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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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- 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
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I agree with Karl. I did not vote for Obama.
Fact is you, the GOP/Conservatives have no one but themselves to blame for their defeat and it all started with the two Bush administrations, especially the latter Bush administration.
And what is really funny is the fact that even with the Plutocratic backing of the so called "GOP SUPERPACS" you the whining GOP conservatives could not "BUY" this election, no matter how hard you tried.
Even your promises and lack of substance rhetoric was of no use to you, as most of the promises were baseless, false and nothing more than the rhetoric of falsehood and deceit.
The "PEOPLE" of America defeated you at the polls, so get over yourselves and face the fact that both/all Political Parties need to work together to bring America and its people back from the ABYSS that you the Plutocratic GOP/Republican party are to blame for putting America on the road to that ABYSS. But yet blame everyone but yourselves.
Does anyone remember what shape the country was in when the 2nd Bush era began in 2000?
Was there a National Debt/Deficit ? Answer NO.
In fact there was a Budget Surplus when Clinton left office.
Was there a National Budget Surplus when G.W. Bush left office? Answer NO
Was there a National Budget deficit of several trillion dollars when G.W. Bush left office? Answer YES.
Had unemployment risen dramatically during the G.W.Bush administration/era? Answer YES.
Were there a large number of federally funded "bailouts" of Large Banks and Mortgage companies during the G.W. Bush plutocratic rule/administration? Answer YES
Was the beginning of the G.W. Bush era the beginning of the end for the middle class and poor working class of America? Answer YES
Did America get involved in two of the most costly wars in the History of America shortly after the G.W. Bush era of Plutocratic GOP rule begin in 2000? Answer Yes
Did the present POTUS inherit all of the problems that were initiated and worsened by the G.W. Bush era of Plutocratic GOP rule from 2000 to 2008? Answer Yes
Would America and its people become even worse off under the rule of another Plutocratic GOP era? In my opinion the answer would be YES.
You see, the term GOP no longer means Grand Old Party. But now means Government Of Plutocrats (GOP).
JMHO ( Just My Humble Opinion)
Thank you Richard, for a lucid and true post.
does that mean the lazy welfare bums (not Social security or Veterans) but the bums that have drawn unemployment4 4 years and have all of those kids just to keep from working, have no responsibility in this mess? you can talk all you want but it is the free healthcare and the RICH that are being destroyed by supporting the bums and now FEMA CAN"T FIND MONEY TO HELP i wonder WHY???? VOTE for a job you lazy bums oh wait you voted for bama boy
Let Obammy take care of his voters. Fat chance.
Christie chance of that.
Maybe Christie shouldn't have hugged Nobama!!! When you dance with the devil.....
I remember back some 15+ years ago here in Southwest Virginia, we went through back-to-back-to-back ice storms that crippled the area. No sooner would the power come back, it would go out again. As the Guess Who so aptly sang, Babe, we got the new mother nature taking over.
Our prayers are with all of you. One good bright side to all of this is President was re-elected. So, there are better days ahead because I know most of you are in the 47% that Mitt Romney doesn't care about.
Relax people , it's 4 INCHES of snow , not 4 feet ! Newsflash - it's called WINTER
Are you getting all the support you need from Obama now that the election is over? I think not.
Yes, thanks for asking. Just ask our governor, who is most appreciative of the great job that FEMA is doing. These things do take time - there is a lot of widespread damage to attend to.
FEMA has no money because bama boy needs to use that money to pay for the legal fees that defense contractors that he told to break the law by not telling employees that they are going to be laid off January 2nd 2013....it is called payback for voting for welfare I SAY IMPEACH HIM NOW AND SUFFER WITH BIDDEN so HERE IS YOUR one TWO punch oh remember BUSH I do
its just the president people. and its a storm. we have quite a few storms every year that kill quite a few people every year. stop thinking that the president has this huge power over the people. he has none remember!!!! he has power over the government not the people. all of you keep forgetting that. if you want to be a slave to him feel free. but guess what the pres. can't tell me what to do nor can he force me and i'll actually laugh when he tries. laws are for law abiding individuals. i'm no longer one of those.
If what you say is true, then when did Bush receive the criticism he did during Katrina? Obama's response to this disaster has been much worse; he showed up and now is disengaged.
if chris matthews was happy that Sandy hit...i bet he has a tingle of excitment flowing down his leg that this storm has hit.
Obama came up for a 30 minute photo op so you should be all warm and fuzzy up there. This is what you wanted, a divided nation, now you have it. After four years of the race card and class warfare you are sudenly surprised no one gives a damn?
Well, you kept the White House, now enjoy BIG GOVERNMENT's love. Guess what obama and the liberal left does not need you any more. You sold your liberty, freedom and Country for a few obama baubles so now there is no one to help.
If its any consolation look at all the wealth a few will have from all of the kick backs, government contracts and union padding that will go on. Yo may see one dollar for every million spent.
You were told, you were warned, but you would rather listen to Snooki and Lady Gaga.
FEMA CENTER CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER classic
Reap it!
Obunghole is gonna spend all of the FEMA money on bobble head dolls made in his likeness to mail out to all of his loyal worshipers.
How do you like this for trying to help people on Staten Island!!!! Alabama Co-op went to help Staten Island get their power back on and was told since they were not in the Union they declined their help!!!!! If I lived in Staten Island and found that out I would be mega pissed. Alabama Co-op said they went to Connecticut and help them get powering going to their area instead. How could Union officials but so uncaring for the people of Staten Island!!!!
Because they are the very likeness of the exact same scum sucking communist MF's that they represent, that's how.
Don't be so angry, nonunion workers were not turned away. Many union and nonunion workers from other states came and helped out.
Big deal, NY got a snow storm.It snows every year. The media makes everything way bigger than it is.It was just a regular noreaster. Stop falling for this crap. Turn off your TV and PC and start shoveling.Are we a nation of mambee pambees?Real Americans will tuff it up and work thru it.Stop the insanity over a snow storm.
My brother is a powerlinemen from Minnesota, who has driven 1500 miles to Long Island to help restore power. He and his co-workers have left thier wives and children in a heated home in the Midwest to work 16 hours a day. At night they have been sleeping in thier utility trucks or in a semi trailer that is supplied with cots. So please sit back and be comfortable in your "mambee pambee" home.
Lived on the Oregon coast from 2006 til 2009 and two years in a row tropical depressions followed by snow down to the beach as standard. So it does happen to the upper west coast also. Power outages for as long as seven days and shortend three days. Good Luck east coasters and be sure you have a log burning fireplace or pellet stove to keep the heat going. Also, prep for cold weather is important if not don't complain.
Wow, record snowfall from 2-6 inches don't know how we can survive ! Wait a minute, don't we get 8 or so storms on average from 6 to 18 inches up in the Noreast every year ? Must be a media craze being pushed by the Weather Channel advertisers and their celebrity storm reporters. Wish that guy JIM CACCIATORE or whatever his name is would dissapear to the food channel !
Something is happening with the weather but who and/or what is to blame? Our lakes our probably drying up due to natural gas along with the bottled water giants taking as much water from lakes and rivers as they want to . All over the world and it sounds more and more like they're using global warming as the excuse. In one way how can it be global warming when temperatures in the past have been at times warmer than they're now? I tend to believe these huge mindless corporations have been able to do what they want for so long we're now suffering the consequences.
I'm not really sure what to believe of what's causing the changes but what ever it is our weather is changing.
This country has never been more divided or racial than it is right now. I try to look at each human as their own individual by the way they conduct themselves. It is unfortunate that this country has become all about Dems and Rep and minoritys and whites. All americans have come from all other countrys in the world if you were to trace your family tree back far enough. By the way I voted for Mitt Romney because as a business owner I believed he had more experience in helping business survive in the future. I did not agree on everything he stood for but I did believe he was the best canadate to get this countrys financial situation under control. I can only hope that Obama takes the problems Americans have and addresses them in order of importance to get our country back on track. I feel in his first four years he did not adddress the real problems first such as unemployment rising. Sure he bailed out the auto industry but stopped there and went into healthcare when instead I believe they should have worked out a budget for this country which we still dont have. The large percent of white males that did not vote for Obama seem to own their own companys and employ a lot of people. The Democrats need to be a little more receptive to this fact and help business and promote business as a top priority then education and immigration. They need to understand that without business it does not matter how educated you are or if you are a immigrant that becomes a American what difference does it make if there is no place to work. I have never understood regulatitons by the EPA that prevent us from manufacturing in the United States. Do we feel that this will prevent global warming when we are the only country that have these regulations and every other country can manufacture because they dont have these stiff regulations. the last time I looked Mexico and China are part of the same globe. I was so sick of the petty facts that came up in this last election with the dirt that was slung by both sides. Forgive me if I am educated but I could have cared less that Ryan dated a black girl in school. These kind of things that came up really insulted me when we are going through the times we are. It just seems to me that politicians are trying to dumb down the american people. Look at where we are with reality shows on television and making stars out of everyday people for doing nothing more than hunting alligators or being a teenage mom or part of the Jersey Shore. Come on people it is time for us all to raise our expectations of our politicians to do their job just as we are expected to do ours and to treat fellow human beings as we expect to be treated and pull together.
So what does this have to do with a storm? The election is over your side lost give it a rest.
" I can only hope that Obama takes the problems Americans have and addresses them in order of importance to get our country back on track."
Oh hell yeah, you can count on that, just like he did NOT the last time around. He spent the last four yrs shoving phucking health care down our throats and campaigning for the next four. This nation is TOAST!
The country has ceratinly been more divided before and has gone through much worse times than we are seeing now. It is time for rational thought.
What are you going to do about this President Romney, I mean President Obama?
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give obama a break,,,after all he did inherit a mess from the other guy...........WAIT!!! he was the other guy....hahahahahahahahahahah
spin that obama
Republicans stop spreading your hate, the election is over. Get off the internet.
Here are a couple of questions for all of you apparent hate mongering/racist GOP Conservatives.
If Obama's skin color had been any other color than black/non white would you still have the bigoted hatred for him that you now have and have you always hated people of another color skin but white?
Since when did the color of a persons skin or where they were born in the U.S. denote whether they are a good or bad person or are not capable?
My ethnic heritage just happens to be part Native American. My mother was Canadian who fell in love with and married my father who was of Native American heritage, specifically Choctaw Nation. Does that fact make me any less capable of being President of the U.S.A. and I am neither Conservative nor GOP Republican does that make me any less intelligent or capable than anyone who happens to be of the Conservative/GOP/Republican persuation?
I for one didn't realize that if one was not GOP, CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN and White that you were less than a human being.
Yes it is very apparent that bigoted hatred and racisim is still alive, well and thriving in America.
Funny that you'd call Republicans racist when so many people voted for Obama only because of his skin color and their own...
Just so you know, this is support for the global warming theory. Cold air is dry, dense air. Don't take my word for it, ask a pilot. Water vapor (not lquid) is much lighter than air. For confirmation, just check their respective molecular weights. It takes a tremendous amount of heat to force water vapor into dense, dry air. For example, Antartica has less precipitation than any place on Earth.
Yes, it's counterintuitive, but excessive snow is the result of excessive heat.
Get with the program! It's "climate change" not global warming. Didn't you get the memo? That way heat, cold, wet, dry and normal can all be explained away by "climate change." I'm attributing
the re-election of Obama to "climate change" and its effects on people's sanity.
Nevertheless, there's a lot of unexplained heat coming from somewhere. If the climate is indeed changing, it's a terrifying possibility. You see, every species of living thing, now only existing as fossils, went extinct from the same cause - changes in their environment. Every one, no exceptions.
Humans have no special pleading. Change the climate enough, we're going down.
Was NBC shocked that these people are still suffering from Sandy? I mean you did a great job of making the American people think Obama was "on it" and FEMA had it under control.
Maybe you wouldn't be shocked if you had actually been following the news here. Reading is fundamental.