FRANKENSTORM CHECK-IN THREAD

My Mom finally got power back today....maybe I can sleep tonight....

I have cheked the Long Island map, got the website of the Electric co. lipower.com/outage map. she lives in suffolk county. They are showing working crew on both side of Pirl, the one 50ml from her are promising power by Nov. 7th. I hope she is with her kids warm and fed, otherwise that is a long time to get power. They survived last years hurricane without power, but I think then it was not so cold. Praying for you and your family Pirl, I am feeling guilty her in a toasty house. Etelka

Found out my cousins are ok, but no further info on if they were here in NJ or down in FL or if their house survived
Haven't heard from my other cousin who lives in Levittown, Long Island

Found out our old house (my parents bought it in 1957)then we bought it when they retired and moved to GA in 1991, was flooded. We lived 4 blocks from the river and backed up to a lake, the brackish water of the river met the lake for the 1st time.
Hubby drove that road today and everyone's water logged furniture is on the curb
1 main highway about 20mins north of here EVERY telephone pole is down
CRAZY and then the gas rationing started today(not in my county though, no lines or wait around here, thank God)

Passed a convoy of utility trucks from MO and IA going north

hope everyone gets relief soon!

Some stores opened up in town

Lou you did not rattle on, your words made us all feel special and it's good to know our extended DG family has our back. ^_^

Wish Louise & Pirl would check in. I know someone has heard from pirl but i'd like to see a post from her with my own eyes. :)
I'm getting worried about Louise & Hank...may have to take a road trip this week if she doesn't check in soon!!!

Hear you loud and clear. Have we heard from Patti?

Thinking of everyone.

Nope, not Patti either, but I am giving her a bit more time as she lives on an island. It is only accessible by ferry/boat so she may be stranded too. Praying she's safe and healthy.

Our local paper had an article in it today that states the power outages and deaths state by state. If you'll notice, Maine is not listed. I believe it's because they would be embarrassed to list anything...we've been spared and we know it!!

State-by-state update of superstorm's effects

The Associated Press

The massive storm that started out as Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast and morphed into a huge and problematic system, killing at least 94 people in the United States. Power outages now stand at more than 3.6 million homes and businesses, down from a peak of 8.5 million. Here's a snapshot of what is happening, state by state.

Related headlines

Lines at East Coast gas stations steam commuters
Tired of dark in NYC, Sandy refugees head to loved ones

CONNECTICUT

Gas shortages in the New York area sends motorists across state lines to Connecticut in search of fuel. Lines form at gas stations near Interstate 95. Memorial service planned Saturday for volunteer Easton firefighter Russell Neary, killed during the storm while clearing tree debris from a road. Deaths: 3. Power outages: 227,500, down from a peak of 625,000.

MASSACHUSETTS

As Massachusetts returns to normal, it sends volunteers and National Guard members to help in storm-battered New York. Massachusetts' federally-owned T.S. Kennedy heading to Elizabeth, N.J., on Sunday. The 540-foot ship will serve as a "hotel" for emergency workers, power crews and others helping the region get back on its feet. Deaths: None. Power outages: about 1,000, down from 400,000.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Officials estimate it will be the weekend before power is fully restored. Deaths: 1. Power outages: 1,300, down from 210,000.

NEW JERSEY

Atlantic City's 12 casinos, closed in advance of the storm, start reopening after Gov. Chris Christie gives them the OK. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood views the storm damage in Ocean County. Motorists face another day of long lines for gas. Unemployment benefits are made available to two more counties where residents lost jobs because of the storm. The state sets up a hotline to help pet owners find their pets. Deaths: 14. Power outages: 1.5 million, down from 2.7 million.

NEW YORK

The cost of the storm could exceed $18 billion in New York alone. Gov. Andrew Cuomo tells utilities to step up power repair work or risk losing business in the state. Fuel shortages, and motorists fume in long lines at gas stations around New York City. All three of the city's major airports were back open. Subway and commuter rail services were partly restored. The state created a $100 million fund to help people hit the hardest. Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended his decision to hold the New York City Marathon on Sunday as scheduled. Deaths: 46, including 39 in New York City. Power outages: More than 1.3 million, down from 2.2 million.

NORTH CAROLINA

The Coast Guard orders a formal investigation into the sinking of the famous HMS Bounty off Cape Hatteras during the hurricane Monday. One crew member died and the captain was missing. Deaths: 2. Power outages: None, down from 126,000.

PENNSYLVANIA

Between 250 and 300 polling places remained without power just days before Tuesday's election. The Red Cross closed all but two of its emergency shelters in the state. Deaths: 14. Power outages: 307,000, down from 1.2 million.

RHODE ISLAND

Gov. Lincoln Chafee signs a request seeking a presidential disaster declaration in three of the state's five counties. Organizers recruit volunteers to spend the day Saturday in Westerly's beach community, where they will clear away debris and remove sand that inundated homes, shops and other businesses. Deaths: None. Power outages: 7,800, down from more than 122,000.

VERMONT

Amtrak service was disrupted Friday because of the storm. Vermont was sending utility crews, Red Cross and other volunteers to help storm victims in New York. Deaths: None. Power outages: mostly restored, down from more than 10,000.

My nephew has a condo in Watch Hill, RI.....he finally got to check it out a few days ago.....water ruined the storage area underneath, but no water in condo.....

Adding these to your list Pixie:

West Virginia » Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visits and pledges resources for state to recover from heavy snowfall. Deaths: 6. Power outages: 65,000, down from 270,000.

Other states with storm-related deaths »Delaware (0). Maryland (4), New Hampshire (1), North Carolina (3), Ohio (2), Virginia (2)..

Here is the outage map for Long Island, it is updated every 15 minutes.
http://www.lipower.org/stormcenter/outagemap.html

Sad news. A friend of ours is one of Texas Baptist Men. A large caravan of tractor trailers left here several days ago.
They are each equipped for emergency situations such as "Sandy". Most of these men are retired but have made this mission their life's work. They don't go to preach but to do for all in need.

Today they are stuck on a parking lot in W. Va. waiting for clearance to cross the state line. Unions are holding them back and they may have to return to Texas with full truckloads of food and life's necessities. There is a time and a place for everything. Now is not the time for the union to show its strength. These men charge nothing for their labor or the food and blankets. What can they possibly do to threaten the union? Another example of the devil in the details.

I am dumfounded.

One thing is not, this is not the strength of the Unions, this is the reason that people vote against them.

a good time to call the local news media. they'd be all over such nonsense.

I sincerely hope that our attention and prayers will stay focused on the people in need getting the help they need as quickly as possible. United we stand.

Not trying to pull the attention......these men are there to do the best they can to help everyone.

I don't understand.

Their ultimate destination is Ft. Diggs, NJ.

Here is a link to the Texas Baptist Men and a bit of info on their relief efforts and resources

http://www.texasbaptistmen.org/Ministries/DisasterRelief/DisasterReliefNews/tabid/128/ctl/ArticleView/mid/1474/articleId/31/DR-Teams-Responding-to-Hurricane-Sandy.aspx

In addition to the food trucks (up to 30,000 meals per day for two weeks) they have those trucks that have hot showers and laundry facilities!

God speed them on their way.

Well, we all understand all to well, in this case, lets just pray eventually those who need help get it.

I did see Sandra Lee today and she has gotten KMart to send an impressive number of trucks with supplies. Every bit helps.

Thank you, coleup, for the link. These men work for the love of God and expect nothing in return.
To see them blocked from their work is definitely from the devil.

The fuel lines were better today .. Not good yet but better.. Hearing we might not have power until Wednesday .. Just in time to loose it in the next storm coming .. Sigh

Sorry you guys still don't have power

Getting really old .. But I keep saying it could have been worse.. Just deal.. Just forget at times

Some crazy before and after pics
http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/hurricane-sandy-before-after-photos/

Small help, I know, but now that all the weak trees and branches are down, the likelihood of more coming down, and causing power outages, in the next storm are diminished. At my previous home we had a small tornado come down our street and take down many big trees. When Hurricane Hugo came through 5 weeks later we only had minor tree issues because there was so little left to fall.

The news is just so heartbreaking, my family on LI is safe but still without power and this cold is getting old.

Saying we might not be back till wed

Prayers and donations to Red Cross are the best I can offer

Wow Jen, amazing pictures.

The Texas Baptist Men and their convoy has been stopped. Sending the tractor trailers with food back to Dallas.
Sooo frustrated.

Frustrated is hardly the word. Why is everybody so afraid of the unions, who cares if they say no. Cant you just pull the trucks up and start helping. Let the chips fall where they may. Why dont they care these people are suffering and we are praying and donating as hard as we can, only to get this.

but who exactly were they stopped by?
I never donate to Red Cross, don't trust them

Hi everyone, just stopping in to see if all our DGers in the northeast are okay. What a terrible thing for the union people to do! They probably turned back because such creeps have been known to turn violent, so they were afraid their lives were in danger. Sick, huh?
I'm curious, flowajen, why don't you trust the Red Cross? They helped out my family in New Orleans after Katrina.

Not all $ donated goes to help victims because they have too much of an overhead and the CEO makes WAY too much $ for a charitable organization

I donate to Operation Blessing where over 99% of all funds goes directly to helping victims

please check this website so you may see what all they offer. When they arrive the do not preach. Only minister to the needs of the people.

www.texasbaptistmen.org

Thanks, flowajen, I will check out Operation Blessing.

You're welcome, if you need the link
http://www.ob.org/

I was so impressed with them, when it was confirmed that Sandy was going make a direct hit they immediately sent the trucks(already packed and they were just waiting on word of "when") on their way to help, they were already here when Sandy hit and immediately started helping those in Toms River, NJ

Our utility company had crews and equipment already in place and out strengthening service pre Sandy and able to restore outages at dawn after Sandy made land fall.

Yesterday am as I delivered my newspaper route I noted a much larger than usual number of cars parked in the streets of this retirement community. Most of them had New Jersey plates. Seems like some empty nests around here won't be so empty for a while! Glad they found or had enough gas to get here.

I share everyone's and especially Lou c's frustration of relief efforts not going as planned. Seems to me to be part and parcel of most disasters. Be assurred Lou that the larger relief efforts that Texas Men is a part of (North American Missions Board) is on hand and doing mighty work. Here is their latest press release http://www.namb.net/namb1cbdr1col.aspx?id=8590123548

To me, all relief efforts and responses are important whether "successful" from anyones individual perspective or not, or even "efficient" or cost effective, etc, because it keeps our compassion and connectedness muscles strong..the daily exercise of having each others backs.

My Dad didn't want me to move so far away from home, not because he wasn't all for me, but because he couldn't be there to help me like he had in my growing up years.