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Subscribe to RSS"We are cold and we are tired and we want out power now," said one Long Island resident. She said LIPA, the utility company, hasn't worked quickly enough. NBC's Michelle Franzen reports.
Hundreds of volunteers got on buses at City Hall on Saturday morning to make their way out to areas still struggling from Sandy's devastation.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg dedicated Saturday a day of service as volunteers spent the day distributing aid and helping with storm recovery efforts.
"It's time for us to help everybody back," said New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu. After Katrina, firefighters from New York and New Jersey lent a helping hand, so residents of New Orleans are sending both necessities and messages of hope to those impacted by Sandy. NBC's Janet Shamlian reports.
Teams cleaned up the beach and boardwalk in Coney Island, handed out food and water and helped with the cleanup on Staten Island, and hosted a clothing drive and children's carnival in Rockaway.
In a church parking lot on New Dorp, Staten Island, Walt Street cooked food for storm victims. Street, who had driven 30 hours from New Orleans, Louisiana to pitch in with relief efforts, said the scenes he was seeing on Staten Island reminded him of his hometown after Hurricane Katrina.
Defend New York: Experts on protecting against storms
On Long Island, about 300 people staged a rally in front of the Long Island Power Authority's office in Hicksville Saturday. Approximately 130,000 homes and businesses were still without power on Long Island.
"We are sitting in a cold house. No one comes by,'' said John Mangin of Levittown. "There should be criminal charges against the CEO and the executive board of LIPA for failure to do their jobs.''
Coney Island's New York Aquarium is filled with wonders from the sea, but during Hurricane Sandy the ocean devastated it. NBC's Mara Schiavocampo reports.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called for an investigation of the region's utilities, criticizing them as unprepared and badly managed. On Friday, two congressmen from Long Island called for the federal government to help LIPA restore electricity.
"It's a totally disorganized effort, and LIPA unfortunately seems to have lost control of the situation and that's why you see so many people becoming so angry,'' Rep. Peter King said Saturday.
LIPA chief operating officer Michael Hervey said they were aware customers haven't gotten the information they've needed from the utility, partly because of an outdated information technology system they're in the process of updating.
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"I certainly feel the frustration of customers whose power remains out. Our hearts go out to them," Hervey said.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
A cyclist passes piles of debris Saturday, Nov. 10, as cleanup continues where a large section of the iconic boardwalk was washed away in the heavily damaged Rockaway neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
But he said workers are repairing unprecedented storm damage as fast as they can. About 6,400 linemen and 3,700 tree trimmers are at work, compared with 200 linemen on a normal day.
In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie said he expected power to be restored across the state by Saturday night. As of Saturday evening, Jersey Central Power & Light had nearly 62,000 customers overall without power. Public Service Electric & Gas said 5,580 customers remain without power from the hurricane. Another 17,148 customers -- including those who lost electricity during the nor'easter and in recent days -- were also awaiting restoration. About 100 Orange & Rockland customers had no power, while Atlantic City Electric had roughly 2,480 outages.
Con Edison said just under 20,000 customers were without power, with just under 9,000 of those outages in Westchester county. Virtually all utility customers in Connecticut have had their power restored.
Full NBC coverage of Sandy's aftermath
Cuomo announced Saturday that New Yorkers who lost their job or income because of Sandy would now have until February 4, 2013 to apply for federal disaster unemployment assistance. Claimants also now have up to 90 days to submit proof of employment or self-employment and will be provided an IRS link to speed up the retrieval of lost or destroyed tax documents.
New Jersey moved about 200 people from tents at the Monmouth Park Racetrack into the track's four story grandstand building. The storm victims were initially staying in a camp designed for out of state utility workers, but the state came under fire after photos emerged showing people huddled together in snow covered tents.
The Statue of Liberty was illuminated for the first time since Sandy, after the storm caused significant damage to statue and to Ellis Island. The dock at Liberty Island that welcomes visitors was so badly damaged it might have to be rebuilt, officials said. The statue's interior had just reopened to the public before the storm hit. No word yet on when the statue will open to the public again.
Cuomo announced the MTA will resume service on the A subway line to Howard Beach Sunday. A shuttle bus will run from Howard Beach to Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway until the heavily damaged north channel bridge can be repaired.
Rockaway will also get temporary weekday ferry service into Manhattan starting Monday. Mayor Bloomberg announced the trips will cost two dollars each way. The ferries will make five morning rush hour trips to Pier 11 in lower Manhattan starting at 5:45 a.m., and five evening trips back to Rockaway. Free transfers from Pier 11 to the East 34th street midtown ferry terminal will be made available.
President Barack Obama will travel to the New York area next week to view the recovery from Sandy and thank first responders, the White House announced Friday.
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The president is set to make the trip on Thursday.
Obama visited the Jersey Shore last week after Sandy pummeled the tri-state, telling storm victims: "We are here for you and we will not forget. We will follow up to make sure you get all the help you need to rebuild."
At the time, Bloomberg said he told Obama's chief of staff that the city "would love to have him, but we've got lots of things to do."
On Friday the mayor said "we've made significant progress since then and we're happy to have him."
Cuomo also announced the creation of the Empire State Relief Fund, intended to help residents repair and return to homes flooded and damaged when the storm hit last week. He says the best temporary housing is permanent housing and it's cheaper in the long run for taxpayers.
Bloomberg also announced a Sandy repair program, called NYC Rapid Repairs, aimed at getting as many people as possible back into their homes by year's end. Starting Tuesday people with storm-damaged homes can go to a city restoration center, get a Federal Emergency Management Agency number and sign up. Then a contractor will go to the person's home, assess the damage and "within a short time, the work will be done," Bloomberg said.
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A snowstorm hits the Northeast as residents are still struggling to pick up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy.
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Strange. No mention of how the Occupy movement (under the Occupy Sandy banner) and Doctors Without Borders has been helping residents for days now. Are volunteers only official if they operate under government aegis.
There was a story about the Doctors Without Borders posted here yesterday.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49754111
So, where is all this "government" aid we were indoctrinated with the first 2 days of the disaster? Where are all the "agencies" that were patting each other on the back during those wonderful photo-ops.
I hear FEMA had to close its doors the other day on Staten Island due to the "weather". Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering for 2 weeks and the government system crashes and burns again.
Where is all the outrage from the media because this administration isn't fixing everything like they were screaming with Katrina? Just like the Gulf oil spill this president dithers while Americans suffer.
God bless the volunteers and their efforts to help our fellow struggling Americans!
FEMA is hiding with all the other O'bama secrets
I understand the anger that comes with the discomfort, fear and financial hardship these people are facing. But I think it's misplaced anger to shout down the utilities. These poor folks have been working their butts off for the last two weeks, morning, noon, and night in dangerous situations, with dwindling supplies on one of the biggest disasters to ever hit this area. In my area, one not nearly so hard hit, some people are still without power because a transformer blew when the wind knocked down a pole. Apparently, they are running out of poles! Cut these utilities workers a break.
I saw a picture on the news of a sign that someone in New Jersey had put up in their yard: "Thank you PSE&G". Would that we could all show a little gratefulness for the people who are working so hard for us, instead of the demanding temper tantrums.
I dont see why any of you guys are complaining. You voted for your savior Barack Obama.
If you want to fix the problem send back those 20 million illegals back to Mexico. Latinos are the most racist ethnic group in America today since the whites had the title in the 1960s. I know better than any caucasion because I grew up with only latinos for 30+ years. Their patriotism is to their race only. Whites dont know this because only maybe 1% of whites grew up with Latinos. Latinos despise whiteys success in America. They despise that whites fathered this great nation and reep the rewards first. Well it is what it is, get over it Paisanos. For you gringos Paisanos means Countrymen. But they are not Americas countrymen or patriots, they are Anchor Babies=Chicanos. PS. American indians Hate Mexicans. Mexicans slaughtered, raped and wiped out south west indian tribes for hundreds of years out of spite because Mexicans could not take over their native lands. And Mexicans today treat indians like dirt. Go ahead and ask a real American indian about this in the western half of the US. Dont let them come to your town. They'll just take your job. They dont pick fruit anymore. This is not the 1981.
Indians are yesterday's minorities. Libs only care about minorities if they help them win elections.
Nice to see the volunteer efforts. This is what makes the nation stronger...neighbor helping neighbor without expectation of any reward. For those of you protesting in front of the utilities and the two congressmen...stop wasting time and find a place to help out. The life you save may be your own.
Remember New York was not built in a day and it will take less time to fix if everyone chips in to help.
Our prayers are with you from the west coast.
Nice to see hundreds of Occupy people there from day #1. Too bad the Lamestream news can't give them credit.
I find it interesting that Bush was widely criticized for how the Federal government handled Hurricane Katrina, but the media has nothing but 'feel good' stories about the atrocious handling of Hurricane Sandy.
Media bias, anyone?
Skorned, NO... sorry but as usual your tilted opinion doesn't count for anything much. You prove yet again, that not only are you misinformed but you don't even pay attention to the only news network that you watch: http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/11/08/fema-is-bringing-in-manufactured-housing-to-parts-nj-ny-hardest-hit-by/
Glad to be of service, though!
Nor have the military veteran group, Team Rubicon, been mentioned. And they have been there since the day after Sandy hit, with more members driving in. And now they have been joined by other such groups, all working together and bringing in huge amounts of needed equipment donations from places like Home Depot.
Actually they were. I had never heard of them before. Such an incredible group.
You gotta hand it to Sandy; she sure does give one mean blow job!
Sorry, I just can't stop saying that...
Volunteers? Where is FEMA, or the GOVERNMENT!!!!! Volunteers are the hero's here. There is another screw up the bastard has done. Thanks to the 3 million GOP asses, we have another four years that the bastard can do what the hell he chooses to do to the United States. Thank jack asses.
You would think that the media would be praising the FEMA Corps. You know, the 261 that graduated in August with degrees iin disaster training and EMTs. They are between 18 & 24. Hundreds of thousands of $$$ trained these people who are fulltime employees of the US government and at ready 24/7. They have generators for a town and food and water and clothes and bedding. They are called Obama's Army. They have armored vehicles and guns and ammunition. Where are they? Don't believe it? Go on Bing and enter FEMA Corps. YOUR $$$$$$$$ trained them.
What cleanup? Obama has it all handled and no further work is necessary. He fixed this singlehandedly in the two day trip he made to the east coast.
If Bush was president, the headline would read "Left to their own by FEMA, hurricane victims struggle on their own".
But this is Obama. He golfed today, but you won't read that here.
even the president needs some down time, do you think he (they) are robots? Your argument is illogical
@Obama Lies
Obama is only one man and you make it sound like he can do thousands jobs at once.
He is now dealing with "fiscal cliff" that if failed will bring more problems to the job sectors in this country.
What have you done to help so far? All you do is whine, whine and more WHINE.
Whine Whine Whine. Why don't you just bottle it a give it to the people affected by the storm? Forget that. It would just be old and bitter stuff.
Willing to bet that all of the people responding negatively along political lines have never had to deal with a disaster bigger than a broken pipe in the crawl space under their trailer. There are tens of thousands of replacement items needed. The area affected probably doesn't have near enough replacement poles, transformers and other assorted parts to fix everything that is broken. Those parts have to be located and shipped in. To do that first streets have to be cleared of debris so the trucks bringing in the parts can even get to the supply depots. Then the roads to the power outages have to be made passable for the large trucks to get to were they are needed. To say the least this is a logistic nightmare. Unless anyone here has any sort of training managing a repair of this magnitude why don't you either shut up or get of you -itching backside and go help.
The East Coast infrastructure is a patchwork over time - pipes, cable - some of it was first put in over a hundred years ago and could use being replaced. A couple years ago some pedestrians got electric shock by stepping in a puddle by a curb, one lady died walking her dog. Not only do the utility workers have to repair miles of stuff ON the streets, there are miles of tunnels below the streets as well.
We just donate money to Red Cross, and thank the crews and volunteers, many from out of state. Hoping for a speedy recovery as the temperatures dip, what a misery.
Obama Lies, oh but he doesn't. If you were open-minded (or maybe it's a physiological condition of impairment) enough... you would pay more attention to the only news network you watch:
http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/11/08/fema-is-bringing-in-manufactured-housing-to-parts-nj-ny-hardest-hit-by/
meanwhile, you might want to change your profile name... you have the first word incorrect. The second one, I have no problem with.
Actually, Obama lies...Obama spent one hour in NJ. NY did not want him to disrupt the cleanup they were trying to do with just a photo op like in NJ.
Cuong...actually, Obama is not dealing with the fiscal cliff or Benghazi or Fast and Furious. He is leaving for yet another trip.
CIA director was suppossed to testify in the Benghazi's case this coming week!! So all of the sudden he resigned? This reminds me to Hittler!
yes there are some disturbing similarities. America won't wake up until the Fed. is knocking at their door.
One of the most disturbing similarities is the practice of scapegoating. Hitler, in order to bring the country back together during horrendous economic times as well as consolidate his power, blamed the country's problems on the Jewish people. Especially rich, Jewish bankers. Sound familiar? You can take "Jewish" out of the present situation, but you've still got scapegoating against the rich and the bankers going on. This is simply another form of bigotry, when you lump people together as a group and demonize them. For some reason, we seem to think it's okay to attack and destroy a group of people because they have more money than we do.I know many people who fit into the "rich" category (although I'm not one of them!) because I live in an affluent area. Some are jerks, sure, but so are a lot of the middle class people in a different way--like the ones in this story stamping their feet and demanding irrational things. The "rich" folks I know are kind, generous people. Several of them have hired me as a nanny, hired me to work in their small businesses, paid me generously and treated me as an equal in every way. They have positively impacted my life and I will always defend them against the intolerant bigotry from the class warfare power mongers.
and Ill troll a bit and say that this, too, is a dumb statement. he resigned because he was having an affair with his biographer. While morally speaking I don't give a @!$%# and neither should the rest of the country, I suspect the concern here is the possibility that national security maybe compromised due to pillow-talk. Again, no proof of this but it fits. Maybe he suffers an overwrought sense of propriety and honor, and couldnt bear the shame of it all. But to suggest that its an Obama regime conspiracy, perpetrated by racial fascists is unfounded, reactionary and well, just dumb. Personally I think its redirected racism on your part
sorry but bankers SHOULD be scapegoated. Im not talking about small town mortage lenders and the nice lady behind the counter at BoA. The real bankers, the one that control the flow of money in this country and the world, rolling the dice against us, the middle class while injecting their 'profit' making schemes into the world economy...isnt that the same people that pissed Jesus off in the Temple?
You might try reading real news sources and turn off faux entertainment.
In another news, a child from Krypton just lands yesterday on Earth. However, a group gathered around the child in less than 30 minutes and told him that they don't want more illegal alien. After 1 hours to cursing him, the child left the planet while shaking his head in disappointment.
Blame the rich? I will when they deserve it and they do. Want proof? How about the founder of Pappa Jhons cutting hours of his employees so he doesn't have to raise the price of his Pizzas 15 CENTS to pay for his employees to have health care. Yet this rich jerk (yes jerk) live in a 40,000 square foot castle with it own private gold course and 22 car garage. Yet he wont spend any money to give his people health coverage. Those same people that make the actual money for him to live like Louis XVI. Maybe he deserves the same fate.
Tiredoldman he makes his money get over it no one is forcing anyone to work for him. Why don't you just die already you sound misserable.
Papa John's owner can do whatever he wants - and if he wants to lose business by acting like an @zz - then so be it.
Any business owner can do what they want, but if they wish to NOT alienate their market, probably the smart ones rethink their public position.
Yay for Pizza Hut/Dominos - there are so many alternatives only an immature fool would be unappreciative of their employees.
Socialism, without realizing it due to factors well out of your own control... you sound like a hateful, pathetic fool who just can't get past his own flaws of being on the losing side. But that's ok... I'm sure I'm not the only one who reported you. Hopefully the vacation from here will do you good :-)
Don't forget the 2 admirals that retired after talking to Obama. The ones in the area of Libya.
will there ever be a story where the repukes don't spew pollution from their lips? As I recall, jr romney spewed that the states dont need the governments help, they can and should do it on their own. You guys lie so much you forget what lies you have told. Need to change your parties name to flip- flop repuke!
Truth hurt? History is destined to be repeated when those who have the power of a vote are too ignorant to learn form History.
I'll agree with Randy on that one... maybe Racisthuglicans might be a better fit!
government bureaucracy will never replace your friends, neighbors and communities. if one samall city is in trouble they might help out but in any real disaster people are on their own it sucks that we only realize it when SHTF, so stop relying on your government.
they can't. They are helpless without the Fed.
Sample of help for NY from around the nation:
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Oklahoma-Baptist-Disaster-Relief-team-heads-to/tP7up9T60U6Mhk6-Jig41A.cspx
http://www.abc3340.com/story/20056850/st-clair-county-baptist-association-sending-disaster-relief-team-to-new-york
http://thealabamabaptist.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/alabama-disaster-relief-in-new-york/
And there are others helping. It's still America, don't let your politics ruin your perspective.
Always interesting to see who the media wants to play it. So are they ready to receive "SCAB" help that was sent to them first hand? Or perhaps their union can just keep helping them.
The stories about rejection of non-union help have been proven false.
The union workers' paperwork took longer to process through, but they are ON THE JOB - this has been reported on a number of time.
I can not believe this Governor of ours keeps passing the blame to the power company. My nephew went there on Thursday and they are working in 18 hour shifts, trucks can't get in some areas so they are walking in to do the jobs and then back out to the trucks for supplies. They slept in the trucks the first night as they are from the real "upstate" NY. Second night on air mattresses... tonight in a hotel after they restore electricity some place else. It is now going on 9pm..so still at work. No time to eat ... what do they want these people to do? One guy was yanked out of his truck and beaten up. Come on... They understand the frustration but all that equipment has to be washed and dried before reinstalling. Some totally replaced... It isn't as easy the Government thinks. Companies are trying to save money today...as one person wrote on another blog, they try to keep costs down to the consumers, but in the meantime, something else suffers. In this case, old systems are still being upgraded. I am sure no one ever thought this would happen in NYC, Long Island or Jersey Shore. If so, more would have left instead of staying. A friend from there didn't believe them when they said this storm was coming. He does now! The Governor is trying to divide and conquer. Pitting one against the other... well...they are minus one less linesman as he is severely injured and sure thrilled he came to help. You won't be reading this in the papers either because then the blame would go back to our Governor. He doesn't like that.
You are absolutely right. My hat goes off to these utilities workers. God bless them! They do not deserve this abuse.
They have every single spare truck and lineman from all over the country in there trying to get the power back on, but if you happen to remember, there were 10 million people without power immediately after Sandy went through. Today, there are only about 250,000 without power. Given the magnitude of the storm and the thousands of downed power lines, I think they have made a herculean effort. Plus, in the middle of all this they got a nor'easter with snow and ice. This makes the restoration extremely dangerous.
So while I sympathise with those who still have no power, the power companies have done a great job. It's easy to bitch, especially when you're cold and hungry, but it doesn't help much. Think about all those power company folks working eighteen hours a day in terrible conditions, freezing their tails off. Then think about how they feel when everybody is complaining and yelling at them. Why do people always expect miracles? These guys are heroes. They should be given some credit. This is dangerous work. A little simple gratitude would be nice.
people are ignorant. Look, people in the Southern States actually plan and prepare for Hurricanes. No one should trust the " man" to cover them. And they certainly are incapable of understanding what is involved in restoring services. Ungrateful little brats.
Glad to see the Fed. has their back
When we have our forest fire season and crews from all over come and work, risk their lives, and do all they can to help citizens of the towns thank them. Signs are all over saying thank you, meals are handed out and they are made to feel appreciated. You people back east do nothing but whine. Crews from AZ, CA, CO and who knows were else have left home and families to help you and what do you do? Bitch, bitch, bitch.
I live in Central Pa, my neighbor work's for a tree triming company and he has been out of state working since last Wednesday and his wife is home alone. I think a lot of people are trying to help but there is s much to do. Bet Omama had a fun day playing gulf and having a nice meal let him and his family pitch in to help.
If the President shows up, he brings secret service, entourage, briefing officer, etc. etc. He just slows things down and gets in the way. Which, if I remember correctly, is what a lot of you were bitching about when he did go in to work with Christie and Bloomberg, so back off. No matter what he does, you complain about it, so it's obvious you aren't really looking at what he's doing but at what you can bitch about. Give it a rest. This story isn't about him.
The stuff going on in and with this administration makes Nixon's look like amateurs.
All you people blaming Obama for this are like a bunch of zoo monkeys flinging poop around. I'm glad I'm watching the show from behind the shield of intelligence. It protects me from all that crap you're smearing on yourselves.
Good show! Here's a banana! Fight for it, monkeys!
Comparing Repubs and monkeys? One is prone to chest pounding, shrieking and poo flinging. The other likes bananas.
Where's trump ( why isn't he offering up hotel rooms?), robme,ryan, rove, krautheimer, etc. I've not seen or heard from any of the rethugs since the fake robme fund raiser. I suppose those cans of beans he bought at Wal-mart have been delivered? Why aren't those beneficent rethugs delivering hot food? pizzas? anything? Oh yeah , only benovelent and charitable when the cameras are rolling and there are clean pans to pretend to wash.
And by the way, NJ and NY people, we sent crews from So.Carolina too and they are still there! Thanks goes to FEMA and Red Cross too.
Linda,
I guess you are under the assumption that only one party lives in New York? You might want to stop bashing on fellow storm survivors who just might think differently...just a note of worth to the big tent party of tolerance and inclusion.
whats missing in the photos are the Negros...Odd.
another failure of obama
all you blue staters relax..we are working on it...signed ..the federal government.
The liberals in those blue states can crawl up the government's and each other's ass as they're so fond of doing if they need to keep warm.
So can OBAMA still blame BUSH for the poor FEMA response? OYI, But the NYS Govn'a is a Democrat, along with Chuck Schumer & Kristan G.....so may be they can all blame HILLARY, as she was the Senator who should have prepared Long Island for the storm......No that won't work...How about another 'Photo Op'?? ...No, lets all blame it on Romney...hey what an idea, after all he said something about FEMA....VEY....4 more years of lies, less that truthful, lapses, omissions, coverups, deceit & investigations to no wares......ALL IN THE NAME OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY..................
I am soooo sick of people in NY complaining because they have not gotten everything fixed yet after Sandy. IT TAKES TIME PEOPLE. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVER NIGHT.
I can understand your frustration because we went 6 1/2 days without electric back in 2005 when the ice storm hit Ohio just before Christmas. We did not have electric on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. We understood it takes time to get things fixed and lived through it. There were some people who were out for over 2 weeks here when the ice storm occurred, as well.
Everyone could use a little helping hand now and then .