????? !!!!!!! tea party of the greedy , '' how can you vote for these kind of heartless people ??? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see the National guard doing what it should be.......rather then being deployed to Afghanistan as part of obamas troup WITHDRAWAL.
Love the picture of the shaggy dog.
Have we heard of any help coming from our other countries that we always help?
The National Guard is always great and people are good at helping each other. It usually doesn't turn into a cluster fluk until the government gets involved.
The National Guard IS the government.
Watch out for crooked repair offers. Unscrupulous contractors will be coming out of the woodwork.
Many will find how many will bond together. We saw it after 9/11 and this is a speed bump compared to that. Life will return to normal sooner than later.
Whether Republican or Democrat, we all share one common denominator. We are Americans and we take care of our own and others too. We are there when other countries suffer a disaster and we ask for nothng in return.
After an event such as this Frankenstorm ,please, put the partisan bickering aside until we have all recovered from the loss of life, property and possessions. It's the humane thing to do.
We have a presidential election to see through in five short days on top of the storm recovery and it would behoove us all to stop and consider our choices for our future. No more finger pointing with the blame game. Because ultimately we are all responsible for each other, our future and the future of our children.
Vote with your hearts connected to your heads. Then let's spit upon our hands and get to work building a better tomorrow for all.
The American people are a resilient lot and yes we come together when there is a tragedy. We don't hold back caring for one another because of color, religion, or money. We might be disliked by some countries, but we are one of a few that ban together despite our differences. RIGHT ON US!!
The economy is rebounding and the following jerks are problably all upset about it. Where i live home building is going strong, so is the oil patch and yes they are hiring. An a gallon of gasoline is $3.20. Read and weep lyin Rayan, and Romoney.
Kos,June 8, 2012
On January 20, 2009 Republican Leaders in Congress literally plotted to
sabotage and undermine U.S. Economy during President Obama's Inauguration. In
Robert Draper's book, "Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S.
House of Representatives"
Draper wrote that during a four hour, "invitation only" meeting with
GOP Hate-Propaganda Minister, Frank Luntz, the below listed Senior GOP Law
Writers literally plotted to sabotage, undermine and destroy America's Economy.
Frank Luntz - GOP Minister of Propaganda
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA),
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX),
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX),
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA),
Sen. Jim DeMint (SC-R),
Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ-R),
Sen. Tom Coburn (OK-R),
Sen. John Ensign (NV-R) and
Sen. Bob Corker
(TN-R).Non-lawmakers present
Newt Gingrich
During the four
hour meeting: The senior GOP members plotted to bring Congress to a standstill
regardless how much it would hurt the American Economy by pledging to obstruct
and block President Obama on all legislation.
Courtesy
of the National Journal, October 25, 2010
Senate minority
leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) "The single most important thing we want to
achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president
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