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John Makely / NBC News
Staten Island resident John Dellorusso looks over his backyard, which now contains debris from a nearby restaurant. His Yetman Avenue home, at right, was severely damaged. The homeowner next door and his 13-year-old daughter were killed when their house was flattened.
Staten Island officials had some choice words Thursday to describe what they said was a feeble disaster-relief response to people left dying, homeless and hungry in the New York City borough hit particularly hard by Sandy.
Staten Island’s top elected official blasted the American Red Cross response as “an absolute disgrace” and went so far as to urge its residents not to donate to the largely volunteer agency.
“All these people making these big salaries should be out there on the front line, and I am disappointed,” a frustrated Borough President James Molinaro said Thursday morning at a press conference with other local officials to talk about the needs of the hard-hit borough. “And my advice to the people of Staten Island is, ‘Do not donate to the American Red Cross. Let them get their money elsewhere.’"
A top Red Cross official said he understood Molinaro’s frustration.
At a press conference, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro says "It's an absolute disgrace" that the American Red Cross is "nowhere to be found" during his county's time of intense need in the wake of superstorm Sandy.
“He’s advocating for his community in a time of extreme distress and incredible need,” said Josh Lockwood, CEO of the American Red Cross Greater New York region.
And a disaster-relief expert said angry outbursts aren’t surprising in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
“I think obviously in any sort of disaster context there’s always going to be a fair amount of frustration about how quickly things happen,” said Keith Tidball, Cornell Cooperative Extension disaster education program director.
Staten Island, the least populated of the five New York City boroughs with about 468,000 people, has been sometimes called "the forgotten borough" or "the neglected borough" by inhabitants who feel they're routinely ignored or shortchanged by city government. At least 19 Sandy-related deaths have been reported on Staten Island as of Thursday -- more than any other borough – and hundreds of homes have been destroyed or damaged. The deaths include two boys who were swept away from their mother during the storm surge and whose bodies were found Thursday morning.
“We have the worst tragedy that’s ever happened to Staten Island, and I would say New York City, since 9/11 – and we need help,” Molinaro told reporters before singling out the Red Cross for scathing criticism.
“I have not seen the American Red Cross at a shelter. I have not seen them down at the South Shore where people are buried in their own homes, have nothing to eat and nothing to drink,” Molinaro fumed. “Yesterday I toured the South Shore with the mayor. The neighbors down there that didn’t have electricity managed to put together pots of soup and they were distributed to the people down there whose homes were just destroyed -- and the American Red Cross was nowhere to be found.”
David Friedman / NBC News
Superstorm Sandy made landfall Monday evening on a destructive and deadly path across the Northeast.
He added: "This is America. This is not a Third World nation. We need food. We need clothing. We need everything you can possibly think of."
Other local officials also criticized the relief response, though not singling out the Red Cross by name.
State Sen. Andrew Lanza lashed out at the city for giving the go-ahead to the New York City Marathon this weekend and for putting a priority on pumping water out of flooded East River tunnels
“We’re talking about getting water of the tunnel. Let’s get the water out of the tunnel tomorrow, let’s get the people out of the water today. There’ve been thousands of people who have been displaced. There are people who are cold, who are hungry, who are without a place to go, and looking for warmth.,” Lanza said, according to Politicker.
“There are people still trapped. Yet we’re talking about marathons and tunnels.”
Lockwood, the regional Red Cross CEO, was visiting Staten Island Thursday afternoon. Lockwood said he spoke to Molinaro after hearing of his remarks. He said Molinaro was “doing the right thing” by advocating for his community.
John Makely / NBC News
Jane Caravello pauses with her son Vincent Caravello after wading a couple hundred yards from her house on Kissam Avenue on Staten Island. "Half of it is down there and the other half is on Beach Ave."
“We’re certainly stretched by this event and we're trying to respond. We’re all working 24/7,” Lockwood told NBC News. “For the people of Staten Island, I wish we could respond more quickly but we are here now and we’re here for the long haul.”
Red Cross spokeswoman Anne Marie Borrego in Washington said Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern also called the borough president to let him know that “help was on the way.”
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The Red Cross has five emergency response stations set up at New Dorp Lane on Staten Island, she told NBC News.
“We’re not going to put our people and supplies in the path of the storm. We have to pre-position our supplies in safe places,” Borrego said. “We’re in the same boat as all other New Yorkers in getting around with trains and bridges shut down and roads clogged. We’re there, we’re moving and we’re on it.”
Tidball, the disaster-relief expert, said it’s common for elected officials and others to express frustration at the level of outside help after a large-scale disaster.
“Wherever people feel need to point fingers I would encourage them to reach out their hands and help instead,” he said.
Beware of charity scams in wake of Superstorm Sandy
Tidball, who works with the disaster-aid relief group National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, said that, from his vantage point, local and state officials have been coordinating quite effectively with other state and federal officials. He said lessons from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Irene in 2011, coupled with the emergence of Twitter and other social-media as essential communication tools, have paid off and likely saved lives this time around.
“There are a lot of places around the country and around the world that have experienced large-scale disasters but perhaps weren’t able to get things going as quickly or do as good a job in preventing loss of life and key structural functions,” Tidball said. “When you think of a city or metropolitan region that’s experienced what they’ve (New York) experienced, it’s pretty impressive.”
He said the best way outsiders can help victims of Sandy is by donating cash that would go directly to meet specific needs in flooded areas.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Deadliest zone: Staten Island reels from devastation
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- NYC taxis running out of fuel as gasoline lines grow post-Sandy
- Wind, flames, Our Fathers: The inside story of Breezy Point's terrible night
- War veterans hit Sandy's front lines for rescues, cleanup
- NYC-area airports up and running, albeit slowly
- New York trick-or-treaters defy Sandy to celebrate Halloween
- How to avoid post-storm insurance and repair scams
- New Jersey investigating reports of price gouging
- Your Sandy photos: Show us the heroes in your life
- Sandy's aftermath: How you can help
Leave a Comment:
What did the officials do to help the victims - which is their statutory duty, besides badmouthing someone else?
Easy. Let's not go there.
I imagine resources are still thin and from what I understand Staten Island is particularly bad to get to navigate atm too.
I hope they get the help they need soon.
What were the people of Staten Island doing there in the first place? They wouldn't be up to their ears in water if they were somewhere else. And now they have the nerve to bitch about how no one was there to help them immediately following the most destructive storm in recent memory when they chose to be in harm's way?
Exactly. Why hadn't they evacuated the area like they and others in low lating/sea level areas were told to do.
low lying (typo sorry)
If Mitt had his way, the only help you would ever get was the Red Corss, good luck with that...
When Katrina hit they blamed Bush,
Now they blame the Red Cross, cause no one should blame Obama !
Benghazi Obama blames , you tube, free speech , our 1st amendment..
Fast and Furious, Obama blames , our 2nd amendment for the violence in Mexico.
Obama 2012 Give me your Money, Give me your Freedoms !
Help him finish America, what he started !
Mandatory evacuations were in place for Staten Island, this means that anyone who stayed was doing so at their own risk and were taking responsibility for their own safety and needs. Ignoring a mandatory evacuation and then bitching because no one has come to your rescue within a few days of the storm is ridiculous. You stay you are on your own, not a single resource should be given to those within mandatory evacuation zones until all those in non mandatory evacuation have been taken care of and they can assure the safety of the rescuers.
Romney took my donated Ohio goods to New Jersey, he only helps Republican States. So much for working across the isle! I read some where he said the rest are on your own or was that Governor Christie, I'm not sure.
The Ramenie "food drive" was just a pathetic stunt. His campaign bought $5,000 of food from Walmart to hand out to people who were told they had to have something to get in. Tacky photo-op.
Even worse, the Red Cross doesn't WANT food or clothing. Too much of a logistical nightmare. All you have to do is look on their web page to find that out.
As a social worker, my experience with the American Red Cross spans many years. They are a big rip off. They offer very little help to those in need. Give to the Salvation Army, they respond rapidly and give aid wherever it is needed.
Oh sure- red cross just wants MONEY- so they can piss it away- I am quite sure the people that have resorted to dumpster diving would LOVE to get canned goods. Typical liberal- send cash, spend spend spend....
Wow... I know it's bad, but you do have to give them a chance to get to you... just because some reporter can get in and find a crowd of people to complain about anything does not mean that nobody is not trying hard to help you, and it's not going to be any "instant gratification", truth is, as bad as it is you may have to wait.
Where are your state officials, they are the people telling the Federal and private agencies where to go first... Red cross and FEMA do not just decide, "Oh... it looks like these people over here have it worse than those over there...", it just doesn't work like that. I have some things that I would like to say, but that would be totally inconsiderate and hateful, so I won't, but suffice it to say that more people who stayed could have very easily left well before this storm hit... and please spare me the "you can't make me go and I'm protecting my property or where would I go...", I get it, but please save your "Staten Island fury" for when you get a mirror to look into. Besides... what have other New Yorkers done to help each other besides complain about long gas lines and clogging city streets trying to go to work... maybe your help cannot get through because it's stuck in traffic.
It is not the job of the government to take care of all these people. Do they not have families to stay with? No friends? Do they not have insurance to cover their losses? The government can and should go in and assist with clean up, but one does need to take responsibility for themselves.
Having lived thru several major storms in Florida, I didnt sit and wait for the government to come and take care of me. You pick up the pieces and get to work rebuilding and a sense of accomplishment brings pride and healing.
http://www.reagancoalition.com/articles/2012/20121102002-nj-non-union.html
NJ Tells Non Union Relief Workers They Are Not Welcome
Read more at http://www.reagancoalition.com/articles/2012/20121102002-nj-non-union.html#GZlXVmPVkSQTUemL.99
Is the Red Cross required to show up? People should prepare more for hard times and not expect the Red Cross to show up and hold their hand. Just say thank you for what they are doing and be patient.
Thanks for your input. You can go now.
I would complain about FEMA, which is required to be there, before jumping on a volunteer organization. Don't like the Red Cross? Donate to someone else. Don't like FEMA? Vote for someone else.
Jeff, don't be a boob. Wreck is right.
There's a risk to Mr. Molinaro's lash out. Staten Island wasn't the only area hit. There's plenty of need in Jersey, Long Island, Manhattan to go around. The Red Cross can only do so much. Mr. Molinaro committed a cardinal sin by encouraging people NOT to donate to the Red Cross.
Don't expect anyone at the Red Cross to admit it, but when it comes to parsing out a limited amount of supplies in an area that needs an unlimited amount of help, don't be surprised if the Red Cross now focuses their relief efforts elsewhere.
You don't think the heads of other relief organizations aren't listening and watching? Maybe the squeaky wheel will get the oil and maybe not. I understand Mr. Molinaro's frustration, but for the sake of the people of Staten Island, a higher degree of professionalism would serve the S.I. community better. He risked having all relief organizations now wonder how to effectively respond without being called out with a call to boycott donations. He created a situation where relief organizations now have another obstacle to consider.
Yelling at FEMA is one thing, yelling at volunteers is another. No volunteer wants to help the overtly ungrateful who petitions people to harm their organization through donation boycotts.
They still have a point about the marathon. Public resources are going to be required that could better be spent in relief efforts.
If it was Bush like in Katrina they would blame him !~
Now with Obama they blame the Red Cross,
Benghazi Obama blames , you tube, free speech , our 1st amendment..
Fast and Furious, Obama blames , our 2nd amendment for the violence in Mexico.
Obama 2012 Give me your Money, Give me your Freedoms !
Help him finish America, what he started !
James Molinaro is the Borough President of Staten Island. Molinaro first won election as Borough President on November 6, 2001, a Republicant hmm.... what did you do to notify others of your diplomatic responsibilities to the residents of Staten Island! Red Cross spokeswoman Anne Marie Borrego in Washington said Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern also called the borough president to let him know that “help was on the way.” Me thinks one elected official should have been on his game like Governor Christie was on his game and Mayor Bloomberg was on this game for his community! Best thoughts and hopes for your community and a speedy recover and to those who lost life best love for that pain and heartfelt distress.
I am seriously outraged at some of the many videos I have seen from people and this poster child for Prozac Molinaro on Staten Island screaming "Me Me Me !!!" and DEMANDING help from the Red Cross and FEMA.
1. Evacuation orders were given. You CHOSE to stay. Now you demand help for your stupidity? Really? I have heard people say that they couldn't leave for one reason or another. And they think that is an ok answer. Know what ? Emergency response could not get there sooner for one reason or another so that must be ok too. No? Really?
2. The Red Cross is a volunteer organization. PLEASE each and every one of you bitching and screaming...show a copy of any bank statement where it shows your donations to them. Can't? Then how about showing how many hours you have volunteered for the Red Cross yourselves? Betcha can't do that either.
3. I live in California. In my garage is a generator, 3 months of food and water, Tools, Gas for the generator, emergency boxes with clothes, blankets, first aid supplies and anything you should want to have on hand in an emergency. And if the emergency happens to take out my garage first then know what..I'll do what I have to to TAKE CARE OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I won't put the responsibility on ANYONE ELSE.
4. If I hear the words evacuate....See ya!
5. Lack of planning on your part does not justify an emergency on my part. Need help. Ask. Nicely. Demand that I help you? Excuse me while I walk away laughing.
6. See number 5
While it saddens me greatly as to the loss of life and property to ANY individual or family at some point people need to learn the term "PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY".
Please restore my faith that those of you bitching are human beings, and the next emergency I expect to see each one of you volunteering for the Red Cross and helping others. But I bet not one of those bitching ever volunteered for anything a day in their lives, or ever will. My buddy who moved back east to Upper New York just under 10 years ago, today in an email called that " A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND " and said he has seen the attitude ever since he moved back there. It's all about them. Self centered and demanding.
Sad.
Sincerely,
A certified Red Cross First Aid / CPR Instructor
You have some very valid points there. The fact of the matter is, though, that many people did evacuate only to come back to their homes and find them destroyed. These are the people that need help too. I'm not sure why you're assuming that the people in need didn't heed the warnings.
Some of them did, but on TV they were bitching about the fact that they were finding bodies. It is obvious that the bodies they are finding are ones that did NOT evacuate. And there are a lot of them.
Unreasonable expectations, and unintelligent advocacy. Red Cross doesn't send people out in storms to also be at risk - just adds to the problem. Takes time and -access- to respond to such an event. Ignorant and short sighted to condemn the Red Cross for not being first responders, yet turn around and expect them to come to the rescue after condemning them. And...wasn't Staten Island told to evacuate?
Fully agree with you, they should have evacuated. It's completely ignorant to criticize the ones that are going in to help you, when you were told to not be there in the first place.
Now they have to wait, although while these people were all criticizing the Red Cross, they were moving in along with FEMA and the National Guard to help people in need.
To stupid to leave
With Katrina they blamed Bush, Now they Blame the Red Cross, not Obama ??? Guess he needs to be in Vegas !
Benghazi Obama blames , you tube, free speech , our 1st amendment..
Fast and Furious, Obama blames , our 2nd amendment for the violence in Mexico.
Obama 2012 Give me your Money, Give me your Freedoms !
Help him finish America, what he started !
Lunkystraydgg, aka shi* for brains. Once is more than enough, 3 times is absolutely ludicrous.
Something that has always perplexed me.....
Say you stumble on the sidewalk at your house, fall and knock yourself out - all completely accidental and obviously with no decision on your part to do so. Someone sees you lying there and calls an ambulance. It arrives and carts you off to the emergency room. All while you are unconscious - you never say you want any help.
You get a bill.
You are told for days a storm is coming. You are told to prepare to be without power and to stock up on food and water - or maybe you are told to evacuate and take provisions with you. You consciously decide not to do what you've been advised to do. The storm comes, you are without power, water, food and other essentials. Someone comes to help you because you didn't do what was necessary to help yourself.
You get no bill.....
Doesn't make sense to me.
Some leaders they elected there on Staten Island, huh? I guess today is not the day they begin leading.
Wow, I lived through Hurricane David,which was a small hurricane by comparison; however areas were flooded and it took a week or more for the electrical line, poles, etc.to be repaired in some areas of Savannah. That is how it is. You have to be patient and wait; you can't snap your fingers and expect people to drop everything over other people and just help you. A storm of this magnitude will take time to clean up, etc.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that Mr. Mulinaro is working long and hard to get Staten Island the help it needs. The obvious problem is the whole multi-state area is a disaster zone. Good luck to all of them
You know - I have mixed feelings about this article - First, my heart goes out to everyone in Sandys path. I am doing what I can by donating money because I know professional teams that have been trained to assist in this type of disaster are heading there if they haven't already arrived. It is better for trained help to arrive than for all my good intentions gumming up the works. Secondly, I understand frustration over the overwhelming issue of 'Sandy' but did the nice man who was blasting the Red Cross not ever go to an emergency preparedness meeting? Red Cross will never be there immediately - that is why they have emergency training across the US. Safety (I wouldn't want to setup for it to just collapse) is Paramount at this time. Your towns, county and State are supposed to pick up immediate response with The Red Cross coming in after to take over - not the other way around and they should have been trained and prepared to do so. If your immediate disaster plans failed - admit it and move forward, do what needs to be done and don't run around pointing fingers. Pointing fingers just ends with more pointed fingers.... doesn't really do much but cause bitterness and that doesn't create a team and a team is what will be needed. Re-evaluate later after the disaster and put plans in effect to avert this the next time.
Seems like all officials should hold their complaints and finger-pointing until the initial recovery is complete. Blaming and attacking a volunteer organization will be no help to anyone.
If he really must blame someone for slow response for immediate emergency needs, surely the Public Safety Director and Mayor of New York (he is the Mayor of all the boroughs, yes?) would be the obvious targets. If he must blame higher up, the next victims would be the Governor (boss of NY National Guard) and FEMA. The last orgs that any official should slam are the volunteer groups - there are plenty of places for them to send the limited resources.
(My personal preference is the Salvation Army - my donations go to them before Red Cross, but they both try pretty hard after disasters.) I prefer SA because the executives are not compensated as lavishly. I'm sure there are complaints about any organization that tries to help people, but would never have the resources to help everyone. They all must filter out the scammers, and that process is never perfect. There will always be disappointment and frustration.
Mailman & Achukma
All of these officials are trying to get their borough to be first in line, they learned from Ray Nagen from NOLA during Katrina that if you wine and name call long enough, people start greasing the squeaky wheel to get it to STFU. I really wish they would have learned more from Mississippi who for the most par took what they got, slapped on the work gloves and got out there and got it done.
We need more do'ers and fewer lazy whiners.
Best of wishes to all of the folks affected by this storm. As long as you have your health and your courage, you can overcome this.
I feel for the folks on Staten Island. This guy is using the squeaky wheel approach. The louder you complain, the more you get attention. He clearly knows what he is doing.The Red Cross won't ignore him with the media all over this disaster. There are so many others in need.
It's the "me first, me first" approach. But that's probably why he is a politician...he gets his point across... New Yorkers don't exactly have a reputation for being humble.
The folks making soup on the island for those in need are the ones we should all look to for advice on how to be ready for future disasters. If you make yourself self-reliant first - as www.ready.gov suggests - you will survive a disaster better. Then, be first to look out for your neighbor. Then, volunteer agencies should be your next source. Government should be your LAST source for help. They are an unwieldy behemoth that is not looking out for your best interests.
I'd never give to red cross... look what they got from people after 9/11 and what they spent on aid to the victims of 9/11!!!! Not even 10 percent was use to help the victims!!! red cross is a rip off and probably supports idiots like rommey
The whole government is laced with inept Bureaucrats. You think the poor are the only ones that get government hand outs but these parasites are getting paid to push paper and pass the buck.
Salvation Army YES Red Cross NO
So this is VERY interesting and appropriate prior to the Presidential Election. You can WAIT for the Red Cross and wait for people to open their purse strings, or you can have a FEMA Organization funded by ALL in the USA respond to such an event. I choose the later. In such a catastrophic event, capitalism wont work, private aid organization wont work. The only viable option is a Federal Emergency Management Agency - DISASTER RELIEF cannot be a business! It needs to be a MUST HAVE in a modern society and needs to be there for as long as its needed,..and not until politics focus somewhere else, or a business man determines its not profitable anymore.
I am sorry for your delemia but the red cross and FEMA and other community groups can only do as much as they can. You are the president of your borough..get off your butt and start leading instead of blaming everyone elese. The officials are only human and can only move so fast. They arent magicians. You look healthy enough...roll up your sleeves and start orginizing and cleaning up til they get there. The power companies can only get the power on as fast as they can. The president already has gotten 62 power trucks and teams on the way from CA and other states are on the way. Everyone is doing what they can. You got to be alittle patient and hang in there. Once the power is back on things will start to work again. God bless you and hang in there.
Be really glad you got Obama for a president and not Romney otherwise you would have to show your credit report to get help. You chose to stay when you knew the storm was coming. You could have evacuated. You knew ahead of time.
"delemia" ?
Delemia: a compulsion to delete annoying newsvine posts.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/incredible-stories-and-pics-this-is-what-becks-mercury-one-charity-found-and-is-doing-when-it-went-to-help-hurricane-victims/
100% of donations to mercury one go to those in need.
Glen Beck pays all cost out of pocket.
If you want to help please consider a donation
http://fundly.com/mercury-one-disaster-relief-fund
obama hates white people
I hate you
That is complete b.s.
If the red cross isnt' there .. well they arent there. It's would be fitting the IRS pull tax id's on all these so called non-profit charities that claim to help -- including a lot of churches that do nothing but su ck off the public welfare via overhead outlays to their executives and "leaders" BS
The LDS
PACChurch has over $1 Trillion in assets. Maybe they could use it for other than political ambitions.How dare the Staton Island officials criticize the Red Cross, it clear they no nothing about the organization that help millions every year during a disaster to a simple house fire. Red Cross are volunteers and you local Red Cross agency only has a few because many will not volunteer. Much of the Red Cross help during a disaster comes from other location across the country and world. With airport shut down since Sunday how was the Red Cross going to get the necessary personnel in place. There was no assessment, no storm or damage at that time. If Staton Island official want to get mad at anyone it should be their own citizens for not evacuating as told. The Red Cross is the one agency you can count on, they are the most under rated organization in this country. If any organization should get federal funds, it should be the Red Cross.
We aren't criticizing the Red Cross! Me and many of my neighbors are having a hard time getting by and couldn't afford to leave. We are frustrated that FEMA hasn't been here. The focus has been Atlantic City, and wealthier parts of New York. We are upset that when we came forward and complained about FEMA or the current federal administration, the media spun the story that we were upset at the Red Cross.
Mad
So you are saying your local gov should have provided buses to take you to safety/shelters ahead of the storm? Seems reasonable. Why did that not happen?
Where is Donald Trump with his 5 million dollars? Romney stated that private charities should take care of natural disasters not the federal government. How much money is his well-heeled political backers giving? Why aren't they there will their supplies...
Just heard they have arrived in Staten Island. The red cross and FEMA. So very sad. People need to listen when they are told to evacuate. Janet Napolitano is on the way. It is being reported that many of the people on Staten Island did not believe it could happen there.
Disasters can happen anywhere. Sometimes it's better to live where there are known disaster risks, at least you don't get complacent.
Well, then, let's just pull the Red Cross out of Staten Island and let them go it on their own. They should be grateful for ANY help they are getting. Deninitely an OWS fram of mind showing.
I like how the media has taken our community's complaints about FEMA not being here, and saying that it is the Red Cross we are mad at!!!!!! When the Obama Administration is in charge, god forbid the media show anything against them! FEMA is not on Staten Island! Where are they???? When KAtrina happened, no one was complaining about the Red Cross and their efforts. Immediate blame went to FEMA and Bush! Where is Obama. FEMA and Obama went to New Jersey and Manhatten, but have ignored us.
Your rep did a poor job at expressing himself. That is the actual source of misdirected frustration. The media having to fit all the info into a 22 minute broadcast don't help. When there is a disaster of this proportion, it takes time for enough dust to settle so as to spot the biggest fires and address them. The term, "Fog Of War" comes to mind. But basically, it's called triage. It's not always perfect, but everybody is working towards the best results. Stay safe.
While I can understand their frustration, the Red Cross is not required to show up anywhere. For anybody.
I have been involved with emergency preparedness for over 30 years. The correct order of response is city, then county, then state, then federal. Those are the people that should be getting the heat, in that order. Maybe Bloomberg is who they really should be criticizing.
Volunteer organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army are just that - volunteers.
BTW, this article is already stale anyway. More current reports coming in have stated that FEMA and the Red Cross ARE on Staten Island.
No one should have been on Staten Island anyway. Very sad that people chose to stay there.
To all you Staten Islanders: Some 50 million people have been directly affected by Sandy. Some more than others. This is not the drive through window of Mickey D's or Burger King---you don't get it your way.
It's been 24 hours since the storm stopped, and there people can't do a thing for themselves? Out here in earthquake country, we are told to have at least 3 days of food, drinking water and prescription drugs, and a survival kit in our house, and a survival kit in our car too, and a weeks worth is better. It's drummed into us. We are told that help will take at least 3 days to arrive, if not a whole week after an earthquake or other disaster including a disease outbreak. We are also told to expect triage, meaning that the injured, children and elderly will get help first and the able-bodied will be expected to chip in. Earthquakes strike without warning. Hurricanes form days in advance. I'm saddened by the loss of life, but I don't have much patience with all the whining I'm hearing from these people.