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| New York versus Sandy: superstorm prompts mass clean-up – and jogging | New York versus Sandy: superstorm prompts mass clean-up – and jogging |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Should the apocalypse ever strike New York City, there will presumably still be a few Spandex-clad runners pounding the sidewalks at six o'clock the next morning. It was no surprise to find them out as usual in Tuesday's grey dawn, sidestepping the equally committed dog-walkers, and hopping over the downed branches that, in many neighbourhoods, were the only real sign of what had happened the night before. But even those neighbourhoods were eerily quiet for a weekday. | Should the apocalypse ever strike New York City, there will presumably still be a few Spandex-clad runners pounding the sidewalks at six o'clock the next morning. It was no surprise to find them out as usual in Tuesday's grey dawn, sidestepping the equally committed dog-walkers, and hopping over the downed branches that, in many neighbourhoods, were the only real sign of what had happened the night before. But even those neighbourhoods were eerily quiet for a weekday. |
| And a jogger rounding a corner, or cresting a hill, might suddenly come face to face with the true extent of the damage that Monday night's historic storm had inflicted: cars displaced by the 13ft storm surge that sluiced through Manhattan's financial district; dangerously damaged power cables; trees wrenched from the ground by the wind; a 700-tonne tanker run aground on the Staten Island shoreline. A sign above the Manhattan entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel informs truck drivers that their overhead clearance is about 12 feet 6 inches – but on Tuesday morning, the water in the tunnel, flooded by both the East and Hudson rivers, lapped only about a foot beneath the sign. | And a jogger rounding a corner, or cresting a hill, might suddenly come face to face with the true extent of the damage that Monday night's historic storm had inflicted: cars displaced by the 13ft storm surge that sluiced through Manhattan's financial district; dangerously damaged power cables; trees wrenched from the ground by the wind; a 700-tonne tanker run aground on the Staten Island shoreline. A sign above the Manhattan entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel informs truck drivers that their overhead clearance is about 12 feet 6 inches – but on Tuesday morning, the water in the tunnel, flooded by both the East and Hudson rivers, lapped only about a foot beneath the sign. |
| None of which deterred the joggers, some of whom attempted to gain access to Central Park, which was firmly sealed. "They're idiots – some people just don't realise they're taking their lives in their own hands," said one park worker, shortly after escorting a sheepish-looking runner over a low wall and back on to Fifth Avenue. A few blocks further up, the doors of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were also firmly shut, although as the day wore on, that didn't stop several small groups of tourists from pressing their noses up against the glass in the hope of gaining access. | None of which deterred the joggers, some of whom attempted to gain access to Central Park, which was firmly sealed. "They're idiots – some people just don't realise they're taking their lives in their own hands," said one park worker, shortly after escorting a sheepish-looking runner over a low wall and back on to Fifth Avenue. A few blocks further up, the doors of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were also firmly shut, although as the day wore on, that didn't stop several small groups of tourists from pressing their noses up against the glass in the hope of gaining access. |
| By mid-morning, the clean-up from Hurricane Sandy – reclassified, late on Monday, as a "superstorm" – was well under way. In Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn, work crews were busy clearing tree limbs; on the Upper West Side, doormen hosed leaves into the gutters; at Ground Zero, a still-gaping hole into which river water gushed on Monday night, the repairs were beginning; John F Kennedy airport was scheduled to reopen on Wednesday. | By mid-morning, the clean-up from Hurricane Sandy – reclassified, late on Monday, as a "superstorm" – was well under way. In Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn, work crews were busy clearing tree limbs; on the Upper West Side, doormen hosed leaves into the gutters; at Ground Zero, a still-gaping hole into which river water gushed on Monday night, the repairs were beginning; John F Kennedy airport was scheduled to reopen on Wednesday. |
| But at the same time, New Yorkers were still struggling to calculate the true scale of the storm's impact. By some measures, the provisional death toll – 48 for the US as a whole, with 18 fatalities in New York State – had to be classified as mercifully low. But nearly 2 million residents of New York state were without electricity, governor Andrew Cuomo said. Towns in New Jersey and Long Island remained under deep water, while flooding had significantly damaged homes and businesses across New York. In one evacuated area of Breezy Point, a coastal community in Queens, the devastation was severe: between 80 and 100 homes were reportedly destroyed in a fire blown from house to house by heavy winds, leaving a vast blackened ruin from which pieces of buildings protruded. | But at the same time, New Yorkers were still struggling to calculate the true scale of the storm's impact. By some measures, the provisional death toll – 48 for the US as a whole, with 18 fatalities in New York State – had to be classified as mercifully low. But nearly 2 million residents of New York state were without electricity, governor Andrew Cuomo said. Towns in New Jersey and Long Island remained under deep water, while flooding had significantly damaged homes and businesses across New York. In one evacuated area of Breezy Point, a coastal community in Queens, the devastation was severe: between 80 and 100 homes were reportedly destroyed in a fire blown from house to house by heavy winds, leaving a vast blackened ruin from which pieces of buildings protruded. |
| Even for those who experienced Sandy's effects merely as a severe inconvenience, there seemed little prospect of a return to normality any time soon. The city's schools were due to stay closed on Wednesday. And Joe Lhota, the chairman of the transit authority, said the storm's effects on public transport – in a city where a majority of households, uniquely in America, own no car – had been worse than his agency's worst-case scenario. In the 108 years of the subway's existence, Lhota said, "our employees have never faced a challenge like the one that confronts us now." The New York Stock Exchange remained closed on Tuesday, the first time since 1888 that it had closed for two days running because of the weather. | Even for those who experienced Sandy's effects merely as a severe inconvenience, there seemed little prospect of a return to normality any time soon. The city's schools were due to stay closed on Wednesday. And Joe Lhota, the chairman of the transit authority, said the storm's effects on public transport – in a city where a majority of households, uniquely in America, own no car – had been worse than his agency's worst-case scenario. In the 108 years of the subway's existence, Lhota said, "our employees have never faced a challenge like the one that confronts us now." The New York Stock Exchange remained closed on Tuesday, the first time since 1888 that it had closed for two days running because of the weather. |
| The day before the storm had felt unreal, too, though in a different way. As Monday progressed, New York had gradually shut down, but with evident reluctance, and some scepticism that all the fuss was necessary: many cafes and restaurants remained open well towards day's end, and their delivery staff on electric bicycles were among the last road traffic. Even before the Hudson broke its banks, local news presenters and weathercasters proved steadfast in their determination to find water and stand knee-deep in it, shouting at the cameras. And at Coney Island, a New York Post reporter found one hardy resident, 53-year-old Philip Ellis, going for his daily swim in the Atlantic. He soon emerged shivering and purple. "It was just way too turbulent, way too much of a riptide," he said. "I couldn't stay in more than 10 minutes. You don't get much of a chance to experience what it's like to swim right before a hurricane. It was exciting, exhilarating." | The day before the storm had felt unreal, too, though in a different way. As Monday progressed, New York had gradually shut down, but with evident reluctance, and some scepticism that all the fuss was necessary: many cafes and restaurants remained open well towards day's end, and their delivery staff on electric bicycles were among the last road traffic. Even before the Hudson broke its banks, local news presenters and weathercasters proved steadfast in their determination to find water and stand knee-deep in it, shouting at the cameras. And at Coney Island, a New York Post reporter found one hardy resident, 53-year-old Philip Ellis, going for his daily swim in the Atlantic. He soon emerged shivering and purple. "It was just way too turbulent, way too much of a riptide," he said. "I couldn't stay in more than 10 minutes. You don't get much of a chance to experience what it's like to swim right before a hurricane. It was exciting, exhilarating." |
| The first widely reported sign that things were getting serious in the city came in late afternoon, when a construction crane, attached to a $1.5bn luxury high-rise building in midtown Manhattan, snapped in the wind, leaving part of it swinging lethally over the street in the high winds. | The first widely reported sign that things were getting serious in the city came in late afternoon, when a construction crane, attached to a $1.5bn luxury high-rise building in midtown Manhattan, snapped in the wind, leaving part of it swinging lethally over the street in the high winds. |
| Thousands of people were evacuated from the area, including hundreds of guests at the luxury Parker Meridien hotel. Then, at around 7pm, the entire front wall of a four-storey building on Eighth Avenue in downtown Manhattan fell away, exposing the rooms inside like a dolls' house. (Nobody was injured.) On either side of the island of Manhattan, West Street and the FDR East River Drive were quickly underwater. The lights went off in the southern part of Manhattan, first in a planned switch-off, then, after an explosion at an electricity substation, across a larger area. The Williamsburg bridge, linking Brooklyn to Manhattan, was fully lit for half its length, on the Brooklyn side, and dark for the rest. In Montauk, on Long Island, customers at the bar of Gurney's Inn watched as another part of the same establishment, a 50-seat beach restaurant, was gradually washed away by fierce waves. It had recently been renovated, the New York Times reported, after being damaged in 2011 by Hurricane Irene. | Thousands of people were evacuated from the area, including hundreds of guests at the luxury Parker Meridien hotel. Then, at around 7pm, the entire front wall of a four-storey building on Eighth Avenue in downtown Manhattan fell away, exposing the rooms inside like a dolls' house. (Nobody was injured.) On either side of the island of Manhattan, West Street and the FDR East River Drive were quickly underwater. The lights went off in the southern part of Manhattan, first in a planned switch-off, then, after an explosion at an electricity substation, across a larger area. The Williamsburg bridge, linking Brooklyn to Manhattan, was fully lit for half its length, on the Brooklyn side, and dark for the rest. In Montauk, on Long Island, customers at the bar of Gurney's Inn watched as another part of the same establishment, a 50-seat beach restaurant, was gradually washed away by fierce waves. It had recently been renovated, the New York Times reported, after being damaged in 2011 by Hurricane Irene. |
| The night's most dramatic rescue story concerned the evacuation of about 200 patients from New York University's Langone Medical Center, after the hospital's backup generators failed. Many incapacitated patients were carried down multiple flights of stairs on plastic sleds. Among the evacuees were 20 babies from the neonatal intensive care unit; reporters described infants wrapped in blankets, their breathing tubes still attached, being carried by doctors and nurses to ambulances waiting below. | The night's most dramatic rescue story concerned the evacuation of about 200 patients from New York University's Langone Medical Center, after the hospital's backup generators failed. Many incapacitated patients were carried down multiple flights of stairs on plastic sleds. Among the evacuees were 20 babies from the neonatal intensive care unit; reporters described infants wrapped in blankets, their breathing tubes still attached, being carried by doctors and nurses to ambulances waiting below. |
| "Things went downhill very, very rapidly and very unexpectedly," Dr Andrew Brotman, a senior member of staff, told CNN. "The flooding was just unprecedented." Between 7pm and 7.45pm, he said, the hospital's basement, lower floors and elevator shafts had filled with 10-12 feet of water. | "Things went downhill very, very rapidly and very unexpectedly," Dr Andrew Brotman, a senior member of staff, told CNN. "The flooding was just unprecedented." Between 7pm and 7.45pm, he said, the hospital's basement, lower floors and elevator shafts had filled with 10-12 feet of water. |
| Throughout the night, most people seemed to agree, the region's most senior politicians – New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, New Jersey's fleece-clad governor, Chris Christie, and Governor Cuomo – were successful in their efforts to maintain calm and provide essential information. In 2010, during his administration's mishandling of a major blizzard, Bloomberg had advised New Yorkers to go and see a Broadway show, neglecting to explain how those trapped in their homes were supposed to do so. | Throughout the night, most people seemed to agree, the region's most senior politicians – New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, New Jersey's fleece-clad governor, Chris Christie, and Governor Cuomo – were successful in their efforts to maintain calm and provide essential information. In 2010, during his administration's mishandling of a major blizzard, Bloomberg had advised New Yorkers to go and see a Broadway show, neglecting to explain how those trapped in their homes were supposed to do so. |
| This time, all Broadway shows were cancelled anyway, and Bloomberg had a better grasp of the moment. "This may be a good time to stay hunkered in your home," he said at a news conference. "Have a sandwich out of the fridge. Sit back, and watch the television." Moving from bad-weather guidance to lifestyle advice, he suggested residents read "a good book". | This time, all Broadway shows were cancelled anyway, and Bloomberg had a better grasp of the moment. "This may be a good time to stay hunkered in your home," he said at a news conference. "Have a sandwich out of the fridge. Sit back, and watch the television." Moving from bad-weather guidance to lifestyle advice, he suggested residents read "a good book". |
| Sandy's arrival in New York was captured more widely on smartphone cameras, and discussed on social media networks, than perhaps any previous weather event – and one result was a constant flow of rumour, unfounded panic, faked photographs and dark humour through the night. | Sandy's arrival in New York was captured more widely on smartphone cameras, and discussed on social media networks, than perhaps any previous weather event – and one result was a constant flow of rumour, unfounded panic, faked photographs and dark humour through the night. |
| Had a shark really been sighted swimming through the inundated streets of Brigantine, New Jersey, its fin emerging fearsomely from the water? Possibly – but the widely circulated photo purporting to show it was certainly Photoshopped. Was the New York Stock Exchange under three feet of water, as CNN, apparently working from internet rumours, reported? No. Were there plans to turn off the power across the whole of Manhattan? No. Was a hospital on fire in Coney Island, and were a score of power-company workers trapped in a building in Manhattan? It seemed not, though for hours such claims gained wide currency. | Had a shark really been sighted swimming through the inundated streets of Brigantine, New Jersey, its fin emerging fearsomely from the water? Possibly – but the widely circulated photo purporting to show it was certainly Photoshopped. Was the New York Stock Exchange under three feet of water, as CNN, apparently working from internet rumours, reported? No. Were there plans to turn off the power across the whole of Manhattan? No. Was a hospital on fire in Coney Island, and were a score of power-company workers trapped in a building in Manhattan? It seemed not, though for hours such claims gained wide currency. |
| There are undoubtedly many more stories of Sandy's true devastation yet to emerge. But there were no reports of looting, and numerous tales of selflessness. ("Police have reported zero looting or crimes of opportunity in Newark," that city's mayor, Cory Booker, tweeted. "And ceaseless reports of acts of kindness abound everywhere.") | There are undoubtedly many more stories of Sandy's true devastation yet to emerge. But there were no reports of looting, and numerous tales of selflessness. ("Police have reported zero looting or crimes of opportunity in Newark," that city's mayor, Cory Booker, tweeted. "And ceaseless reports of acts of kindness abound everywhere.") |
| By late on Tuesday morning, the bridges connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn, over the East River, had reopened. Buses were expected to be running on them soon. Elmo, from Sesame Street, was the special guest on New York's main public radio station, in an attempt to provide distraction for children cooped up at home. Volunteers were showing up to help or donate clothes at shelters established for the evacuated and frail. The crisis wasn't over, and the broader implications – environmental, economic, political – could barely be discerned. But New York, with characteristic restlessness, was eager to get on with what needed most immediately to be done. | By late on Tuesday morning, the bridges connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn, over the East River, had reopened. Buses were expected to be running on them soon. Elmo, from Sesame Street, was the special guest on New York's main public radio station, in an attempt to provide distraction for children cooped up at home. Volunteers were showing up to help or donate clothes at shelters established for the evacuated and frail. The crisis wasn't over, and the broader implications – environmental, economic, political – could barely be discerned. But New York, with characteristic restlessness, was eager to get on with what needed most immediately to be done. |
| Additional reporting by Adam Gabbatt, Jamie Wilson, Emma G Keller and Tom McCarthy | Additional reporting by Adam Gabbatt, Jamie Wilson, Emma G Keller and Tom McCarthy |
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