Katrina & Sandy

[lillygator]

Where are the trucks coming from the south?

Where are the volunteers?

where are you and why are you asking? can you help? you must not be without power.....

 

[beaucoup]

This thread is turning into a competition of you had / has it worse. North or south. Really not appropriate at this time. Save it for later.

Not seeing how some of these posts are helpful to anyone.

 

[beaucoup]

Oops. Didn't see someone else just posted the same. I got sick of reading and came to the end to post.

Glad I am not the only one feeling it.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

This thread is turning into a competition of you had / has it worse. North or south. Really not appropriate at this time. Save it for later.

Not seeing how some of these posts are helpful to anyone.

I think the people in northern VT, NY, NH, ME and Canada win that award for the ice storm in January of 1998 that wiped out power for weeks during one of the coldest months on the year!

 

[frannn]

Just got our power back in Nassau County, NY. We were lucky enough to only have a bunch of shingles come off our roof. Hoping to find someone to fix it soon, before storms come. Are we probably looking at a costly repair? Just signed with a new homeowners ins co (since State Farm dropped us due to area) and don't want to file a claim if its less than our deductible. The major problem in our area, Valley Stream, is the lack of gas. Some of the stations that have gas don't have power to pump it. There are tremendous lines of people waiting for the stations that have power to get their gas deliveries...if they get them... We're worried by the time they fill those cars, they'll be out of gas again. DH is NYPD, and will not have enough gas to get to work Mon if he can't find a station that has it.

 

[WeCantWait]

Well I would like to thank the kind men from the power company in West Virginia who gave us power on Long Island yesterday. It had been a long 5 days and it was getting cold. Seeing them was like a small slice of heaven. They worked all day and were cheered by all when our homes powered up. Very thankful.

 

[Robbi]

Just got our power back in Nassau County, NY. We were lucky enough to only have a bunch of shingles come off our roof. Hoping to find someone to fix it soon, before storms come. Are we probably looking at a costly repair? Just signed with a new homeowners ins co (since State Farm dropped us due to area) and don't want to file a claim if its less than our deductible. The major problem in our area, Valley Stream, is the lack of gas. Some of the stations that have gas don't have power to pump it. There are tremendous lines of people waiting for the stations that have power to get their gas deliveries...if they get them... We're worried by the time they fill those cars, they'll be out of gas again. DH is NYPD, and will not have enough gas to get to work Mon if he can't find a station that has it.

To replace a bunch of shingles should not be costly. Please, even if you have to get a blue tarp for your roof while you wait, go with a reputable company. You can be sure that the maggot bottom dwelling crooks are in all of these areas waiting to rip off people. My ex SIL was ripped off to the tune of $150000 for home repairs and the shoddy work forced her to sell her home because she could not afford to have the work redone. They crook who "fixed" it is long gone so she has no recourse to sue. Desperate people are prime for those creeps who take advantage.
Ugh, insurance- get ready for your rates to rise. After Gustav, an area we call "down the bayou" had damage. Those people's monthly insurance bills are now as high as their mortgage payments. No insurance company would cover the area anymore so they were forced to go through Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation a company run by the state. Ours is not that high and I'm hoping no Dis member's will go crazy high either.

Well I would like to thank the kind men from the power company in West Virginia who gave us power on Long Island yesterday. It had been a long 5 days and it was getting cold. Seeing them was like a small slice of heaven. They worked all day and were cheered by all when our homes powered up. Very thankful.

YAY!!! So happy that you have electricity again.

 

[Deb & Bill]

And if you have rising water, you have to have flood insurance. We've been flooded twice and now are no longer a standard claim of about $300 a year. We now pay about $1700 a year. You really need flood insurance for rising water. Without it, you have to rely on FEMA loans to get your homes back into shape. Getting those loans can take a long time.

But what is so surprising to me is that the States of New York and New Jersey didn't have hurricane evacuation plans like we have in Louisiana. Katrina was seven years ago and we've been hit three or four more times since then. We've learned about evacuation, evacuating hospitals, setting up shelters out of the hurricane area and having people ready to manage the shelters. You can't always rely on volunteers. We learned that with Katrina. After two/three weeks in shelters a lot of the evacuees wanted more and took it out on the volunteers.

And even more surprising that people didn't plan for being without for a long period of time. You just can't wait for someone to show up with food, medicine, water, etc.

Hang in there, Northern neighbors. It may take time, but it will get better.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Well, the unions are now harassing the non-union utility workers! You guys up north need to let the unions know that your are not happy with their behavior. These people came to help not get harassed!

 

[portocall]

Being without electricity for an extended period is frustrating, period. I wish I could say that we behaved better a few months ago during our week without to the hardworking linemen but we didn't. It was quite embarrassing actually. It will get better, it just takes time.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

But what is so surprising to me is that the States of New York and New Jersey didn't have hurricane evacuation plans like we have in Louisiana. Katrina was seven years ago and we've been hit three or four more times since then. We've learned about evacuation, evacuating hospitals, setting up shelters out of the hurricane area and having people ready to manage the shelters. You can't always rely on volunteers. We learned that with Katrina. After two/three weeks in shelters a lot of the evacuees wanted more and took it out on the volunteers.

The City of New York has evacuation zones and plans, and has had them since at least 2005. Many people who were under mandatory evacuation order chose not to leave. The City had 76 shelters open during the storm; they've consolidated some of them at this point, but shelters are still available for people who need them. They are opening up "warming shelters" for people who still do not yet have heat restored, just like they open "cooling shelters" during heat waves in the summer for people without air conditioning.

The hospital evacuations, as I understand it, were due to the failure of the backup generators.

 

[WeCantWait]

Well, the unions are now harassing the non-union utility workers! You guys up north need to let the unions know that your are not happy with their behavior. These people came to help not get harassed!

Do you know where exactly this is happening? It makes me sick. I would gladly go to the location and tell the unions how I feel. I have never been a fan of union thugs.

 

[mrFDNY]

Hi gang,
There is no non union vs union going on here in nyc that i am aware of. Possible in other states. Con ed is with other compnys teamed up into strike forces because the others don't know the lay of the land. How is everyone doing? I hope you are doing well.
Fema is here and so is the red cross, it might seem like they took a while but when i went thru the FDNY acadmey we were trained that it was a minamal 3-5 days before they would get here.

I'm sorry to say we took a beaten here, i live in Brooklyn and work in Brooklyn as well. Up until wednesday i was not sure if my dad was even alive. He was last in lower manhattan and that area was under 10 feet or more of water. I felt helpless that i could'nt do anything to try to find him, but put a be on the look out at a manhattan Station.He was able to get in touch with me and although got soaked is fine and was able to get home this morning, thank god. My family is safe and that is all that matters to me. Sadly not he case with some of my co-workers in the FDNY as alot of them lost everything and continue to go to work.I'm pround of my men and women. We had 100+ houses on fire at once and i watched some of my co-workers swim in chest high flood waters with fire houses in thier hands to put out the fires. FDNY, EMS,NYPD is putting out 150% here.

In some places houses got washed out to sea, just like that. For the last 14 years with the FDNY, i has responded to every disaster this city has called me for even 9/11. Sandy is the worst i have ever seen. We lost Multible FDNY Stations/Fire house and some remain under 10 feet of water, as well as First responder equipment and some trucks. The line for Gas streches 3 blocks or more.A lot of areas have no power and houses remain buried in water. I'm sorry to say the death count will go up.

Most areas flooded were in zone B and told to stay put. Zone A areas should have left i agree, but that does them no good today most are dead or missing or lost everything. I habdled a 911 call in zone A ,after the storm. First time my whole crew and my captain left in tears including myself. Its sad out there. However whole communitys are comming together and thats what i love about people, they cruse, beep thier horns, rant and rave but when we as a people really are needed we step up. I've seen this in every city in our country over years and its happening here too.

I keep getting asked what we need, WE NEED GAS and battries. Generators, we dont want them for free and are willing to buy them but you cant find any of this stuff any where. We need childrens clothes, diapers, formula.Gloves, hats, coats etc. A lot of people stocked up on water, but i suspect that supply is running low and soon water will be needed too. I have no clue where to send this stuff, as the one place i know of its overstocked now.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I will do the best i can to answer them.
Also if your missing a love one in Brooklyn, send me a PM of a address and i will do my best to get to thier house and check on them. Again no guarntee, i'm working long hours and brooklyn is a big place. I will do my best to track them down for you. If you feel like you want to help and dont know what to do, Pray for us that will be enough. Remember i am no hero, sadly we bury our heros here.
Mr. FDNY

 

[CPT Tripss]

Well, the unions are now harassing the non-union utility workers! You guys up north need to let the unions know that your are not happy with their behavior. These people came to help not get harassed!

Oh, cut it out. This is just some unsubstantiated BS.

Do you know where exactly this is happening? It makes me sick. I would gladly go to the location and tell the unions how I feel. I have never been a fan of union thugs.

Don't worry. You can stay home. It isn't happening.

 

[Kaspar Houser]

Wednesday I saw a major plan for protecting NY.
It was a huge and very expensive plan but obviously the city of NY was already working on this.

The Dutch firm that has develop this plan is very experienced in this matter. Our whole country lies below sea level and we know how to protect ourselves.

Hugs to those that have to live in this nightmare.

 

[kacaju]

Well, the unions are now harassing the non-union utility workers! You guys up north need to let the unions know that your are not happy with their behavior. These people came to help not get harassed!

No they are not!! My DH works at one of the utilities here in NJ and I asked him. He said it is NOT TRUE

 

[Deb & Bill]

What I heard from the Decatur, AL crews that went to help was when they got to VA, the IBEW went to the staging point and passed out union forms that they needed to sign to work in NJ. Since they were unfamiliar with the IBEW and their forms and didn't care to "join" any union, they waited until they got other information or some returned to AL.

 

[kacaju]

What I heard from the Decatur, AL crews that went to help was when they got to VA, the IBEW went to the staging point and passed out union forms that they needed to sign to work in NJ. Since they were unfamiliar with the IBEW and their forms and didn't care to "join" any union, they waited until they got other information or some returned to AL.

If you read gottaluvpluto's posts...this is not what SHE is saying...She is saying the crews are being harassed...told they suck and told to go home

 

[Scurvy]

What I heard from the Decatur, AL crews that went to help was when they got to VA, the IBEW went to the staging point and passed out union forms that they needed to sign to work in NJ. Since they were unfamiliar with the IBEW and their forms and didn't care to "join" any union, they waited until they got other information or some returned to AL.

That is what our local news was reporting as well. They even showed the contract - it was 35 pages long and looked fairly complicated. Obviously the official position is that non union folks are welcome and appreciated. But somewhere along the way some of the people from Alabama got the impression that wasn't the case, and there was no reason for them to make it up. Someone somewhere was giving out bad information.

As for the union folks harassing the non union people who are there to help, I don't know that anyone can say for sure that it isn't happening. Obviously people know whether it is happening where they are, but they can't speak for anyplace else. Just because people are civil and not harassing anyone where you are doesn't mean that it isn't going on a few miles down the road where different people are working. That said, I really hope it's just a rumor and isn't true.

 

[kacaju]

And even more surprising that people didn't plan for being without for a long period of time. You just can't wait for someone to show up with food, medicine, water, etc.

But, if you have NEVER lived through not having power for a week...how do you know how to plan? I will be honest..I am 45 years old..I have NEVER had to live a week in my house with no power.

my grill got blown over in the storm..I *planned* on using that to cook if the power went out..but it is not working now.

My DH works for a utility compnay here in NJ. He has had the pleasure of going to work all day and coming home to a cold dark house to sleep...and get up again the next day and do the same. He has worked Yesterday and will again all day today. He has no time to look at the grill.

In the mean time....I have learned..I still have hot water with no power...GREAT I got to take hot showers..I also learned I can still use my electric start gas stove...but using a match to start it. I didn't know that. After reading here, I was prepared for no use of my stove or hot water.

I also had no trouble flushing my toilets so I didn't have to fill the bathtub like people said to do here (I also have a pool in the yard..so my plan was to use that water)

I had batteries, flashlights, lanterns and a battery radio.. things I heard here

Lessons I learned is I should have a few more batteries..I still have about 8-10 D batteries..but if I was out longer I would need more.
I learned I could still cook so that opens a lot more ideas if we are faced with this again.

I even am asking my girls to make a list of the food they want in case we lose power again. We had run out of instant oatmeal...never dawned on me to keep that in stock in case of no power. Our power came on yesterday...6 days with no power.

I will be more prepared next time...because NOW I know what I need to do.

My other surprise...the lack of gas...NEVER/EVER other then in the 70's have I ever seen a line for gas like I just have this past week. I did gas the cars up so I am OK...but honestly...It really didn't cross my mind that we would REALLY be hurting for gas like this.