A week after Hurricane Sandy blew through the Tri-State region, a powerful nor’easter saw its way through, bringing gusting winds, rain, snow and the threat of flooding.
Making it difficult for travelers, icy roads and falling trees stopped the Long Island Rail Road and knocked out power to people who had only recently gotten it back after superstorm Sandy.
As reported by the Associated Press:
Faced with the powerful nor’easter, some in the storm-ravaged Northeast just shrugged, dug in and stayed put.
Under ordinary circumstances, a storm of this sort wouldn’t be a big deal. But large swaths of the landscape were still an open wound, with the electrical system highly fragile and many of Sandy’s victims still mucking out their homes and cars and shivering in the deepening cold. As the storm picked up in intensity Wednesday evening, lights started flickering off again.
Mark L. Fendrick, of Staten Island, shared his frustration with others on Twitter Wednesday night, saying, “My son had just got his power back 2 days ago now along comes this nor’easter and it’s out again.”
However, meteorologists say that all is not lost: temperatures over the next couple of days will be in the 50s and on Sunday, it could edge into the 60s.
In New York and New Jersey, rain and 60 mph wind gusts Wednesday evening and overnight carried the potential to swamp homes again, topple trees wrenched loose by Sandy, and erase some of the hard-won progress made in restoring power to millions of customers.
But Mayor Michael Bloomberg assured New Yorkers that a mandatory evacuation was not needed as many people stayed behind, some because they feared looting, others because they figured whatever happens couldn’t be any worse than what they have gone through already.
Sandy killed more than 100 people in 10 states, with most of the victims in New York and New Jersey.
As for the gas shortage, the long lines continued at gas stations but were shorter than they were days ago.
New York and the rest of Tri-State may have been pummeled in the last two weeks, but the relief efforts have been more than generous, as many have been helping and offering donations to ravaged areas such as Staten Island and Breezy Point, Queens.
Check out some information below on how you can begin to help Staten Island rebuild.
– Have photos of your damage? Be sure to send them to local television stations and demand that we are forgotten no more.
– Staten Islanders were told to gather for free food and water from the city at 3 p.m. at two drop off points: Mill Road and New Dorp Ln., and at an empty lot at Yetman Ave. and Hylan Blvd. Please feel free to show up at any of these points with donations if possible.
– Staten Islanders in the Midland Beach, Ocean Breeze and other East Shore communities need your help. Still without power, and some with their homes damaged or in ruins, thousands are suffering in the cold without food, water or other essentials. They are asking for donations of: Clothing, blankets, food, towels, water, pet food and anyone willing to volunteer at the site is urged to report to Rab’s. Via: SILive
– Staten Island residents affected by the storm can begin to fill out their FEMA applications here.
–Find out additional information about food and water distribution sites throughout the city here.
SOURCE: AP
