Hurricane Sandy

[Silur 3,309]

Sometimes You will can have a REAL PROBLEMS ... not only with a some frozen bricks ...

  Edited October 30, 2012 by Silur  

[Meg 368]

Yes, I realize I do not have real problems here. NYC has real problems among other places.

[Linoa06 1,374]

Being from the South and Louisiana specifically I've dealt with quite a few hurricanes, but I really think most of the people in those areas are over-dramatizing this hurricane. I mean no offense of course, but it doesn't seem like it'll be that big of a deal. Ya'll be okay.

Storms come and go, seriously, ya'll will be alright.

Does that qualify as "allright"? Imagine the quantity of water you need to fill that up.

[Meg 368]

Being from the South and Louisiana specifically I've dealt with quite a few hurricanes, but I really think most of the people in those areas are over-dramatizing this hurricane. I mean no offense of course, but it doesn't seem like it'll be that big of a deal. Ya'll be okay.

Storms come and go, seriously, ya'll will be alright.

Does that qualify as "allright"? Imagine the quantity of water you need to fill that up.

Just to clarify for those who don't realize it -- that is the entrance to a subway station. The station, and the tunnels, are full of water.

Most New Yorkers use the subway to get from point A to point B. Even if their workplace had power, how would they get there?

[Duke87 1,070]

Half of Manhattan is still without power and may continue to be so for the next couple days. This is a picture I took on Lafayette Street a couple hours ago:

Traffic, interestingly, is moving far better than it does normally. Guess most people just aren't venturing out and about.

Meanwhile, parts of the subway system are absolutely wrecked and may be out of service for quite some time. Some of the electrical infrastructure, once spending at least a matter of days submerged under salt water, will likely have to be entirely ripped out and replaced before the tunnels can be used again.

Here is a video from the MTA showing the subway station at South Ferry:

Note that what you are seeing starting at about 0:43 is the mezzanine level. The tracks and platform for the 1 train are downstairs and completely underwater.

  Edited October 31, 2012 by Duke87  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Any looters out there?

[Duke87 1,070]

Didn't see any, but I have heard rumors. A LOT of cops and emergency vehicles around, though, so it'd be tough to get away with.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I think that we have been very lucky. If it had been earlier in the year when things are warmer, the damage and loss of life may have been much worse. If this had come in as a higher category storm with higher winds it could have been horrible.

NBC news is reporting that the USN has sent in three helicopter carriers (the headline said aircraft carriers, good grief!) to support the EMO efforts and provide landing stations.

Consider it a fair warning. Storms are gong to be more violent as the earth warms up. On the west coast we have also had a test of our EMO systems (earthquakes) and the Canadian one was found to be very late out the gate. Apparently the centre is not manned 24/7. Don't believe in overnight emergencies?

[Duke87 1,070]

Footage I shot last night, driving into a dark Manhattan:

[Easy Bakes 253]

A voice to go with Duke

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Hydro Worker Killed in Sarnia.

Repair crews are in some serious danger. Apparently working on a live system.

[lew1984 231]

Living in a quiet part of the world (Swindon,UK) I can only imagine the disruption this hurracane has brought must have been frightening... Best wishes to everyone in NYC :-).

[hym 358]

Some of the electrical infrastructure, once spending at least a matter of days submerged under salt water, will likely have to be entirely ripped out and replaced before the tunnels can be used again.

Without having the opportunity to see the gear that has been damaged or knowing what that gear controls or services, it's difficult to speculate on the usability of the electrical gear. Some gear, once it gets wet, is ruined forever. Other electrical gear, however, can be cleaned up, dried out, and returned to service with minimal downtime or risk to the public. Then there are those times were you get faced with the ugly reality that you can return the gear to service quickly and get public services up and running again in a brief time frame, but you sacrifice something that you normally wouldn't want to sacrifice.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

One would expect that electrical systems subject to salt-water damage would have preventative measures taken. While immersion is not necessarily a factor, it can be anticipated and steps taken to minimize any such damage. Currently the media is reporting that lower Manhattan remains dark, but progress is being made.

[Alejandro24 575]

East Atlantic of US (well, all US) seems to be too fragil, contrary to the appearances.

Best wishes.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The problem with the U.S. eastern cities is that they are a people heap like an anthill. Ever stir up a big ant colony? Lots of running around to little effect.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

A report from the Associated Press posted by CBC.

As usual, the east coast people are members of the 'I want it now' generation, even in the face of disaster.

What if this had been a Category 5 storm? Chances are the blasé souls who decided to tough it out would have been mostly deceased at this time.

From the way they are acting in some cases, tempers are getting pretty hot. The story mentions some guy who pulled a gun in an argument at a gas station.

I am sure the EMO and recovery people are doing all they can. Obama was pretty specific about getting to work and cutting out all the red tape. Even though he's at the end of his current term, I would take that as an order from the Commander in Chief if I were doing anything towards healing this gaping wound in America. We've sent a lot of power workers from all around the area to help, and I hope we can assist in getting America going again. I wonder if there was any problem for our guys getting across the border?

[Duke87 1,070]

There are three contributions to the fuel problem:

1) the storm interrupted supply to the region both by pipeline and by sea

2) many gas stations lost power and are unable to serve customers

3) home backup generators have become a lot more common, creating extra demand whenever there are large scale power outages

I read an article (didn't save the link) which said that since 1999, the percentage of American homes that have a backup generator has quadrupled (1999: 3%, 2012: 12%). Used to be that when the power went out, you lit candles and waited it out. But generators, formerly a luxury, are now more common. Helping drive this is the situation with telephones. Used to be that the phones in your house all worked when the power went out. But cordless phones don't work without power, and neither does phone service provided by the cable company rather than the telephone company. Both are now commonplace whereas 15 years ago they were unheard of. Similarly, cellphones (especially smartphones) need to be charged every couple days, and some people (*raises hand*) do not even have a landline in the house anymore (another unfathomable idea 15 years ago). A loss of power today, for many people, also means a loss of communication with the outside world.

I've also heard it claimed that utility companies these days are, for various reasons, not as vigilant about pruning trees around power lines as they used to be, which results in more people losing power whenever there's a storm (and, by extension, that it takes longer to get everyone back up and running).

Anecdotally, growing up the first time we ever lost power at my parents' place for more than a few hours was during the big blackout in '03, and even that was just overnight. Then in September of 2006 there was a storm which knocked out my parents' power for about 36 hours. Then a storm in March of 2010 knocked it out for over two days. Then Irene (2011) knocked it out for six days. Then a freak October snowstorm (also 2011) knocked it out for three days. And now Sandy has knocked it out for five days and counting. Given this sort of trend, is it any wonder that more people are buying generators?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Now I remember why I have a landline to the Phone Company. Even my very fancy hands free, large button, amplified phone worked with the handset. Damned expensive, but the backup is worth it.

[Msprintz 25]

After this storm a growing population of Long Islanders have invested in generators, and for good reason due to the extended outages. Thanks to the good crews of Otter Tail Power Company. we finally received power here after losing it on Monday the 29th at 6:30 pm. It was the immediate few days after the storm that were unbearable before we got a generator and before cell phone links were repaired enough to actually be useful. Of course that pales to those along the immediate coast line who lost property and vehicles or in some cases have sewage in their basement.