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Subscribe to RSSThose who lost their homes during Hurricane Sandy are salvaging what they can from the wreckage, and trying to stay afloat financially as they cope with the aftermath of the storm. NBC's Ann Curry reports.
Updated at 11:24 p.m. ET: BREEZY POINT, N.Y. -- After waking up to several inches of snow and more than 200,000 new power outages, residents in areas battered by Superstorm Sandy on Thursday got back to the long-term work of rebuilding.
Miranda Leitsinger
Snow dusted debris outside homes Thursday in Breezy Point, a community in the Rockaways section of New York City.
"Patience is the name of the game here," said Joseph Murray in Breezy Point, where snow from the nor’easter dusted the New York City community destroyed last week by flooding and a fire.
Families here on Thursday continued efforts to save their waterlogged homes from mold, with some piling items on the layer of snow in 40-degree weather.
New York City and Long Island will begin rationing gas to relieve frustration and long lines at the pump, NBCNewYork.com reported. The rationing does not apply to emergency vehicles, taxis or individual gas cans.
Murray, 27, was at his family’s home after sanitation workers cleared out their pile of garbage, leaving three salvageable nightstands and a lamp standing outside.
"Be patient with Mother Nature because she doesn’t care about any of us," was how Murray rationalized the bizarre bouts of weather. "Let her do her thing and then when she’s ready to let you do your thing, she will."
Cleanup crews already overextended from Hurricane Sandy are working around the clock to clear snow that recently fell across the region, causing more people to lose power. NBC's Stephanie Gosk reports.
Murray did have an eye on Friday’s weather forecast, noting that "it’s going to be 60 degrees, this is all going to melt."
By late Thursday, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island had their power fully restored. New York and New Jersey saw a drop in the number of customers affected by the nor'easter. Now about 60,000 customers are without power between the two states because of the storm; more than half a million remain without power total in the two states, including outages caused by Sandy.
West Virginia, however, has struggled to bring power customers back online.
The overnight nor’easter boasted wind gusts of more than 50 mph and dropped heavy snow on already-weakened tree limbs, leading to new power outages.
In New Jersey alone, 167,000 homes and businesses lost power overnight, Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday. "This sets us back about a day" in terms of getting all power restored, he added.
"We're right back to the same situation," Kirk Walker of Hackensack, N.J., told NBCNewYork.com after power went out for the third time at his home since Sandy struck.
"They said it was gonna be a rough winter," Walker added. "Sign of things to come, I guess."
Officials there on Thursday said they had convinced the local utility to scrap its policy requiring that each home without power be inspected before power is restored, Newsday.com reported.
With the new outages, some 700,000 customers were without power across the Northeast around midday. That number was reduced to some 600,000 by early evening.
Are you left in the lurch after Sandy?
Record snowfall totals were recorded across the area:
- New York’s Central Park received 4.4 inches of snow on Wednesday -- a record for a Nov. 7 and the earliest 4-inch total in the park's history, NBCNewYork.com reported. By Thursday morning the total had reached 4.7 inches.
- Newark, N.J., got 6 inches by Thursday -- more snow in 24 hours than during any previous November on record.
- Bridgeport, Conn., received 3.5 inches of snow, beating the Nov. 7 record of 2 inches set in 1953.
Some areas inland got 12 to 13 inches of snow.
"This is a classic nor'easter," NBC meteorologist Al Roker said on TODAY, "just very early."
PhotoBlog: Hot meals on Staten Island
Conditions were still miserable Thursday morning. In New York City, winds were around 25 mph and it was 36 degrees with showers forecast before sunny skies on Friday.
In New Jersey, parts of which saw 9 inches of snow, police said ice and snow contributed to the deaths of two people in a car whose driver was speeding, NBCPhiladelphia reported.
Two people also died in Connecticut in traffic accidents attributed to snow, The Associated Press reported.
Full NBC coverage of Sandy's aftermath
Hundreds were evacuated ahead of the nor'easter, some because of flooding fears and others due to post-Sandy logistics.
John Makely / NBC News
Medeleine Dobriner was moved by the Red Cross to the Manresa Jesuit Center shelter on Staten Island so that her earlier shelter, a school, could reopen.
Medeleine Dobriner of New Dorp on Staten Island was among the latter -- having to move because her shelter was in a school that was reopening.
"This is my third shelter and usually change is good," Dobriner, 66, told NBC News, "but not in this case."
Throughout the region, people wore coats indoors as they endured yet another night without heat.
"I thought I was lucky when power was restored last Thursday, but last night it went out again," said Michael Platt, an electrician from Toms River, N.J., who estimated a foot of snow fell in his area. "The kids have been home for nearly two weeks and I'm not working, and when I'm not working I'm not making any money. This hasn't been easy."
"Can you believe this? Enough is enough," added Cindy Casey, whose Belle Harbor home one block from the beach in the Rockaways was swamped by Sandy, as she looked out at the snow blanketing the neighborhood devastated by flooding and fire.
Some of those who had weathered Sandy told NBCNewYork.com they felt like a cruel joke was being played on them.
"Kind of laughing about it at this point," said Danny Arnedos, of Oyster Bay, Long Island. "To go from a hurricane to a nor'easter and driving in the snow in 10 days is pretty unbelievable."
"I am waiting for the locusts and pestilence next," New Jersey Gov. Christie said Wednesday.
Coastal flooding proved minimal, but commuter bus and train services were disrupted by the storm, with the Long Island Rail Road briefly shutting down all operations to the city's eastern suburbs on Wednesday night.
Gasoline remained in short supply in the New York City area, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday announced rationing based on odd and even number license plates.
Official: NY disaster chief fired over tree removal
Airports saw 1,600 canceled flights on Wednesday due to the storm. Some 600 more flights were scratched Thursday, according to the flight tracking service FlightAware. The majority of those are in the New York area.
The losses from Superstorm Sandy are still rough, but New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday he had seen a report estimating $50 billion in damage and economic losses across the region, with $33 billion in New York state.
"That's a staggering number," he said.
Mario Tama / Getty Images
A snowstorm hits the Northeast as residents are still struggling to pick up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy.
NBC's John Makely as well as Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- Report: Dad says he put poison on dead son's pizza
- Zoo officials: Toddler's death in Pittsburgh shows no zoo is 100 percent safe
- Nor'easter threatens 'flying debris,' up to foot of snow in Sandy's wake
- Post Superstorm Sandy, travelers prepare for a busy Thanksgiving
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It is ironical that the Northeast was hit by a devastated hurricane and now, a snow storm, with the Federal government, under the leadership of Obama, not getting the much needed help to these storm ravaged states in terms of clothing, food, gas, and water. This is evidence of the failure of big government; yet, these same people in the North East in these blue states ( and I am from Maryland, a very blue state), vote again into office, Barack Obama, who is the symbol and believer in big government and socialism. Does this make sense?
Remember, this same ineffective big government, who can't deliver timely promises made to the people in storm hit, North East states, is in charge of our health care under Obama Care. Fasten your seat belts and say a prayer. Here we come, European government run health care that has bean a total failure and nightmare to the people in Europe, will now be a total failure in the USA under Obama Care.
By the way, my fellow Americans, where are the rescue efforts and help to the North East from other countries? Where is the help fro the liberal beloved UN? When disaster hits other countries, like the Tsunami in Indonesia, and hurricane ravaged areas of third world nations, like in Haiti, America gives rescue efforts, food, clothing, water, and tons of taxpayer money. But when Americans get hit, we are on our own, with Americans trying to help out Americans, like it has always been, and will always be so.
Theses other nations take our help and then condemn us for being a non caring, war mongering country. They condemn us, but sure love to take candy from ole Sugar Daddy USA and from the most compassionate people on earth; i.e., the people of the USA.
Let's also not forget that the Govt controlled labor unions turned back non union workers to help the devastated areas. North East voters can't see past their ideology, whether it works or not. As long as their socialist gets in.
Nick- you can forget the nonunion worker turned away story- it didn't happen, but you probably know that and posted it anyway.
How did Obama get elected when even the majority of post on a liberal website are against him? Or is it too early for his supporters to be out of bed?
The mail bringing the check hasn't ran yet...no need to get outta bed till it gets here then they can go buy beer, cigarettes, or a new tattoo. If none of those stores are open, they will just wait on a news crew to cry to about how they need help. I would hate to know that I couldn't be somewhat self-sufficient in a time like this. Sucks to rely on Nanny to take care of you. Sucks being the checking account for Nanny too.
hey new yorkers and america wait and watch how bad obameee dismantles america and raise everones taxes cause there is not enough of rich people to get the U.S out of debt,new york is deffantly going to raise taxes so high, and the ones that dont want to be taxed to death and are tired of the leaches will exit the state just like they did in the 70's,80's,90's to present.again the rest of the state of new york tax payers are going to pay dearly for this storm
You're awfully stupid for an illiterate. You even spelled your name wrong.
I love the sound of right-wing losers gnashing their teeth in the morning!
It sounds like... VICTORY!
Better to be a so called right wing loser, than a left-nut PHUCKTARD, who voted for a Muslim, any day of the week.
You're funny! Does smoke come out of your ears when you get mad?
Karl, saying something untrue over and over does not make it true. That's first sign of insanity.
You are right. Conservatives are angry today and will be for a long time to come. This should concern you that half the nation is more angry at its government than it has been in the history of our nation. We conservatives want to know who is going to pay for our giant government and all its spending. What happened on the 6th of November is the "Have Nots" out voted the "Have's" and they want the "Have's" to pay the bill for them. It's kinda like what happened in Venezuela last month but more civilized. Chavez used empty stomach politics to win the election. "If you vote for me I will feed you for free". The thing is, it is never free and someone has to pay. In this case, the people that voted for Romney will pay and the people that voted for Obama will get the government cheese. The problem with this is that there are more people now voting for government cheese than against it and that my friend is a travesty. The scales have tipped now and entitlements & welfare has won the nation. Now we just need a way to pay for it because robbing peter to pay paul is where Europe is right now with Greece, Spain, Portugal and the list keeps growing and growing. Romney wasn't my choice for president but its better than 20 trillion dollars with no end in sight. Mabey thats what its going to take is the complete distruction of our nation then the people will see the fiscal light. Chavez has oil to to feed his people but the USA only has tax payers backing up all those loans, so when that money runs out this will all end I guess. So go ahead and enjoy your cheese for now is what I will say and we will see what happens.
Not my words, but my thoughts, exactly…
But even a clumsy candidate might have beaten Obama if not for a simple factor that could not be overcome: the GOP’s growing extremism. The Republican strategy of making the election a referendum on the president’s handling of the economy was perfectly sound. The problem was that the Republican Party couldn’t pass the credibility test itself. For many voters disenchanted with Obama, it still was not safe to vote for his opponent.
This failure began with the spectacle of the extended primary season, which was dominated by candidates with views far outside the political mainstream. Rick Santorum rejected the separation of church and state. Newt Gingrich challenged the notion of judicial supremacy. Michele Bachmann claimed the government had been infiltrated by radical Muslims. Donald Trump refused to recognize the validity of Obama’s birth certificate. Rick Perry wanted to take down more parts of the federal government than he could successfully name. In the debates, the country saw the GOP talking to itself and sounding like a bizarre fringe party, not a responsible governing one.
Fear that he didn’t have the base locked down kept Romney from moving smoothly to the center once he had secured the nomination. It further encouraged his choice of Paul Ryan, a popular figure with the Tea Party. And when Romney tried, much too late, to move closer to the center, Republican Senate candidates, like Todd Akin in Missouri and Richard Mourdock in Indiana, kept popping up with disgusting reminders of the GOP’s retrograde views on gender issues. For women, Latinos, and young voters tempted to abandon Obama, the old Romney might have been a plausible alternative. The new Romney, fettered by a feverish GOP, was too risky a choice. According to exit poll results, Romney won men as expected, but lost among women by 11 points—too large a gender gap to be overcome.
So let the season of Republican recriminations begin. The GOP now faces the challenge of self-examination and internal reform that Democrats began to undertake after losing twice to Ronald Reagan. It desperately needs the kind of centrist reform movement that was led on the other side by the Democratic Leadership Council, which paved the way for the election of a centrist Democrat named Bill Clinton. Without that sort of renewal movement, the 2012 election may come to be seen less as a fluke than a harbinger.
-god:
YOUR comments SHOW how narsistic and YOU really are.
NOT since the collapse and fall of Greece and Rome, have STUPID PEOPLE destroyed a great nation....... witness the 2012 U S elections!
Girl Kryptonite,
Its not the politicians or any political party that needs the attention. The focus on the political party and not the people is the problem. Half of the nation is mad as hell and the other half is laughing at them. Doesn't this worry you? The half that is mad is paying the bill while the other half laughing at them are eating the cheese, this has got to raise an alarm somewhere.
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I'm sure Obama and Springsteen are on their way there with snow shovels and a willing back...... Oh yeah, thats right, the election is over and Obama got what he wanted from those people.
Wow, there is so much Obama bashing here! I mean all he has to do is fly in for a day give someone a hug and everything will be OK, good job buddy.
...
Further proof of climate change.
.
Biden in 2012.
...
I'd rather be burried in snow up to my ears instead of the pure BS that's been building up over the past four yrs and the next four to come. Can't wait for the wars to begin. I have my strategy planned out. Do you have yours?
Karl shut up already...boohooo were so upset that you dont like who was elected and we see that but enough is enough already.
Phuck yourself.
With such intelligent rebuttals like that you just might win me over:o
Wow, is anyone in the northeast, wondering about what they did on election day, I think somebody is getting spanked!
They're gonna wish they were just getting spanked when the obama gov goes down broke and busted here shortly. The great food stamp rush will end then they will start killing each other for what little food is left between them which will start shortly before what few of them are left begins to eat dirt and gnaw the bark off of trees in the final death throes of a last attempt at survival. They asked for a Mad Max end to their pitiful existence and I can only hope like hell that that is exactly what they get. I'm ready. Are you?
All you bashers would be whining so loud if YOU had no power, no heat and no electricity. You'd be soooo upset, well walk a mile in my shoes. I got my power back and lent my generator to a friend and now I've lost it again. No good deed goes unpunished
This is a bogus story planted by the right wing of Fox News. Everything is fine in Jersey and NYC. Everyone there is holding hands and singing songs of praise for Big Government. I mean they have turned away the volunteers, pushed out the the First Responders for a Justin Bieber event and the unions are on top of everything.
Obama will watch over the people of Jersey just like he watched over Embassy in Libya. Sleep well Jersey, Uncle Obama will protect you.
"Have a Happy obama Day ... Citizen"
Are you in NJ? Then shut the F__— up until you come out and here and lend a helping hand. Or are you like the other guy, bored waiting by the window for the mail to come with your welfare check and food stamps. You never respond when someone challenges you. You not much a human being either. I hope you never need help, because on one will help an ass like you!
Pat,
I'm doing everthing I can do right now for NJ. I'm paying over half my income in one tax or another and sending two daughters to college. I don't know how my wife and I will retire yet but like everything here in the USA we will leave it up to tomorrow and kick the can right down the road. My suggestion would be to grab a snow shovel and start digging some of that global warming off the steps.
Good one!
An earthquake in the California/Oregon region yesterday and now this storm in the Northeast today... I'm sorry, but the timing and locations are more than just coincidences to me. God is trying to stir us to remembrance. I hope people wake up and start listening.
My prayers are with those who are suffering in the wake of Sandy and this new snow storm. I pray that they will be able to find warmth and safety. I pray that they will be able to find food and comfort. And I pray that they will be able to recognize truth and righteousness and have the courage to choose it.
Did you pray that the snowstorm followed by the hurricane wouldn't happen also? If not, shame on you! Did you pray also for Obungholes defeat? If so, you were bamboozled
what was God trying to tell the southern states with all of the tornadoes, hurricanes and ice storms? What about the 2 feet of snow dumped on West Virginia? You are such a horrible person.
This is normal for the NE... The strange thing was the tropical hurricane! Hope outages aren't for long!
This country will ALWAYS be divided. No party cares about the other. The people need to take back OUR country. The rest of you who hate on each other are sheep. Demy's....you feel entitled to everything, you are lazy and want everything given to you for nothing. Reps...you have no give and think money only drives people. Until this changes, we're all f*****.
I can't think of a city that deserves it more except for maybe San Fransisco the other gay infested city.
You are a $hithead. Taking joy from others misfortunes. Are you so miserable in your own life that you want others to be a miserable as you are. You are not even human. You are a slug with no emotions.
PAT:
YOU are a fester pile of fecal matter void of any brain wave pattern,cognitive or thought process!
The bible also says in Ephesians 6:10 that we're not supposed to be fighting each other, that we're actually fighting against the spiritual evil that is all around us causing us to act this way hating on each other.
A country divided is doomed. That's exactly what Satan wants. And it's happening through politics. God is still in control and we need to turn to him for his help and guidance because we're allowing Satan to destroy us from within.
Please give me freedom FROM religion. You right wing Christians who want Christian Sharia Law (like Santorum) are the biggest sinners in the world. You are as bad as the Muslim who want to shove their religion down the throat of the world. God will punish those who are intolerant. Christ did NOT preach what you preach. He preached acceptance of ALL people.
You will get your freedom FROM religion. As soon as the trumpet sounds and all of us Christian Believers are outta here!
Obama had said that the Republicans in time of distress retreated to their guns and God. Before the election many people I know, who believe in the power of prayer to a Christian god, were praying for Obama's defeat. Since he was re-elected it appeared that God hadn't heard those prayers. Wellll it now looks like He heard them and He acts in strange ways. Perhaps He did answer the prayers and went to teach those who voted for the Muslim a lesson. Yes, he did mention in the previous election that he was surprised that McCain didn't bring up his Muslim belief during the campaign.
Again, saying something that is untrue and saying and saying it until you think it might come true is the first sign of insanity. I hear that Dr. Oz has an opening this afternoon.
@Pat
That is why normal people know beyond a shadow of doubt that liberal democrats are insane.
PAT:
YES.... you do hear voices alot! TIME to go back on your medications...the FREE meds you are getting from your savior and his TAX LADENED healthCare
I am so thankful for this storm and hoping for many more.
And when the next tragedy hits you, on one will come to the aid of an ass like you. Wishing misfortunes on others is the worst thing anyone can do. i won't make the same error you did but remember that karma can be a bitch.
Pat,
The tragedy has hit us, right in the groin. A 20 trillion dollar foot to the nuts.
well now see how much bama boy GIVES THEM that we have to borrow from china i say let them freeze i won't help with a donation cause i can't spend MY MONEY to help them because i have to hold my money to pay for healthcare and the tax increase so bama boy can give the welfare bums a phone so they can call their dope dealer to get their POT
Call Obama let the messiah save your sorry liberal butts. NY and Jersey cesspools filled with libs anyway who cares.
Thats right. Suffer you liberal scum. I hate it for the non libs but you know what they say, if you lie down with dogs sooner or later you are bound to get up with fleas. So the best thing you can do is to get the phuck outta that liberal $hithole.
Looks like a couple of angry, bitter, sore losers are here.
Don't you know that the civil thing to do is congratulate the winners and wish them well, even though you did not support them? Some Republicans have done precisely that in forums like this one.
Here's a couple of crying towels - one for each of you.
Thanks again to President Obama and Governor Christie for working together on this - it is appreciated.
Comments here scare me, between the racists and the bible fanatics thinking this is the end of the world. With all the science, technology and knowledge people still think that a God is bringing his wrath upon Earth. People cannot believe that Obama is not from the USA, but think that snakes talk and every animal on Earth fit into a boat for a 40 day/night storm, or better yet that some regular Joe actually came back to life after dying?
Todd Akin for two hundred Alex!
Wanna tell us all about what you believe?
When the storm warnings first went out you NY'er's bragged on the news (I saw & heard this) "We're New Yorker's and we can take anything." So you stayed, maybe for "the experience" as another said (to heck with endangering rescurer's). Now you're whining your butt's off. Put on your big girl panties and suck it up. It takes time to gather people and equipment, to stage and plan it all. People from all over the country are trying to help you and you're just bitching and moaning. Have you reached out to your neighbor, to the old trapped on the 20th floor apt., to the cold hungry kid? Yes, I know your storms having spent awful winters in your snowbelt. You prepare and or get out. Please don't come to AZ. We have more than enough jackasses and they're not all in the desert. You couldn't take weeks of 115-120 degree weather anyway.
Phuck em, let the communist liberal scum sucking $hit for brains MF's freeze to death. That'll be that many less we have to shoot when the wars begin. I'd rather see this nation burned to the ground and go down in absolute ruin as to see it taken over and run by GD communists, and there's one helluva a lot of others who feels exactly the same. Let the war begin. I'm ready. Are you?
Isn't it funny how they do say we're from where ever and we can handle this we have been through it before? Through the storms before, when it arrives they're whining like a baby.
This too shall pass.