E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Miranda Leitsinger/ NBC News
Joe Adinolfi, a firefighter, and John Manning, an EMT, stand in the front of the home of Manning's mother in Breezy Point, N.Y. Her basement was flooded, and the pair said they were concerned about getting the services needed to help with the cleanup as the temperatures chilled. The community lost more than 100 homes to a fire triggered by Hurricane Sandy, and many others were damaged or destroyed by flooding in the storm.
BREEZY POINT, N.Y. -- Some residents in Breezy Point, a tiny seaside community in New York inundated by flooding and ravaged by a fire triggered by Hurricane Sandy, questioned Wednesday when help would arrive from the American Red Cross, the National Guard, and the Sanitation Department and other city agencies that would provide key services.
While they cleaned their homes of the debris, some worried about rotting food and mold, while others said it would be nice to have a blanket or a hot cup of tea or coffee as the New York weather dipped into the low 50s with chilly gusts off the ocean making it feel even colder. Others asked about getting dumpsters or a temporary cell tower, since a weak signal made it very tough to make calls after the disaster.
“Don’t leave us. Don’t leave us,” said John Manning, a 45-year-old EMT with the New York Fire Department. His friend, firefighter Joe Adinolfi, said he had for the first time less than an hour before spotted the Red Cross in Breezy Point, where the fire claimed more than 100 homes.
“I understand there's casualties and tragedy everywhere, and I’m sure they are spread out thin,” Manning said.
He noted that firefighters and police were assisting the community, and that there were casualties and destruction elsewhere, but he said he had seen workers from city agencies come down to Breezy Point and take photos -- and then leave without helping.
Related stories
- Wind, flames, Our Fathers: Inside story of Breezy Point's terrible night
- 'We'll figure out a way': Breezy Point looks ahead
“That’s very disheartening. A community has a hardship, a total disaster,” he said. “Help us, don't come down and take pictures.”
As he stood in ankle-high water in the basement of his mother’s flooded house, where streams of pink insulation hung in rows, he said that he was overwhelmed by the cleanup prospect and the disaster that had struck his community. His sister’s house nearby was damaged as was his own, too.
“I'm numb. I have no emotions,” he said. “And I know it’s going to come. I’m going to break down real soon. … I’m just numb. I’m overwhelmed.”
NBC's Kerry Sanders takes an aerial look at the Breezy Point community in Queens, New York, which suffered a devastating fire during this week's storm and still has flood waters filling the desolate streets.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Deadliest zone: Staten Island reels from devastation
- Sandy power outages could last another 10 days; new winter storm builds
- NYC taxis running out of fuel as gasoline lines grow post-Sandy
- War veterans hit Sandy's front lines for rescues, cleanup
- NYC-area airports up and running, albeit slowly
- Your Sandy photos: Show us the heroes in your life
- Sandy's aftermath: How you can help
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
Broken promise number 32.
4 Years ago Obama promised jobs by upgrading the electrcal power grid.
Yearly blackouts continue.
How's the CHANGE working out for you NEW YORK
It's not so complicated. Put the wires in pipes underground.
There we slill be small blackouts but nothing on the scale of what we get EVERYYEAR when ICE brings down thousands of power lines.
Obama can stick his Hope & Change up his Ass.
I hope to see him riding into the sunset on GOLF CART ONE very soon.
Obama has done his job with this tragedy! He came and looked around with his cool Air Force 1 jacket on and took plenty of pictures. Then it was time to go back to Vegas and get more cash from the idiots that still think he can walk on water. He is all talk and no go!!!
tweets from obama
Your post is soooooo TYPICAL of the Right. They always seem to so conveniently forget that the REPUBLICAN Congress has blocked so many job producing bills that it makes me sick.
The Republican Congress in an effort to fulfill their Number One Goal since the day President Obama took office and that is to make sure he is a One Term President. What better way than to Obstruct the President at every turn and Blame it on him.
You guys on the right are like little kids watching a Magician perform the 3 Shell Game where he shows you the pea under one shell then he suffles the shells around and has you guess which shell the pea is under. When you point to the shell you are sure it is under "It isn't there!" Now that we are all grown up we know that the Pea is in the Magician's hand.
Yet you guys on the Right keep falling for the Repulican Congress's 3 Shell Game.........
This isn't about Democrat or Republican. We are Americans first. Please donate to Mercury one
They have already delivered last night 2 truckloads of supplies to Cony Island. Another 150 grand is on the way to the area and we have 570 Grand collected today...
100% of your donation will go to aid the hurricane victims.
Glenn pays all other cost out of his pocket.
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/
http://fundly.com/mercury-one-disaster-relief-fund
Please help your fellow Americans when they need it.
I would suggest they move into one of their other homes.
Cheapest real estate listing in breezy pt.
Mayor Mike is worried about the f@%#$ing marathon...
.... which will require public services that could better be utilized in relief efforts.
Romney: "I will defund FEMA on Day One."
If the news media is any indicator, a LARGE percentage of people affected by Hurricane Sandy are ''financially comfortable'' judging from countless images of seaside homes with ocean views; not to mention numerous images of ''drydocked'' yauchts and boats, many of which came ashore. Another forum on MSNBC pertaining to flood insurance (or the lack of it) even stated uneqivocally that axp. 500,000 homeowners in the affected areas had NO mortgages thus negating the responsibility of carrying it as required by most lenders so the article states.
Yes, there are some people who are well off and have beautiful ocean view homes, but many of these low-lying areas are typical middle-class (and lower class) neighborhoods. And for the ones in New Dorp, Long Beach & even Breezy Point, their main homes are modest & so is their income. And no matter how well off you are, not many can take a total loss in stride. Can you imagine every pice of furniture, article of clothing, all of your paperwork, photos, electronics, your car, bike, memories, perhaps pets... it's an enormous loss.
These folks are now the 47% Romney spoke of.