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Matt Campbell / EPA
A dangerous winter storm churned Friday into the Northeast as forecasters warned of a whiteout.
NEW YORK — As millions of Americans braced for a winter storm bearing down on the Northeast on Friday, people still recovering from Hurricane Sandy stood in line at gas stations to buy fuel and stocked up on wood for the fireplace. It was, one man lamented, "like a nightmare of Sandy all over."
Sandy left about 20,000 residential buildings in the city with some damage or disruption to their utilities. Thousands are struggling to rebuild, with many sheltering in their battered homes.
The incoming storm is just the latest round in an unforgiving winter. A snowstorm hit New York City one week after Sandy struck and in late January, temperatures plummeted below zero. This time, forecasters are predicting up to 15 inches of snow, as well as high tides and winds.
Scott McGrath said people were in a "panic mode" in his Staten Island neighborhood, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy. He stood in line at a gas station Thursday night, hoping to get fuel for his generator to power his home in the case of an outage, but he walked away empty-handed. On Friday, people lined up again.
"It's like a nightmare of Sandy all over," he said, noting the constant weather alerts warning of snow and high tides. "This time our house is not ... in full shape, you know, who knows if (it) would withstand it."
For those sheltering in place like McGrath, 45, and his wife, Dee, the ever-changing weather makes recovery from Sandy a stop-start process. They have scuttled plans to put up sheet rock this weekend in their gutted two-story home — where they still have holes in the walls on the first floor. They’re also fearful that the few remaining personal items they have, which they had put in the basement, could be in danger due to the threat of high tides.
"We're ... sitting on the edge and just praying for the best," he said. "If this storm hits, we're screwed. That's the bottom line. If it really does hit us like they're saying, and that high tide comes in, only God knows what's going to happen to us."
A mix of snow and rain was falling in the city by 7 a.m.
NBCNewYork.com reported lines of up to 40 cars at some gas stations. The city had 250,000 tons of salt at the ready for the roads.
"This is a very serious storm, and we should treat it that way," said Tom Prendergast, president of the agency that runs New York subways and buses.
As residents scrambled to prepare in the event of a power outage, some gas stations in New York and New Jersey have already run out of gas. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned people to stay in and to use public transportation if they had to go out, although even that carried the possibility of disruptions.
That was the plan for Tom Dillon, 46, who has almost completed repairing the flood damage on his two-story home in Breezy Point, a coastal enclave in the city that was hard hit by Sandy.
Dillon got his son out of school and stocked up on wood, kindling and blankets, plus bought five gallons of gas for his generator. He has also pulled out the snow shovels and has a kerosene heater at the ready.
John Makely/NBC News
Tom Dillon makes coffee in his flood-damaged home in Breezy Point, N.Y., on Nov. 18, 2012.
"We ain’t taking no chances this time. … I got everything ready," he chuckled. "I want to get the generator on and I want to make sure everything's rocking and rolling. That's what I’m doing today, making sure everything's ready for this storm."
He is concerned about coastal flooding posing one more worry for the community, where extreme high tides were typical in Nor'easters, he said. In the first weeks after Sandy, residents in the low-lying area were constantly pumping out their basements.
"Every time we have coastal flooding, it's just a nightmare in this area because we're so low that … your basements get flooded again,” he said. "Anybody who has a basement’s going to get flooded, and you know, they’ll be pumping out again."
Despite all of his preparations and laughing about the incoming storm, Dillon sounded an exasperated note.
"I am wondering if Mother Nature is just mad at us or something," he said, before going to help a neighbor insulate his pipes to help protect against freezing. "Twelve to 18 inches of snow, oh, I don't know if I'm ready for this, really I'm not."
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Good luck to them
Say hello to climate change, little humans. You deserve every storm of it. I can't wait for the global population to reduce to a sustainable number. If it's any consolation, the culling favors the worst prepared.
My apologizes jw101.
I wouldn't say "deserve" it. Most people were ignorant of global warming until the past few years. And now its too late. I agree that at this time, Mother Nature appears to have begun to eat up the coastal areas. Even though right now it's through storm after storm, eventually the water that intrudes on to the beaches will not recede at all.
Oh for God's sake. In NY the stuff melts in a day.
Don't worry, FEMA's coming.
Actually, they are not, thanks to Republican knuckle dragging on aid assistance. Sandy Victims should have been taken care of months ago. But that's OK, cause I know lots of registered Republicans in NY and CT who won't be voting R again come 2014.
Just looked at online weather cams. All I saw in NYC was rain
Good Lord what a country of wimps. Oh you poor baby did it snow cause of naughty oil? I watched something about that on AL Gores oops I meant Big OIL cable network.
AB and journaljournal= douchebags of the highest order! You two are as stupid as the idea of global warming.
MSNBC - will you please ban wilsonarden888 and his/her advertisements on all blogs?
Not sure why anyone would want to continue living at sea level. The mountains are much, much better.
No kidding, if it's such a nightmare, then move! The weather's not going anywhere.
Same thing was said when the hurricanes blasted Florida a few years ago... and Katrina, Rita and Ike.... and those up north were laughing... deriding and insulting...... "that's what happens when you live at sea level" or my favorite heard repeatedly... "God is punishing" those states.... for their political standings.......could it be that the same can be said now?
And don't forget.... they need to rush down to get their Fema Credit cards......
But seriously... pray for them... at least we didn't have freezing temps and a bankrupt infrastructure to get things rolling again..... and hope the Feds finally respond the way they SHOULD HAVE in Katrina, Ivan and Ike... and of course Sandy.......... we need to get rid of the red tape............
When the media was bashing Bush for the slow response for Katrina even while Katrina was still OVER New Orleans where is the blooming media for a storm that happened over 3 months ago and these people STILL are looking to get electricity and heat?!?!
Are you serious!!
I am all for "equal bashing". The federal government "missed the boat" during the Katrina incident and since Bush was in office it is reasonable to be critical but WHERE IN THE HELL IS THE MEDIA NOW!!
Pro... they are currently kissing or up his a$$.......or bowing down and reveling in his amazing talents......
Paul: I know. I know.
But at least in the past the media tried to HIDE their bias. Now Obama tells NBC News "thanks for all your help in getting me reelected" and Chris Matthews gets a "thrill up his leg" every time he thinks about Obama.
I don't mind two differing opinions by liberals and conservatives but it is like trying to play an opposing team in basketball and the referees are setting "picks" and calling fouls on players not even on the floor.
When the media will not tell the public what is going on and pushes an agenda that matches the president how are the unintelligent and uninformed liberal voters supposed to know any different?
Pro,That's exactly the way certain people in this country want it to be.I would be willing to bet that right now some media source is working overtime to figure out a way to blame the aftermath of this storm on the other guys.
ProBusiness - the difference is that the northeast is full of donor states. We don't get handouts. We don't get aid. We give handouts and aid. It takes a frankenstorm of the century to cripple us.
I wouldn't blame President Obama - (it's called respect - I try to call the President of the United States his correct title because it's the right thing to do) - because Governor Christie said that President Obama was very helpful. I blame the Congress and Senate. I blame the partisanship. I blame the welfare states who keep on taking. I blame the tax code in DC that transfers the wealth of the donor states to those lazy states instead of making the lazy states work for it. If NY or NJ had been allowed to keep our tax revenues, we wouldn't have had to ask for our money when the emergency hit us. Instead, we waited, while congress and senate got to fool around and add pork to the bills and then deny us our aid in our time of need. 60+ days. That's all I can think of. They couldn't even bother to think that people and businesses need to know IF we were ever going to actually get any aid. (Christie submitted the damage estimates - they were approved for and accounted for. That's all NJ asked for. So I don't know which senator/congresss person's bright idea it was to add pork to the bill. It wasn't the elected representatives from our states.)
BTW - I don't expect any aid for the snow storm. That's just because people from the northeast know how to handle these types of storms without begging for handouts like the hurricane states below or the midwest states and their constant flooding issues. We get gas, we get ice melt, we break out the shovels, we call up our snow guys, we fill our gas tanks, we stock up on supplies, we weatherproof and do everything we need to do to handle a snowstorm. (You would think after the 2nd or 3rd hurricane/flooding, people, towns, cities, states would have designed infrastructure to combat the problem instead of constantly being surprised at the damage and then asking for FEMA.)
I live in Montana. We've had 10 consecutive record setting summers. Its a tinder box out here waiting to go up in flames. Global climate change will affect everyone, not just those at sea level.
Yes dry weather never happened before naughty oil. Wait I thought it caused more water to evaporate and cause more rain? Wait rain and drought are caused by oil? What about volcano's do they spew out carbon? I just don't know I think I will tune into Al Gores oops I meant the big oil cable network and see if they can not brainwash my chicken little brain
JH-2945581 : Yea, another superior Yankee dissing FL & the Mid west???
"That's just because people from the northeast know how to handle these types of storms without begging for handouts like the hurricane states below or the midwest states and their constant flooding issues."
Ever look at the population dynamics of FL (largest dynamic NY,NJ)?? How many from NY & NJ??? Where are they streaming to for retirement?? NC.SC. AZ, FL etc.
I've seen every hurricane from Donna on (Cracker 8% of FL's pop.). FEMA assistance needed = 0 . Do you have a auxiliary power system?? I do, it's solar. Food reserves?? weeks worth.
So why do you have this urge to insult your compatriots that moved south ???
We could start using monolithic architecture (encouraged by FEMA) , make a national irrigation system, harden the power & internet backbones. But that would mean hiring millions of Americans . And ending our current wars.
Lived in upstate NY for over 20yrs and seen my fair share of storms and snow, you deal with the weather. All this media hype over a snow storm is ridiculous -- but then it beats reporting the what is really going on in the country along with the lack of leadership -- but then again this is NBC.
#3
Upstate NY doesn't have a major metropolis of business and industry.... or a clustered polulation.
If you are so concerned about what is going on in this country, switch your internet viewing off the Vine.
Welcome to planet Earth... The weather does what it damn well pleases and you've got to roll with the punches.
At least we're not going through "The Little Ice Age" at the moment...
I went through a killer flash flood years ago and learning from my experience, I moved far away from the creek. You better believe I pay attention to Mother Nature. You never know when something might happen, but I cant imagine rebuilding on the same floodplain and worrying about it over and over. I guess if they get hit hard enough, they will move, like what happened to me. I dont mean to sound so insensitive, but I do have the voice of experience (unfortunately).
Idiots like Bloomberg and the insurance companies are a bunch of crooks and hypocrits. The insurance companies want you to pay your premiums but when it comes to these morons paying out for damages to your home, they drag their feet and when they finally come up with the money it is always less than you paid these idiots for the insurance. There needs to be laws passed to insure they pay up to replace your losses!
They all need to be sued for the way they are treating the people on the East Coast who have lost their homes and all of their belongings. This country is a waste of a bunch of stupid politicians who do not do their jobs and other crooks who keep ripping the taxpayers off. The morons pay out millions to other countries who have disasters but they do not take care of the citizens of this country.
How much did they deal out for Hati and other countrys? How fast have they come up with the proper relief for the victims of Sandy? Nada, nothing, zilch. These are the elected officiials who are supposed to be doing the job we sent them there to do and get a high salary at that! Obozo is a moron and he keeps spending like and idiots and wants to rax taxes some more. He is not only an arrogant imbecile he is stupid! He should be kicked out on the street along with his liberal idiots who support him.
He was given another 4 years by the illegals, the unions, the lobbyists, the crooks and all of the socialist billionaires who along with him have all of their money in offshore accounts.
When are you going to demand that these morons get jobs so people can get back to work and have some pride and a roof over their heads! This country is going downs the tubes because there are too many who got the moron re-elected so they can get some more welfare and handouts.
How about taking care of the people of Sandy who need homes? Bloomberg, Feinstein and other morons are worried about guns but they should be worried about taking care of our homeless.
Dude - blame the senators and representatives from states other than the ones that got hit. NY/NJ/CT - we all just wanted the money that we deserved. It was the bozos from the other states who decided to add pork and fool around while we, the donor states, tried to get on with our lives. I guess the other states couldn't figure out where to get the money when it's the donor states that want some fo their money back.
Christie approved of President Obama in his handling of Hurricane Sandy. A republican governor who just wants to do the job he was elected to do, a straight talker, said this. Maybe republicans need to stop this knee-jerk reaction to blaming everything on President Obama. (I thought that how people treated former President Bush for his handling of Hurricane Katrina was crappy as well. I though President Bush did what he had to do and did a decent job as well.)
Also - Congress and Senate set the tax rate. The President has no say in the matter. If he vetos it, the Senate and Congress can override him. Read your constitution. I would rather be a Senator than the President. The Senator (especially if elected for more than one term) is probably more powerful than the President. Especially if he's on the ways and means committee.
And no - I don't subscribe to the popular belief that being the President grants some supernatural magical woowoo powers. President Obama is just a human being. He didn't cause the storm. He didn't cause the recession. (The recession was created by a bunch of greedy white male criminal ceos in the banking and finance industries. No illegals or minorities were involved except if they were victims of the white male criminal ceos.)
Also - white population gets more welfare as a whole number than the minorities. if we knocked out all whites who got federal aid, we wouldn't have to pay as much taxes. Welfare, medicaid - it looks white. After all 10% of 10 million (random number to represent the white population of the US) will always be larger than 10% of 3 million (random number to represent the minority population of the US). But - if you can answer this one question I would appreciate it. With Jim Crow, KKK, institutional racism, why are there still any poor whites. It's like being born with a silver spoon and still failing and being broke ass poor.
Bloomburg blizzard survival tips:
1) Avoid large sodas, french fries and fried chicken.
2) Don't attempt to move from where you are stuck, it makes it more difficult for us to not do anything.
3) Keep supporting me, we could get another $50 billion taxpayer dollars out of this.
JH-.........: You almost got your wish about infrastructure.
It was proposed in Congress, a couple years ago, to reinstitute a new version of the Conservation Corps. Here's the old one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps
It was suggested that the un-employed would rebuild our sagging infrastructure. Or not get a un-employment or welfare check.
Guess which party called the proposal insulting?? Clue, I belong to it , but don't agree with them from time to time.
I also do not get why you bring up race in a argument?? Oh, I'm sorry, all that are PC (politically correct) know ONLY whites can be racists. Never mind...........
Well this really proves global warming!
Multiple severe storms that are otherwise statistically unlikely absolutely do strengthen the case for climate change. We're on a highly foolish course and deserve the hell that's coming.
Climate change.
Warmer winters mean more snow.
I realise that might be confusing to a stupid person but with every 1C rise in temperature the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture.
The Atlantic off the eastern coast is also 1C warmer than normal which means more evaporation and more energy entering the systems. The Arctic has lost 70% of it's ice volume in 25 years which has led to the jet stream meandering further south. Can anyone explain to me how losing 70% of the ice could possibly NOT affect the regional climate?
There has been a measurable increase in 'one-day extreme precipitation events' - which is a cute way of saying 'snowstorms' - in the north east since the 30's. Not models or estimates - simple measurements.
Welcome to climate change - you're going to see a lot more storms like this one.
You gotta love the climate change guys. If its a bit warmer, its global warming. If its a lot colder, its global warming. You don't believe that, well, you are a neanderthal in denial of unprovable science since no controlled experiment can be run that retroactively eliminates human involvement from recorded temperatures. But thanks to our moral and intellectual superiority, we know whats best for you. A rectal thermometer free for all of you.
It sure does Liberals are so damn stupid they believe anything. No crap they say snow is a result of oil as is rain and droughts. Just look at Al gore He sold a cable Network to what amounts to Big Oil. Now he has 100 million more to gas up his private plane and yacht with. This country is toast.
My prayers are still with you!
That's what we need. More "God" in our life. He's going to save us, isn't he? To hell with reason and a scientific understanding of climate.
Ab you idiot, weather gets hot then cold then rainy then dry oh my so much to ponder in a socialist freak lab coat. I like to watch Al Gores oops I meant BIG OIL network to learn what I'm suppose to believe.
MOVE
Stupid people live in flood zones,look at how stupid Americans are,,lmao
I love to see snow,,from far away,,
Sounds like Tim Dutton knows how to prepare for a storm.
dON!T WORRY !GO SKING AN SAVE MONEY
If you live in an area at or below sea level on the east coast, be prepared for hurricane's, nor'esters and if not it is time to move. I have lived on the east coast all my life (grew up on an island) and I remember flooding that didn't allow us to leave the island and snow storms that kept us house bound for 3+ days at a time. I guess we got cold when then power went out (don't remember) we all survived and I don't remember fear, we had each other. We always had peanut butter, crackers, and fruit to see us through the hunger and each other to see us through the power outages. We lost part of the roof during one of the storms, we repaired it and moved on. My parents did not expect the government to fix their roof or provide for their family. They repaired as they could, at their expense and we made do. Do I feel like we were deprived or the government should step in to repair damaged homes, sorry I don't. I'm glad Red Cross is there to provide meals when necessary but it is our responsibility to take take care of ourselves and our families. Boy, am I going to get slammed for this. Oh well, IMO. I still live on the east coast and if my home is damaged by storm, flood, whatever that my insurance doesn't cover, I will again make due until I can repair the damage or move to another area (at my expense). It is my responsibility to take care of myself to the best of my ability, not to depend on the government to bail me out because I am too lazy or unresponsible enough to protect myself.
I totally agree. Your parents were wise enough to be prepared. The lack of preparedness is mind boggling to me. You don't buy gas the day of the storm or the day after. You fill up your gas tank at the first warning of bad weather. Always keep extra water and canned goods. I have lived thru many bad storms and didn't cry because 'no one brought me water for three days' as every household should have a couple of cases of water at the ready always. Batteries, flashlights, small propane stoves, etc. This is not the last storm the northeast will get and the next ones won't be years away. If you don't believe in global warming then stick your head back in the sand or put it up the hole you usually keep it.
except this "repeat"--is not a hurricane.just snow
It was described as a hurricane and a blizzard in one. We haven't seen anything yet. Read my post about predictions made about this years ago.
This is exactly the models come true of the research done by climate change scientists. Everyone is aware of that, right?
I was watching Al Gores oops I mean the big oil network, it said good for you idiot liberals maybe Daddy Obama will pass out more free money fresh off the debt printing press.
The GNOP did a FINE job of ensuring that NY will NEVER become a Republitard state.
NEW YORK — As millions of Americans braced for a winter storm bearing down on the Northeast on Friday, people still recovering from Hurricane Sandy stood in line at gas stations to buy fuel and stocked up on wood for the fireplace. It was, one man lamented, "like a nightmare of Sandy all over."
Three To Repeat:
1. A sentence.
2. A motion.
3. A scenario.
================
In the North to be safe and sound-
When Mother Nature visits
and unpleasant weather can be found.
What the h is this? Constructive comments only pls. Editor, GMS
I think it's time for New Yorkers to move inland. Climate changes have shown mother nature is fearce and trying to take over. I am so sorry you have to deal with this.
Rebuilding in low-lying areas and flood zones should not be allowed PERIOD. Flood insurance should not be available to people in these zones at any price. Most of Staten Island (and many parts of New Orleans) should not even be allowed to be rebuilt. How stupid can these New York morons be to want to live in homes where the basement floods in a high tide or storm? Honestly, the dumbing down of America is complete. Anyone insisting on living in a flood zone deserves every problem they get. And other taxpayers should not be forced to support your idiocy. All utilities to Staten Island should be eliminated, and all residents should be forced to vacate by the end of 2013. Let the island go back to nature. And NO compensation for anyone without proper insurance. End of story! Time for common sense.
I have never in my life been more ashamed to be an American than I am right now. These poor folks who are still suffering still trying to just get the basic's back. food , shelter just a normal life.
Right know the government should have already mobilized every tradesman they could get their hands on and there are plenty of them unemployeed and gone after these devastated neighblorhoods with a vengence. But what is our lame ass president doing getting ready to give another Liberal bull@!$%# speech. We don't need his BS to know the state of the union we all know what the state of the union is. IT SUCKS!
I know this country as we knew it is on it's way out with these Liberal jackasses in charge. Just watching the news and watching these totally corupt mindless idiots sqerming in their seats testifying or I should say lying threw their teeth at these Senate hearings is enough to make you throw up.
A more pasty faced bunch of jerks has never before been in control. But to let these folks continue to suffer for no reason. If we have a Billion dollars to give to Egypt dam it we have it to give to our own people.
I am going to say right here and now politically correct or not who gives a crap it is time for the second American Revolution to take back control of our government give it back to the people enough with these mealy mouthed bureacrats in Washington. It is shameful to not put every resource we have front and center to help our fellow Americans in their time of need.
And while we are on the subject of Americans in need while the fabulous Super Bowl is going on in New Orleans with millions upon millions of dollars being spent there are still vacant neighborhoods and people suffering a mile away from the Super Dome. Anybody see what is wrong with that picture? Where the hell is our priorties. Have we lost all our compasion and feeling for other people and their true need.
This country is in a sad state of affairs. The answers are very simple and easy to accomplish it is the dishonest heart that stands in the way.
Stop screwing around bring in the tradesman and craftsman by the bus load , start trucking the material in and fix this problem NOW!
Living in or around NY is already a nightmare to begin with. All the recent problems are just icing on the cake.
Global Warming! every freaking time it snows or rains. You people are idiots.
I agree. It's idiotic that people deny such an obvious fact as global warming and its effects on the weather and continue to refuse to do anything substantial to slow or stop it.
Like you said, people are idiots.