I'm sorry, but what mother in her right mind would be out driving with her 2 kids during the height of the storm? She knowingly put those 2 babies in harms way.

So, the mother of the 2 boys that died didn't pay attention to the President or the Governor when they both said pack your bags and leave? Stupid is as stupid does. If it wasn't this storm, it would have been something else. The mother needs to be charged.

The mother no doubt was trying to get away, maybe she tried to wait it out and her house/apartment was giving way - she's beating herself up enough already, to be sure. RIP little ones.

Can New Yorkers put out a charity link that is JUST for Sandy victims on the East Coast? There is great need - the NY/NJ governors' offices should set up a direct fund, asap.

Donald Trump obviously has way too much time on his hands, maybe he could get on it.

I agree. Of all the ones that died, why didn't they listen, and get the hell out of town for at least 12 hours. No one has an excuse to stay there when there are surge preditions like that and it is going to hit at high tide. Stupid people. That being said:

According to the mother's sister, the mother had pounded on doors for help during the height of the storm, but no one was willing to help her.

So much for New Yorkers helping each other. They are more concerned about theirselves than in helping others.

As a Floridian who has been through the storms, the mother was at fault. Why she was driving around can only be summed up as irresponsible. When they say "mandatory evacuation," they mean that conditions will be so bad, first responders won't risk their own lives to help you - you are on your own by your own choice.

As for blaming people for not answering the door - does anyone bother to think that the homes were empty because these people heeded the warning?

It is sad, but parents have a responsibility to think of their children in such situations, and not try to brave it out or turn a deaf ear. I only hope that this woman had a very good reason for not seeking safety for a storm that had been forecast to hit 2 days before this tragedy.

Yep, that part of the report makes New Yorker's sound like real stand-up folks, the kind you'd always want at your back when it hits the fan.

If one person had opened their door...

I am always sadden by the tragic loss of life in natural disasters... but, everyone knew this hurricane was coming... not like an earthquake, where there is no warning... why didn't people heed the warnings and take the proper course of action prior to the storm coming... Some of these deaths were totally preventable, had people listened and followed evacuation instructions prior to the storm's arrival... Very sad and so unnecessary...

Just like with every article, you all know best, right? You have no idea why the mother was driving around - I highly doubt she wanted this to happen. Like someone else mentioned, you also do not know why people didn't answer. They may have evacuated or gone elsewhere. Instead of sitting on your high horses, have some compassion, or go read the Entertainment section of this website. It's always everyone else's fault unless it happens to you.

All I can say is, Red Cross, get over to Staten Island NOW!!!!!

God please help these people.

My condolences to all the family's that have lost loved ones.

There were many here claiming, weather forecaster, media and government hype before the storm . I am also certain those that were claiming hype have no real experience with hurricanes, in the future I hope those with no experience keep their uninformed opinions to themselves. People in fear and lacking a real understanding of the potential, may have been influenced by the naysayers statements, and been swayed to stay. If any stayed because of the naysayers, the naysayers have blood on their hands.

In the future I hope people will listen to what the officials say, and listen to the knowledge that was shared by many people living in hurricane country and are experienced in weathering these storms.

At this point everybody needs something.

Patience will wear thin.

These people were told to evacuate days before Sandy hit. They should have know and had common sense that living on Staten Island that they would be inundated and wiped out. My heart and prayers go out to everybody even the ones that were stupid enough to stay.

I don't know the New York area at all, and this may sound like a dumb question, but was Staten Island in an area that was under mandatory evacuation? Not that it really matters. I would have been hundreds of miles away, especially with little ones.

As mean as it sounds, if there were in people in the houses that the mother knocked on the door, they did the correct thing by not opening the door. They were all in jeopardy and opening the door brings the possibility of the door being torn off its hinges if caught by the wind or allowing heavy wind in the home. An opening like this can jeopardise the integrity of the roof. Allowing the wind under the roof makes it very susceptible to being torn off, likely compromising and destroying their shelter, and increasing the likely death toll due to irresponsibility.

None of you condemning her are worth arguing with. You're pathetic belittling. IF or WHEN it happens to you best pray you don't run into your own kind.

Yes, Staten Island was under mandatory evac. She was probably pounding on doors of evacuated homes or perhaps nobody heard her during the noisy chaos of the storm. Have a hard time believing she was deliberately ignored.

Tragic.

It is very sad that anyone loses their life in these storms - but . . . you were told to evacuate. If you choose not to - it is your choice - and you are the only one responsible for your choice. It is how life works.

The Red Cross does a fine job. They just can't be everything to everyone. The guy in the story is frustrated, but let's be real.

I feel for the people, but at some point they are accountable for their own decisions. Those I feel worst for are too young to make their own decisions, and they had idiot adults make idiot decisions for them. This should be criminal. We would blame an adult driver going 100mph in a wreck that kills someone, right? Why not apply this some logic to the indifference they displayed that resulted in the deaths of minors?

That being said, I hope the best for every survivor and a speedy recovery to the coast.....even though I typically can't stand NY.

It happens in all storms like this. People refuse to listen and decide they can ride it out, not having any idea what they are dealing with. My earliest memory of dead, ride it out partiers and just plain stupid people refusing to listen was Hurricane Camille. There are still sidewalks leading up to nothing where houses used to be.

There will always be less than reasonable people and the more dense the population the more of them there will be.

On a good day, the traffic can be an hour wait just to get across the two bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey. During the evacuation, there may have been no chance to get away, and if a woman with children did not know where to go, that is the fault of James Molinaro and the rest of Staten Island's politicians.

And, James Molinaro, a Republican, accusing the Red Cross for not being there: the Republicans in general don't want charity. Of course, there are some exceptions, such as NJ's Gov. Christie and NY's Mayor Bloomburg.

I don't know what access is now available: 2 bridges to New Jersey, 1 bridge to Brooklyn, and the Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan which is not working right now. Much of the emergency assistance for Long Island goes through Staten Island too, and there isn't very much access for residents.

I don't know what my family is doing in S.I.: we've heard that they have survived, thank God, but please, don't stop donating to charity.

@ Just Me-1436687

I believe Staten Island was under evacuation orders or should have been, it is an island in the path of a very powerful storm 948mb at landfall, pushing an expected 5-11 foot storm surge, turned out to be 13.8 feet in NY.

Think of it this this way, a 13.8 foot tall wall of water from end to end of the impact area of the island, travelling conservatively at 20-30 miles an hour. Holding millions if not billions of gallons of water at 8.4 pounds per gallon crashing head on into the land, the force and energy driven onto the land is astronomical and at that speed in that volume water hits more like concrete than water.

@ Elizabeth-1372999

I don't know what was done in this evacuation, but standard procedure in most states is that all lanes on all bridges and in all tunnels are turned to outbound only, all tolls are normally waived and one lane is saved for inbound use by emergency and evacuation management. So the outbound lanes should have been 1 lane short of double the norm for outbound traffic.

My family moved away from NYC years ago because of business, but I do feel that NYC needs some defense. The traffic is terrible there on a good day; 2 hour traffic jams are not unusual. If everybody decided to drive out at once, it would not be possible. People had to ride it out, because there is no way that all of NYC can go through about 8 road bridges and tunnels between NYC and the mainland, and some train tunnels, and manage to provide evacuation for millions of people.

To say that it is somehow these people's faults when they try to "ride it out" instead of being stuck in the open on the roads is just cruel. The New Yorkers work hard; if they move to your part of the country your only complaint is the level of hard work is so high they will put you out of business; I've known New Yorkers to keep their little stores open 24 hours 7 days.

NYC, by itself, brings in 10 percent of the entire gross national product of the United States, which means that those people who are complaining about it really are simply jealous.

If you have all lanes outbound only, you have only multiplied 8 bridges/tunnels by 2. The equivalent of 16 bridges/tunnels still is not enough to evacuate millions of people. With only a small percentage of the population on the road at any time, it can take a couple hours to get around; this would be about 20 times that on the road even carpooling. This was not feasible. However, each Borough should have had a plan for residents in vulnerable low-lying areas.

Here's my problem with all the excuses being made...they had DAYS to evacuate, not hours and they chose to ignore the warnings.

RIP little ones...

From the zone map I saw, not all of Staten Island was in the Mandatory Evacuation Zone. I do hope that down the line, we see the percentages that died within the various zones (mandatory, voluntary, etc.).

For now, the grief is too fresh.

As for the Red Cross, they don't go in until things are safe enough to go in, do they? They aren't front-line rescue folks. People need to accept responsibility for their own selves. You had a week's warning to prepare and evacuate if necessary.

My heart goes out to the mother... but there has to be more to this story, like why she would not leave earlier, before the surge.

If you were told the stove is hot and you should not touch it and you do anyway, well I can't have too much sorrow for you.

I bet she beleives in global warming now...

People had to ride it out...

Elizabeth - here you go again with your twisted logic. No one "had to ride out" the storm. People were given days of advance warning to evacuate. No one had to die in the storm if everyone had listened to the warnings. When Katrina went through New Orleans, my friend who lives in that area had taken his family and moved in with relatives in a different states days before the storm hit. It's that simple.

NYC, by itself, brings in 10 percent of the entire gross national product of the United States, which means that those people who are complaining about it really are simply jealous.

No, Elizabeth. No one is jealous. People are complaining because we are tired of hearing about how badly those in the path of the storm who were told to evacuate but did not have it. They are complaining about food shortages and no gasoline for powering generators. Well, I have news for you. The shelters have generators and are warm. The shelters also have food and clean water. Stop complaining about lack of power and other necessities when those are all available at the shelters. Think of the amount of money that is being spent on rescue operations that could be spent on rebuilding if people had listened and evacuated when told to do so.

BTW, post your sources for your statements about the GNP of NYC.

I have an old friend from high school in portales new mexico who had a house on staten island, I hope he came through ok.

To stupid to leave, I feel sorry for these kids and any one else who was at the mercy of foolish people that refused to leave.

God bless the ones lost, .. maybe this will be a wake up call for next time , leave, go drive down the road, and spend the night in your car, or buy a ticket on a bus and get out. There is no reason for some one to be in the way of something being called a Frankinstorm

What this story fails to point out is the reason that no one answered when she was pounding on doors looking for help is that those houses were empty because the residents had the brains to obey the evacuation order and leave. This woman chose to try and ride it out instead of leaving and going to a shelter and then in the height of the storm decided to try and get out. These were two monumentally stupid decisions that unfortunately led to the death of two innocent children. Out of some degree of compassion, I will not make the call others have that this woman be prosecuted, but the reality is that she made the call that put her children in danger and resulted in their deaths.

I feel for those who lost homes and loved ones in this storm, but I have no real compassion for those who ignored evacuation orders and are now complaining no one is there to help them. If they had evacuated as they were told to they would be in a place where all their immediate needs could be met. Instead they stayed in evacuation zones and are now complaining that help is not coming to them. This is unreasonable to expect following such a massive storm. The resources do not exist to go to every location and provide help, people need to take some responsibility for getting to where the help is available when they decided to remain in an evacuated area.

Unless you have been in a disaster that involves the loss of innocent human life, let me give you a clue. Quit judging the victims that are left behind.

@elizabeth, first---I hope your family is all right.

Second, third and fourth: there was a mandatory evac announced 48 hours prior to the storm; many, many charities are funded by very generous Republicans; please don't confuse non-profit charities with chronic gov't handouts.

You have to ask yourself: knowing that a bad storm was coming, would it REALLY have been that much of a strain to take a few days' worth of a vacation from the area? Go inland, go to a hotel, visit friends or family just in case?

The story about the family who "rode it out" because their home had been looted before in their absence is the one that gets me, because they were more concerned about being looted by thieves than in saving their lives. It's STUFF, people. If you look around your home, I can guarantee you that at least 98% of it is manufactured crap that you can replace with newer goods that are just as good or even better than what you have. A LIFE cannot be replaced. Pack up your photos in a suitcase and get out of town.

If you get two days warning of a disaster of this magnitude, thank your lucky stars and LISTEN to that warning! Earthquake and tornado victims get no such lucky break; their lives are destroyed without notice.

Why did these people wait till the last minute to leave the area. They were warned weeks in advance about this storm. I feel bad for the mother that lost her two boys, but wtf is wrong with the adults that cannot listen to the warnings given in advance.

These two kids would still be here if the mother just left her home days before the storm arrived.

What an idiot she is, and now she will forever have to think about her stupidity that took the lives of her children away from her.

RIP kiddos, and I truly wish you had better parents with some common sense.

Is there something wrong with you people? Some of the things being said are horrid. Oh that's right -- she was a BLACK mother. Carry on.

Brenda1964: Your comment was vicious and heartless. You do not know the circumstances so please try to stop judging. Go pray. You need a soul! BTW, I am guessing your remark is because she's black.

@ Deborah Cox and PBAlice:

Oh that's right -- she was a BLACK mother. Carry on.

Oh yeah - make it about race! It's just a matter of time before some people throw the race card out there. How pathetic you are!!

The truth, which hurts is, this woman (whatever color), was an idiot not to leave. Her decision, her responsibility!

Couldn't have said it better. I hope one of the lessons learned is that emloyers will set up emergency phone numbers that tell people NOT to come into the city to work until futher notice.

As tragic as this hurricane was and the sadness of lives lost due to those not evacuating,many people are alive.The people who could or would evacuate are alive.They may be homeless,they may have lost everything but they are alive.Bloomberg has been on the news spouting his hot air when he should be calling every aid agency to get every part of his jurisdiction the help that they need. I would like to now see stories of those who survived and those who are helping out or being helped.

10/29 evacuation info online does NOT say all of staten island was under mandatory evac orders.

Funny about all the people spewing judgment against someone they THINK (they don't know enough to say for sure) this woman was "stupid" or irresponsible (never mind criminally negligent). I'll bet they're the same people who sneer at people for thinking the govt should be in charge of anything or taken seriously. I think some of them are people who just like to sneer, period.

Wow. I listened to the first 15 minutes of Friday night's Rock Center about Staten Island & couldn't take anymore of the whining. It was 15 minutes of "what about MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?" Apparently Staten Island residents didn't know the storm was coming, or if they knew didn't know how bad it was predicted to be, or heard the predictions of severity & decided they knew better, that it wasn't going to be so bad. Apparently no one heard or believed the predictions that many days, weeks perhaps, would pass before power & other services are restored. Clearly no one who was on camera made any plans or preparations for what was coming. Apparently no one got the evacuation notice. Oh, wait, the internet is filled with stories ahead of the storm's arrival quoting SI residents stating they refuse to evacuate because they aren't going to be told what to do by the government & they are tough & individualistic & can take care of themselves. Staten Island's politics are well known. These are tea party Republicans, people who don't believe in government, who believe people need to take care of ourselves & should expect nothing from others. So take care of yourselves. Here's your chance to show the world how your ilk do things when the chips are down, how people are going to take care of themselves & make social support organizations unnecessary. Being in a part of the country that is frequently lashed with bad storms I was feeling sorry for these people but after 15 minutes of Rock Center can say I've never heard such boo-hooing. If anyone on SI is worthy of sympathy, they should complain to NBC for portraying the islanders as very unpleasant people with a massive sense of entitlement. One woman even said Staten Island was the storm's "bull's eye" when pesky science tells us the storm came ashore near Atlantic City & that New Jersey is hardest hit. Knowing the politics of Staten Island, I can guess what these big annoying babies had to say about the people of New Orleans after Katrina. What goes around comes around. Karma's a b***h, isn't it, Staten Islanders?

@ Hopeful American -- I went back and looked over the comments about the WHITE cop who died trying to save HIS family (WHO DECIDED TO RIDE OUT THE STORM, too). It's funny, but I couldn't find your comment - among all the ones talking about what a hero he was - stating what an idiot this guy was. Just sayin'.

PBAlice

Brenda1964: Your comment was vicious and heartless. You do not know the circumstances so please try to stop judging. Go pray. You need a soul! BTW, I am guessing your remark is because she's black.

Wow, not sure what her being black had to do with being stupid. I am black so have no clue what you are talking about. If you are dumb enough to wait till its too late to leave then you should be charged for murdering those children. I have 2 children and would have been gone at least a day before it hit. Like i said, stupid is as stupid does.

"The city of New York right now is talking about getting water out of the Battery Tunnel and preparing for a marathon," U.S. Rep. Rep. Michael Grimm said. "We're pulling bodies out of the water. You see the disconnect here?"

It's hard for me to believe that the Marathon is still being run, given the deaths, damage, shortages, and horrible misery of so many people without water, power, gas, and even their homes!

Those runners should all volunteer with the Red Cross and run supplies to the homeless, not run some race for a medal and fame! Where's the humanity?

Trump,,, here's your chance to do something good for people. How about donating that 5 million to Staten Island residents.

Are you serious? He is a rich Republican, he doesn't donate anything unless he can get something back.

Do you live on Staten Island? Do you know what it looks like, how much devastation there is?

You don't, if you are one of the ones bashing it.

Regardless of whether every single person that was supposed to evacuate did so-the houses are still destroyed, trees on peoples houses, wires down, flooding, boats on front lawns, exploded transformers, no power, no gas, no ice. NOTHING.

The paper today had a map of NYC, saying when reconstruction of certain areas would begin. SI wasn't even on that map. There was also a chart that estimated how many people were with and without power. If SI has around 500 thousand people living on it, why did the paper only account for around 170,000 of them? We don't exist to the rest of NYC.

My family member stupidly did not leave her house. She has been stuck in her house since Monday night, and it is now Friday. No one will rescue her. Yes, she didn't listen to the evacuation orders, but does that mean she should die, and add one more to the death toll?

They are pulling bodies out of the water 3 blocks away from my house, and there is going to be a marathon on Sunday. Block the bridge, so emergency vehicles that need to get here can't for an entire day, make cops and ambulances stop helping people in need to 'patrol' the marathon, while there are people with no where to sleep at night.

Families with no homes are being kicked out of hotel rooms because there are hotel bookings for marathon runners. So you kick someone with absolutely nothing left but their family, for someone who wants to run across a bridge?

I work in the mall. People are there trying to charge their phones, eat, not be freezing cold. And then there are tons of people shopping, worried about a party that they need a revealing dress for. "Is it tight enough? How do my boobs look? I'm going to get so drunk!" THERE ARE PEOPLE DEAD, WITH NO HOME, NO MONEY, NO FOOD, NO WATER, NO FAMILY, AND THEY NEED TO GO SHOPPING, WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE HOVERING IN A CORNER CHARGING THEIR CELL PHONE PRAYING THEY HAVE CELL SERVICE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY.

What ever happened to humanity?

Sabrina4 - My family member stupidly did not leave her house. She has been stuck in her house since Monday night, and it is now Friday. No one will rescue her. Yes, she didn't listen to the evacuation orders, but does that mean she should die, and add one more to the death toll?

Really? Yes it means she may die because she was stupid. Stupid is as stupid does. If she gets saved then it will be her lucky day, but if not, she was warned. I know she is your relative, but we have rescuers dying trying to save these stupid people.

Sabrina4 at Fri Nov 2, 2012 3:53 AM EDT: You asked "What ever happened to humanity?" I'm not sure what you mean by humanity, but ask the people of Staten Island what they said about & did for the people of New Orleans in the days following Katrina, a disaster in which 1,833 Americans drowned. Ask islanders how the people they've elected to Congress have voted on programs to rebuild New Orleans. Think about what is happening to Staten Island as Karma. And remember, the Lord helps those who help themselves & it sounds like the people of Staten Island didn't do one single thing, never mind not evacuating, to prepare for what was to follow the storm. Lots of water, huge storm surge, long-term power shortages - all predicted well advance. Plenty of advice about to how to prepare was disseminated. There's a huge disconnect between the way Staten Islanders vote & their own personal behavior. They are clearly people who need a LOT of help & hand-holding from the government.

The marathon is a local issue. Ask yourself why the rest of NYC cares so little about Staten Island that they would rather devote resources to a race than to aiding Staten Island.

Deborah Cox

Is there something wrong with you people?

No! Because most of US people have more common sense to take our kids out of harms way when there is weeks in advance warnings.

Some of the things being said are horrid. Oh that's right -- she was a BLACK mother. Carry on.

Who cares what color the woman was. She is the one that literally killed her kids when she had plenty of time and opportunity to get her and the kids out of harms way.

Some people are just bad at parenting, and this woman just happens to be one of them. Really sad that having such a stupid mom takes the lives of these two innocent kids that could have been saved if she had just heeded to the warnings of this massive storm and left the island days before t hit.

RIP kids, and I truly think this woman should be charged with child endangerment that led to their deaths.

I understand that people under such circumstances often panic and do utterly stupid things. Bad for them, but there is no need to be nasty to them. They have already paid a very high price for their lack of common sense. Let their loss and tragedy be a lesson for all of us to BE PREPARED when faced with real danger. If you want to ride out a disaster in your home - don't do it half azz!!! Think it through before things get ugly, and above all prepare, prepare, PREPARE well in advance!

All of you that are dwelling on the shoulda, coulda, wouldas of this situation should be ashamed of yourselves. No matter what the previous circumstances were the fact is that right now these people need help. Instead of spending precious time belittling and judging them why not spend it finding ways to speed up the process and get these people the assistance they so desperately need. None of us know what the situation was like for them at the time of evacuation, or when the hurricane hit, but we certainly do now and that is the important issue here.

I feel terrible for this mother. I'm sure she had absolutely no intentions of putting her children in a dangerous situation. She may have heard warnings about the storm but thought that they were overblown and that something like that could never happen where she lived-aren't we all guilty of that kind of thinking at some point? Wouldn't most of us rather stay home rather than going to a shelter or some hotel if we really thought that was a reasonable choice?

Now, I live in FL; and we have hurricanes fairly often-so we know that when they say leave, they mean you really should LEAVE! However, people on Staten Island haven't had the experience I have with hurricanes. They also haven't seen how quickly a storm surge can come up and trap you. (I haven't seen it in person, but I saw really chilling video of Katrina's storm surge-it was almost like the tsunami it came so fast and was so huge.) Regarding what some have said about people not having time to evacuate: it's the government's responsibility to have a plan to be able to get everyone out of the evacuation zone in time. They have to time the evacuation orders so that this can be accomplished. That's why in FL they start evacuating the Keys DAYS ahead of a hurricane-because it takes forever to evacuate everyone on the only road out, a two lane road.

We evacuated for Hurricane Andrew in 1992, even though we weren't in an evacuation zone, because we didn't have hurricane shutters and we feared our house would not withstand the Cat 4 storm-we didn't want to be inside while it collapsed around us. Because we waited so late to leave, the roads were horrible! They had not opened all lanes northbound, and traffic was at a virtual standstill. We couldn't even think about stopping at rest areas-the road was lined with cars and even the bushes were full. People were just standing out in the open-it was like the third world. We had to drive 13 hours before we could find a place with a room. We had a small child and a dog, but we didn't even tell them about the dog or ask if they took pets; we just smuggled the dog in because it was so late. If the storm had hit us as expected, our house actually would not have survived-it actually intensified to Cat 5 before it made landfall-we would have been like countless survivors of Andrew who told of running from house to house as each one ripped apart around them; however, the storm didn't turn as expected and we were spared. We did make it out, though, even after leaving late-we just had to drive a REALLY long way before finding a room, and we were blessed that Andrew was a small, tight storm that didn't affect a large area.

This woman probably was frightened by the flooding and decided to leave, not realizing she would be trapped as she tried to drive away because the water would be rising quickly. A lot of people don't recognize the danger of rising water. In FL they tell us NEVER, EVER to go out during a hurricane and you are NEVER to open a window or door during the storm because that can let the wind inside, which can not only damge the inside of your house, it can also cause positive pressure inside your house which can cause your roof to fail and ultimately lead to the failure of your entire house. So you are supposed to stay buttoned up the whole time and not open your door for any reason, no matter what happens outside. (It's hard when you hear all sorts of bangs and crashes and creaking and you wonder what is happening and if things are breaking and coming apart and if it may be your roof! But you can't check until the storm is over.) The wind also tends to be pretty loud, so it might be hard to hear someone outside. Again, I feel terrible for this mother; but once she was out in the storm, there was little she could do to protect those kids or even herself. They would not have been safe in the SUV, she could not have held onto them without drowning herself, and likely no one heard her-if they had, they could have risked their lives and their homes opening the door to her.

I pray these people get help soon.

Hopefully you would have been home and been able to hear the knocking on your door. How dare you accuse people of being more concerned with the new iPhones, the Kardashians and their own selfish narcissism - might I remind you that hurricane force winds were blowing and people were barricaded in their homes - perhaps some people were not even at home having heeded warnings to evacuate coastal areas.

If your "offer to give your life" is genuine, there are plenty of people in NY/NJ/CT and elsewhere that could use your help!!

Jon, my neighborhood has been without power since Monday afternoon. Monday night was the most frightening time... we could hear the trees cracking.. but Tuesday morning came and by the grace of God I woke up... I am able to go to work daily but at night the neighborhood gets together at someones house outside by a firepit.. kids roast marshmellows and place flashlight tag... we know if we all stick together we will be fine... Yes I can go out and eat... yes I can run to the store... but I never realized how frightening it can be to be in a dark house with no news on anything... I wasn't able to leave my house until Tuesday evening... a tree smished my car... but my neighbor let me borrower one of theirs... :)

I've had it easy compared to some... but you know what I wouldn't trade my neighborhood for any other!

Lyndanne, I am thinking of you and hoping you all of the best:) Stay strong

Jon-471063

I would have given my life to save those 2 young boys.

Would you have been willing to sacrifice the lives of everyone in your home?

@ Lyndanne

Your community is like most after a storm, most people do come together and help each other, the aftermath usually brings out the best in most people. Hang tough North East, you have the country supporting you.

I lived in one of the Boroughs, and the community came together more than just during a storm. People sat outside and exchanged gossip; everybody knew who was on the block, and whose kids were playing outside, and everybody knew if there was something that needed watching. This is why, at the drop of a hat, the neighbors can get together, because they already know each other. It is the rest of the country that is isolated from each other. The best antidote is to join some clubs, meet your neighbors, get involved in your community; you will be glad you did.

I hope that the power, the transportation, and everything gets back to normal quickly. Here's to the strength of the Americans who are going through this!

My hopes and prayers are with everyone who suffered a loss or property.

That said it might be time to take the insurance money and leave the East Coast. The storms are just and example of how dependant the cities are on deliveries of food, water, electricity, fuel, and related items. You are trapped in a metro area that is a ticking time bomb. Get out while you can with the current economy and Congress in gridlock good luck if the problems you are experiencing now are not longer term. Find a place in a more rural area with enough ground to grow some food. It may save your life and the life of your family.

Just something to ponder.

Thanks bigcat! Still waiting for power, but at least I can get to work every day and have family/friends/neighbors all basically going through the same things... Most of the homes in my neighbor hood have fireplaces.. mine's gas with a remote start... I had not even the foggiest how to start it without my clicker... let me tell you my neighbor comes over every night and lights it for me (yes I am a chicken)... it saddens me to see the stories coming out... I know the news overhypes so much, almost like the boy who cried wolf... I just never want to be the person on TV screaming at gov't/electric or first responders for "not doing enough"... they are human after all - but I could understand their frustration

I think Glenda Moore killed her kids because she didn't use her head.

google this "half sigma the unreported glenda moore story"

They probably weren't home- they probably evacuated when told to. She may as well have shot those babies.

I don't quite believe her story. First off, the story says Their mother had spent the night trying to get help (help from where exactly - she had a car. Why not go to one of the relatives who are speaking out) Second the story continues, "The mother managed to free the boys from their car seats and tried to hold onto the boys, but the force of the water ripped them from her grasp. She had to swim for her life." (Really, So she goes out in the middle of the storm - leaves the car with both boys to bang on doors?)

Third, would it not be plausible that people weren't answering their door because they had already evacuated?

I know what that is like, I was in a roll over accident, and tried to flag down cars, but they would only slow down, the sixth vehicle stopped, and I was in uniform, and bloody. It was about 20 degrees out and I was soaking wet from the ditch where I landed upside down in. Noone would stop, I have never forgot that, and I have stopped for accidents, and people in need since.

I wouldn't get down on the neighbors, they might not have been home, or they might have been hunkered down in an inside room and didn't hear the knocking w/ everything that was going on outside.

Sadly, she was probably knocking on the doors of empty houses... People had heeded the warnings and had evacuated prior to the arrival of the storm... As she should have...

It sounds to me that she was looking for help after the boys had been washed away and no one was willing to risk their own life to go looking.

lilbearzmom: You are just p-lain evil!

That's nice Fareed. I agree. Their last breath here was their first in heaven.

Karl, this was THE most upsetting story I ever read, so upsetting it made me cry.

Sometimes, folks just don't how to deal with these kinds of tragedies.

KarlStevens - I am also an atheist, but if the mother or others feel the little ones are in a "heaven", how is that hurting you? Your words were very hurtful. Have some compassion for the people here on earth, please, no matter what their beliefs are.

As long as they aren't forcing you to believe what they believe, leave them alone.

You have no idea what you're talking about. She SAYS that people didn't help her. She was out in the height of the storm. Were you there? Can you HEAR anything in the height of a storm like that? She should NOT have been out. There was NOTHING that indicated that she was leaving a house that was being flooded... she was NEVER supposed to be out there. Don't blame others for this woman's mistake. It's a horror, but it was a natural disaster and she chose to not heed the warnings and took her BABIES out into a hurricane.

There is no proof in this article that she was turned away. It doesn't say that. It doesn't say that people came to the door, saw her, then refused to help. It says she pounded on doors and that people were "unwilling to help her" but this was from a relative and could be projection. She doesn't say that the mother spoke with anyone or saw anyone.

So, in theory, most people should have evacuated as they were told to do. At the "height of the storm" there was probably no electricity. So, how would she know if people were home? She wouldn't. Unless she saw or spoke with them. Even if someone was home, it was the height of the storm supposedly. Wind, rain, water. People barricaded in the safest part of their house which would NOT be by the front door. It's very possible they didn't hear any knocks on their door even if they were home (I live in a small apartment and I can't hear someone at my door if I'm in my bedroom with the fans on, no matter how hard they knock).

Yes, if someone saw her and didn't help, that was wrong (although even then, depending on the situation and what exactly they saw, they may not have realized she needed help, had children, or wasn't there to hurt them).

The article also doesn't say why she was out with her kids at the "height of the storm."

Without more facts, we can't judge people who may be non-existant or unaware when a grieving mother is claiming no one helped her when she may be displacing her own guilt.

A awful tragedy. Those poor boys. I want to giver their mother the benefit of the doubt. But the story is full of holes and deliberately written to enrage the reader.

Why was the mother out in the storm? Where did the mother come from and why did she leave? Where was she trying to go?

Did she claim that people answered their door to her but refused her shelter? Or did she not get an answer due to the home being vacated or due to the noise of the storm?

RED CROSS is a scam. Inflated salaries, and perks.

They probably evacuated

Maybe people didn't answer because they had evacuated like they were told.

The tragedy is that if her house was flooded she should have known the streets were flooded.When people panic and desperation sets in they are not thinking logically.This woman is in anguish as is her husband and the entire family.I would not wish her circumstances on anybody.People posting should stop being so judgmental of this woman.Who knows what anyone of us would do in her shoes.Blessings to all on the East Coast from California.

In my opinion. the houses that she knocked on evacuated like they were told to do. She didn't!! Don;t put blame on people who were not there to respond. She was the one who decided to ride out the storm or didn't heed authorite's warnings. No blame can be put on her nieghbours.Just someone who doesn't give a crap about what is going on and when things go wrong it's everybody elses fault. sad for her loss ,maybe next time she will take notice of what is going on around her.

Conservative.. I can honestly say at the height of the storm... all I heard was wind howling and trees breaking... I'm not really sure I would have heard someone knocking at my door since we went to the basement, case a tree fell on the house (not sure why the lower I got the safer I felt)

here, here. well said and thanks for posting it...................

Love and prayers from Oregon and the West Coast!!!We are all in dismay

again for the New York, but also for New Jersey and all the other states.

Hope to contribute in any financial way, but for now, we are all sending

good prayers and wishes your way. Keep up your bravery

Republican James Molinaro probably did not have a plan himself, and didn't know that he is supposed to help ask for disaster preparation and relief.

Very well written!!! My heart is heavy just reading this story and watching the reports. I pray that the people in these communities overcome this tragedy but remember so if or when there is a next time they get out of the way. Peace and Blessings

Amen! I've lived all over this country before settling in Astoria (Queens) New York. Most wonderful neighbors ever. I often joke to my nephews that I live on Sesame Street. When this storm came, we all checked up on each other, going door to door to make sure that everyone made it through okay. And happily, most of us came through unscathed. Why did no one respond to that woman's cries for help? I don't know. Maybe they were too scared. Maybe they weren't even there. I can say that in my corner of NYC, people are good, kind, caring, decent. In my corner of NYC, I believe that someone would have opened their door.

JudgedinTexas,Thank you for that beautiful post.

Not all of Staten Island refused to help her. There are like hundreds of thousands of people there. Don't generalize. It's not logical.

We lived in NJ for a couple of years, work related also - and "abrupt" is true - the good thing about that being that at least you know where you stand. It's not so bad, it's just the way it is. (Should be NJ's state motto, they all say it.)
Our old neighbors have no power, it's cold and miserable, and they lost their food. But they were inland, and way better off than the coastal people in the news - heartbreaking. But there have been great stories too of people helping both man and beast. The girl with power by chance, who set up an internet cafe for her neighbors with none, so they can charge phone and stay in touch. A man who rescued a cat family, got a carrier, and walked 2 miles to get them to shelter. Saw the Pentagon has even taken in heavy equipment and assistance, the Navy is there. Thank you to the first responders!

They didn't get out early because a lot of them were elderly and didn't want to leave or couldn't leave. Also, the media hyped Hurricane Irene so much, which made a lot of people think it wouldn't get bad.

The media did not hyped Hurricane Irene rather they reported that it could be a potentially terrible storm just as they did with Sandy. It is not the media's fault that one came to fruition and the other didn't. If you have to blame someone, blame the weather forecasters.

Reasonable22, Are you REALLY blaming the forecasters? If they honestly think that there is a solid chance that a storm is imminent and could be dangerous, and they don't report it, don't warn people, don't alert authorities, they can be sued, as the NWS was for failing to warn of the 'Perfect Storm' and it's loss of life, especially the mariners and fishermen. Irene did a LOT of damage, but because areas were alerted and evacuated, damage and loss of life was minimized. The problem is that when Emergency Management does its job well, people think that the disaster wasn't really that bad. Too often, their reward for a job well done is that no one believes they did anything.

They weren't their on Staten island because everyone was told to go.

Having lived in Staten Island and New York for many years: New Yorkers are tough, no BS, to the point, and most helpful people I know. Like Bob, I think there is more to the story that has been reported. Remember, for every story like this that intimates that New Yorkers are heartless, there are stories of people who, for example: Jump in front of subway cars to save people who were pushed onto the tracks, Watch suspicious activities and report them (bomb in Times Square), return lost wallets, and give people directions, and they don't even want any money. My suggestion to people who think this is: Actually go there, don't say it sucks until you do. Spend some time there. Open your mind. It's a great place, filled with great people.

charlie-29, I agree with you. I found NYCers to be impatient but very friendly. During a trip to NYC there were a disproportionate number of people who went out of their way to help me (without my asking--actually the first couple of times I thought maybe they were getting ready to rob me, as I was not used to that kind to active assistance). My heart is breaking for this beautiful city and I am so sorry for those individuals who have suffered terrible losses. My big concern is that I am not sure if I did the right thing in donating to the Red Cross. I think I would like to hear what they say in response and I would like to know if there are local charities where the consensus is that the money goes to the intended recipients in an effective and timely manner.

you are so very right! the warnings were issued and the evacuation order was mandatory. people who stayed have only themselves to blame.

for shame blaming the red cross. for shame blaming fema. for shame blaming the government. they did and are doing exactly what is expected. of them all gov christie has my admiration!!! it's about time someone had the balls to tell people basically, "oh well, you chose to stay. don't call for rescue at night and don't cry because you F'd up"! Go Christie!!! and no i'm not from nj i live in tn. and for those of you who say "well live thru it first cause you have no idea what it's like". HA!! I lived in upstate ny in 1972 when hurricane agnes hit causing the worse flooding in history. some people were without power for over 100 days. we didn't cry boo hoo to the government for help. we helped outselves and helped our neighbors. all of us together pitched in and helped when ever and where ever we could. my parents and i had over 30 relatives and friends living in an old farm house that had belonged to my grandfather. after losing our home in town to the flood waters and mud we were so grateful we had the old house to use. we had power and running water there but no bathroom just the old outhouse. but bottom line we evacuated when we were told to and didn't whine and cry and blame the media nor did we blame the weathermen.

Maybe it's me, but I missed, in the article where it mentions that Staten Island, or areas of Staten Island was supposed to evacuate....

Gramgigi, not all of Staten Island was ordered to evacuate. Most of the Island was not hit by the surge. Those in the evacuated areas were to go toward the center of the island. Perhaps the mother got lost in the storm and turned wrong.

@ Debbie the artical stated that she was heading to her sisters home in Brooklyn. when her suv stalled out and the water started to get higher she tried to get out with her sons, but the surge took her sons from her arms...I feel horrible just thinking about what she went through...nothing short of a nightmare come true...I won't judge her for her actions but send my thoughts and prayers to her and all those affected by this storm...

Agreed - it had to be some reason, and probably panicked and tried to flee too late.

Happy-that's exactly what happened.