Hurricane Sandy

[Tanishq]

My NY friend is good and safe. Just got message from best friend. :) *relieved*

 

[Icon Nikon]

Hi all,

I have been in a hospital in Philadelphia for 14 months, but my house is further south but still in Pa.

The shores from Delaware to NY took the brunt of a direct impact. Entire cities, like Atlantic City can not even be reached by rescue crews. These cities where a full moon, high tides, and the hurricane storm surge covered these entire towns with sand which in some places reaches 12 feet high. The barriers were breached and the bridges and roadways crumbled or collapsed. The beach that existed us either inland or washed out to sea and to the south.

The inland areas, including where my house is, received record sustained winds (excess of 80mph), record rainfall in 24 hours (excess of 10 inches), record transformers blew as trees toppled because the just could not hold up against the soggy ground and force of the winds.

My house has major damage from water, wind, and tree damage, but my furry boys made out ok thanks to my neighbors. Had to scramble today from the hospital to get the county to temporarily address my damage until a contractor can be reached and hired to do the repairs (and somehow find a way to file all the insurance claims from here).

A major section of lower Manhattan that suffered dearly on 9/11 was once and destroyed by a massive fire sparked by a nearby power station surge as high power line came down. All the major tunnels in and out of NYC flooded and sump pumps failed. The mass transit systems from NYC to Washington, DC were decimated as debris covered the tracks, underground lines were flooded, communication and power lines fell, and train cars were tossed about like toy trucks.

There are still a record number of outages across the northeast region, including my home. And all estimates put power restoration at around 10 days. And cleanup/rebuilding into the decades. If you are thinking Katrina but without the poverty and racial issues, you are not far off. And as for pictured being faked, that would only make things appear to be better than they are. And now efforts are being hampered in some areas as the cold air wraps around dropping temperatures to the freezing point and dumping snow in regions not accustomed to it coming this early.

The saving grace in all of this is that most people heeded the evacuations, thus only 39 deaths, as of now, are being attributed to the storm in all states affected. Of course, those regions still not accessible to responders (mainly in NJ) they just do not know as they have no communication with them.

So though you may not be able to reach loved ones, most can be presumed safe but without power, even in worst hit NJ. Be patient! :) :) :)

Just thought you might like a realistic image from one who as lived in 5 of the affected states and worked in all as an electrical and controls systems engineer.

Hugs and Prayers to All,
Alex

 

[JustBe]

Thanks Alex!

I'm sorry about the damage to your house but so very happy that your neighbor took good care of your boys. How did you fare through the storm?

 

[Nicolette]

my furry boys made out ok thanks to my neighbors.

I am sorry for the damage to your house Alex but really glad to hear your boys are okay.

Hope the stress of rebuilding and repairing is not too much for you. :hug:

 

[Whitneys story]

So good to hear great news for so many. Loss of material things are devaststing and eventually replacable for the most part.

So happy to hear of no human loss! I always worry about pet's who get seperated from families as well. They really are defenseless to the elements.

Relief services were being sent from all over the US to the hardest hit areas. Am hoping distant cousins are just without power. Getting busy signal on the phone! Going with that for now.

 

[Icon Nikon]

Thanks MO and Nicolette!

I was not asking for empathy, just wanted to help out those who were worrying, as many gas stations are without power and many cell towers are being powered by generators. So transportation and communication infrastructures are going to be crippled for quite some time.

As for my house it is just one more thing, but I have not seen it for 14 months so perhaps I will like the new renovations? Perhaps the wind and water even destroyed my mountain of medical bills? I can hope, right? ;)

In all seriousness, I am coping with humor. I feel terrible for the shore towns and lower Manhattan and those still stranded. I am happy that the temperature in my region is not going to drop low enough to cause my pipes to rupture, unless my neighbors are trying to protect me from what I have no control over. :unsure:

Donate if you can! Many need the help!
Alex

 

[Tanishq]

Hey Alex! That's good to hear your boys and you're fine. Take care yourself. Man :hug:

 

[amethist]

My friend is fine

I saw too Nicolette. So glad she is OK, though the road close to her has gone.

Sorry to hear your home was damaged Alex, but glad your furry boys are safe.

 

[KP the nut]

Pupils from 3 Shropshire schools are stranded in New York. They were over as a cultural exchange. It will be one school trip they won't ever forget. They are all fine but unsure when they will get back to England. I don't envy the teachers having extra days to supervise bored teenagers.

I keep seeing images on TV, vast areas, where homes once stood, razed to the ground. Hopefully help will reach people soon.

 

[Tanishq]

My another friend is fine and he messaged me back on Facebook. :)

 

[Deleted member 12723]

My heart goes out to all of the survivors, I saw on the news people lining up to get water.

 

[CraftyCath]

This world is just getting crazy! So much happening with the weather.

In the UK we panic if we get a bit of snow.:rolleyes: Things like this make me thankful the UK doesn't get such weather often.

Hugs to all who are in those devastated areas and to those of you who know people over there.