This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/31/sandy-new-york-doormen
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Superstorm Sandy: New York doormen stay to help residents | Superstorm Sandy: New York doormen stay to help residents |
| (4 months later) | |
| During Hurricane Sandy, 750,000 New Yorkers lost electricity. I was one of them. I was alone in my apartment on the 17th floor eating popcorn and watching the news when the power went out. I don't own a radio. My fridge was filled with hummus and cottage cheese. The one piece of Bloomberg's advice that I took was to stock up. So I bought all the food I normally eat; only triple the amount. | During Hurricane Sandy, 750,000 New Yorkers lost electricity. I was one of them. I was alone in my apartment on the 17th floor eating popcorn and watching the news when the power went out. I don't own a radio. My fridge was filled with hummus and cottage cheese. The one piece of Bloomberg's advice that I took was to stock up. So I bought all the food I normally eat; only triple the amount. |
| I immediately called the one person I could turn to in a crisis. It went to voicemail. "Charlie," I said, it's Ariel. The lights have gone out." | I immediately called the one person I could turn to in a crisis. It went to voicemail. "Charlie," I said, it's Ariel. The lights have gone out." |
| Perhaps the reason he wasn't available is because at that exact moment, 376 other people were trying to reach him. | Perhaps the reason he wasn't available is because at that exact moment, 376 other people were trying to reach him. |
| Charlie is the über-super of my West Village apartment block. There are 21 floors and 376 apartments. Or, as he puts it: "376 families." | Charlie is the über-super of my West Village apartment block. There are 21 floors and 376 apartments. Or, as he puts it: "376 families." |
| Not all buildings in Manhattan are like Trump Tower. Many are like mine – sturdy postwar structures that house hundreds of middle-class residents. Some of whom moved in when the building was built and never moved out. There are 20 men who work on staff – doormen, handymen, porters – and they've become surrogate family. Especially to those who don't have spouses or loved ones to turn to, they're the closest thing. | Not all buildings in Manhattan are like Trump Tower. Many are like mine – sturdy postwar structures that house hundreds of middle-class residents. Some of whom moved in when the building was built and never moved out. There are 20 men who work on staff – doormen, handymen, porters – and they've become surrogate family. Especially to those who don't have spouses or loved ones to turn to, they're the closest thing. |
| Even before Sandy hit, these men were prepared to stay for the long haul. Most of them live in other boroughs with families of their own but slept in the basement on air mattresses so that they would be there when needed. After the building lost power, once they knew their own families were safe, they tended to the tenants without hesitation. | Even before Sandy hit, these men were prepared to stay for the long haul. Most of them live in other boroughs with families of their own but slept in the basement on air mattresses so that they would be there when needed. After the building lost power, once they knew their own families were safe, they tended to the tenants without hesitation. |
| They hauled gallons of water up 21 flights of stairs to elderly people who couldn't get out, checked in on every single apartment, passed out glow sticks and let people know they weren't alone. | They hauled gallons of water up 21 flights of stairs to elderly people who couldn't get out, checked in on every single apartment, passed out glow sticks and let people know they weren't alone. |
| When I got down to the lobby, it was a hub of activity. The doormen were performing triage on some of the needier tenants: sorting out problems, offering reassurance, doling out information ("You can get coffee at the 28th street deli") and answering the same question over and over ("I don't know when the power will be back on") without sounding impatient. When a woman with an injured foot (16th floor) heard it might be days before power was restored, one of the doormen wearing his sweatpants put his hand on her shoulder and said, tenderly: "We'll manage." | When I got down to the lobby, it was a hub of activity. The doormen were performing triage on some of the needier tenants: sorting out problems, offering reassurance, doling out information ("You can get coffee at the 28th street deli") and answering the same question over and over ("I don't know when the power will be back on") without sounding impatient. When a woman with an injured foot (16th floor) heard it might be days before power was restored, one of the doormen wearing his sweatpants put his hand on her shoulder and said, tenderly: "We'll manage." |
| Part therapist, part security guard, part medic, they supervised the frenzy and remained in control. They exuded thoughtfulness and concern and the gratitude from tenants was evident; expressed in various ways. | Part therapist, part security guard, part medic, they supervised the frenzy and remained in control. They exuded thoughtfulness and concern and the gratitude from tenants was evident; expressed in various ways. |
| Tenants offered to let them sleep on their couch (and not just because they wanted extra attention). Loads of them showed their appreciation with food. The lobby looked like a bake sale. Pans of pre-storm lasagne, brownies, pastries and tiny ham and cheese sandwiches. "The high-end kind," Lucas, the handyman pointed out. | Tenants offered to let them sleep on their couch (and not just because they wanted extra attention). Loads of them showed their appreciation with food. The lobby looked like a bake sale. Pans of pre-storm lasagne, brownies, pastries and tiny ham and cheese sandwiches. "The high-end kind," Lucas, the handyman pointed out. |
| For people in New York City apartment buildings, the prospect of going days without electricity and water and even worse – no internet – is more than an inconvenience. These tenants aren't Eagle Scouts; coping mechanisms are sparse. Many without options are staying put and the doormen and building staff come to the rescue. They keep everyone safe. They are the guardians of the fortress and, in my building, they are supremely devoted. "That's how we are here," Charlie declares. "I don't know about other buildings." They care about the residents, look after them, and take tangible pride in being the best at what they do. | For people in New York City apartment buildings, the prospect of going days without electricity and water and even worse – no internet – is more than an inconvenience. These tenants aren't Eagle Scouts; coping mechanisms are sparse. Many without options are staying put and the doormen and building staff come to the rescue. They keep everyone safe. They are the guardians of the fortress and, in my building, they are supremely devoted. "That's how we are here," Charlie declares. "I don't know about other buildings." They care about the residents, look after them, and take tangible pride in being the best at what they do. |
| Which, when a crisis hits, is everything. | Which, when a crisis hits, is everything. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |