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Reeling From the Storm and Facing a New Danger: the Cold In Storm’s Wake, a Housing Nightmare Looms
(about 4 hours later)
With tens of thousands of residents left homeless after the devastation from last week’s storm, New York-area officials began focusing on Sunday on another weather-related factor that might make the problems even worse: colder weather that is moving into the region. New York City officials said on Sunday that they faced the daunting challenge of finding homes for as many as 40,000 people who were left homeless after the devastation of last week’s storm, a situation that the city’s mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, compared to New Orleans’ after Hurricane Katrina.
In New York, 20,000 to 40,000 people, many of them residents of public housing, will have to find homes, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Mr. Bloomberg compared it to the situation after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, but he later seemed to temper his assessment after news that power had been restored in some of the hardest hit areas. The mayor said that the 40,000 figure was a worst-case scenario given by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and that a more realistic assessment was 20,000 people — the bulk of which would be public housing residents. Even in the best possible case, he said, the task will be formidable.
Still, he said, at least 20,000 people live in homes that were so severely damaged by the storm surge that they were uninhabitable. Relocating those residents, he said, will be a daunting task. “We don’t have a lot of empty housing in this city,” Mr. Bloomberg said at a news conference on Sunday. “We are not going to let anybody go sleeping in the streets or go without blankets, but it’s a challenge, and we’re working on that as fast as we can.”
“We don’t have a lot of empty housing in this city,” he said at a news conference “We are not going to let anybody go sleeping in the streets or go without blankets, but it’s a challenge, and we’re working on that as fast as we can.” It is a task shared throughout the region, as officials in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut struggle to meet the demands of those whose homes have been left uninhabitable. In some cases, the solution may be a familiar, if unwelcome sight: the trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Hurricane Katrina.
Thousands of people in New Jersey, on Long Island and in Connecticut face a similar problem. “This is going to be a massive, massive housing problem,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said at a news conference with the mayor. Craig Fugate, director of the agency, said most displaced people would likely be housed in hotels or apartments. But in some regions, like Long Island with its many single-family homes and few large apartment blocks, he said there was a shortage of vacant housing.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Sunday that it would begin providing transitional housing to those who could not return to their homes. As of Sunday morning, 164,000 residents of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York had applied for aid, and the agency had approved more than $137 million in financial assistance. “It has got to make sense for the neighborhood,” Mr. Fugate said, adding that it was up to the states to request the trailers. “We are going to bring all potential housing solutions and look at what works best for each neighborhood.”
Mr. Bloomberg called the cold the most pressing challenge in the recovery. The city has opened heating shelters and is passing out blankets to New Yorkers without electricity. Even as utility companies work to restore power to millions of customers without it, a northeaster, projected to land midweek, may hit the already battered coastal areas with heavy winds and strong waves that could cause more flooding and tear down power lines recently replaced and stop repair workers in their tracks.
Temperatures throughout the region fell early Sunday into the 30s, and the National Weather Service issued a freeze watch for parts of New Jersey, including the coast, the scene of some of the worst damage. Officials have urged residents across the region to head to shelters. “The first concern is slowing the army that we’ve got down; the second is more outages,” said John Miksad, Consolidated Edison’s senior vice president for electric operations. “It certainly does complicate the restoration.”
“You can die from being cold,” Mr. Bloomberg said Sunday. “You can die from fires started from candles or stoves. Please go to the local disaster site. If you don’t know where to go, stop a cop on the side of the road and ask.” A week after Hurricane Sandy tore through the region, millions have regained electricity, mass transit is on the mend, and volunteers have rushed in to help. On Sunday, some runners who had expected to compete in the New York City Marathon, which was canceled, instead pitched in to haul fallen trees and to distribute clothing and food in the city’s most heavily damaged regions. Others ran a modified marathon route in Central Park.
Adding to the concerns, a northeaster could move in by midweek, forecasters said, hitting the already battered coastal areas with heavy winds and strong waves that could cause more flooding. Freezing temperatures are also expected. In many regions, power is still lacking and fuel is nowhere to be found. As of Sunday, the number of utility customers without power was over 1.8 million, the Energy Department said; that included more than 900,000 in New Jersey, 280,000 served by the Long Island Power Authority and 198,000 Con Edison customers — nearly half of them in Westchester. Gas shortages persisted with rationing imposed in New Jersey and lines at some gas stations stretching for miles.
Though the lights continued to flicker, including in some hard-hit regions like the Rockaways, Queens, on Sunday, more than 700,000 utility customers remained without power in New York State, including 404,000 on Long Island and 154,000 in New York City. And with recovery times in some areas projected to last months, a sense of desperation appeared to have set in. In parts of Staten Island, Long Island and coastal New Jersey, many still reside in dank, waterlogged houses and survive on food handouts from federal agencies and the National Guard.
Nearly a million customers in New Jersey and 70,000 in Connecticut were also without power. But restoring electric service is only the first step. When the storm surge flooded homes along the coast, the ocean water destroyed boilers and water heaters. FEMA announced Sunday that it would begin providing transitional housing to those who could not return to their homes. Mr. Fugate, FEMA’s director, said in an interview that hotels and temporary apartments would be available to those families who register with the agency.
Yet amid the despair, there has been an outpouring of good will. On Staten Island, in the Rockaways and in other regions pummeled by Hurricane Sandy, thousands of people, including runners who had expected to compete in the New York City Marathon, which was canceled late last week, have pitched in to haul away fallen trees and to distribute food and clothing. As of 3 p.m. Sunday, 182,000 residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut had applied for disaster assistance, and $158 million has been approved, he said. Some share of that total will need a temporary place to stay.
The narrow streets of Midland Beach, one of the hardest hit areas on Staten Island, were alive with activity. Volunteers carried hoes, rakes, brooms and shovels as they went door to door offering their labor. Others circled the blocks in pickup trucks full of food, blankets, clothes and cleaning supplies. Impromptu distribution centers, piled high with food and secondhand clothes, sprung up on every other corner. Word that some may have to leave their homes permanently caused further confusion and fear, particularly in public housing complexes heavily damaged by the storm.
At the Hammel Houses, a public housing complex in the Rockaways, saltwater stains from the storm surge were visible above first-floor windows, which like many in this part of New York City were all dark.
“They tell us we might evacuate,” said Gloria Evans, 47, who has lived at apartment 1B at the houses since she moved there 26 years ago as a new mother.
“Are they going to help us? They can’t just move everyone out and have no place to put them,” she said.
It is still uncertain how many people would ultimately need housing, temporary or otherwise. In New Jersey alone, over 5,000 people remain in shelters and tens of thousands who evacuated their homes now reside with relatives and friends. Those with no homes to return to will have to find a new place to live.
“We lost a lot of housing here in New Jersey,” Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security secretary, said in Hoboken alongside Gov. Chris Christie. “We don’t even know yet which houses are reparable.”
In making his reference to Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Bloomberg said that to his recollection the number of displaced people in New York may have been similar to that in New Orleans. That estimation seemed inaccurate since several hundred thousand people were placed in federal housing in the months after that storm.
Officials were scrambling to prepare for the onset of cold weather. New York City has opened heating shelters and is passing out blankets to residents without electricity.
Temperatures throughout the region were expected to fall Sunday evening into the 30s, and the National Weather Service issued a freeze watch for parts of New Jersey, including the coast, the scene of some of the worst damage. Officials have urged residents across the region to head to shelters.
Volunteers were also trying to help. In the streets of Midland Beach, one of the hardest hit areas on Staten Island, they carried hoes, rakes, brooms and shovels as they went door to door offering their labor. Others circled the blocks in pickup trucks full of food, blankets, clothes and cleaning supplies. Impromptu distribution centers, piled high with food and clothes, sprung up on every other corner.
On Sunday morning, runners dressed in orange marathon gear crowded onto the Staten Island Ferry and headed to the storm-ravaged borough to help. They packed blankets, food, water and flashlights in shoulder bags. Some planned to run to battered areas once the ferry docked.On Sunday morning, runners dressed in orange marathon gear crowded onto the Staten Island Ferry and headed to the storm-ravaged borough to help. They packed blankets, food, water and flashlights in shoulder bags. Some planned to run to battered areas once the ferry docked.
“There are people suffering on Staten Island, and we’ve got to do something about it,” said Neil Cohen, 42, from Riverdale in the Bronx.“There are people suffering on Staten Island, and we’ve got to do something about it,” said Neil Cohen, 42, from Riverdale in the Bronx.
Yet, it was not enough to solve some of the immense problems. Gas shortages persist, and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey has declared a fuel emergency and imposed rationing in 12 counties. On Sunday, gas lines seemed slightly shorter in some places than in the previous few days, but many stations were still closed. The authorities set up three fuel depots in New Jersey to provide doctors and nurses with up to 15 gallons apiece to allow them to get to work. On Sunday, gas lines seemed slightly shorter in some places than in the previous few days, but many stations were still closed. The authorities set up three fuel depots in New Jersey to provide doctors and nurses with up to 15 gallons apiece to allow them to get to work.
There were also concerns about drivers pumping more than their fair share of gasoline. Havier Nazario, 36, a principal at a Newark public school who was in line at a station outside Newark Airport, said he saw a man buy $101 worth of gas. There were also concerns about drivers pumping more than their fair share of gasoline. Havier Nazario, 36, a principal at a Newark school who was at a station outside Newark Liberty International Airport, said he saw a man buy $101 worth of gas.
"I don’t know what he’s trying to power, but I think folks should pretty much just take what they need for their vehicle; otherwise the ration doesn’t have its effect,” he said. “I don’t know what he’s trying to power, but I think folks should pretty much just take what they need for their vehicle; otherwise the ration doesn’t have its effect,” he said.
Mr. Cuomo said that tankers and barges were on the way to ease shortages. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that Port Elizabeth, N.J., reopened on Sunday to receive its first shipments. Other Port Authority seaports remained closed. The gas crisis in the New York metropolitan area appeared to be easing, according to information released late Sunday by the Energy Department. As of Sunday, only 27 percent of stations in the region reported to be out of fuel, down from 67 percent on Friday.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a news conference that tankers and barges were on the way to ease shortages. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that Port Elizabeth, N.J., reopened on Sunday to receive its first shipments. Other Port Authority seaports remained closed.
“We do believe it is a short-term problem,” Mr. Cuomo said, adding that shortages could continue for several days.“We do believe it is a short-term problem,” Mr. Cuomo said, adding that shortages could continue for several days.
As for the subways, all of the numbered lines were running to some degree, said Joseph J. Lhota, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, who spoke with Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Bloomberg at a news conference, and the mayor said he would take the subway to work on Monday. The No. 1 train has been extended south to 14th Street, and transit officials said they hoped that it would reach Rector Street by Monday. (The South Ferry station, although the water has been pumped out, remains unusable.) As for the subways, all of the numbered lines were running to some degree, said Joseph J. Lhota, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The No. 1 train has been extended south to 14th Street, and transit officials said they hoped that it would reach Rector Street by Monday. On Sunday evening, Mr. Lhota announced that Q train service had been partially restored to Kings Highway.
The South Ferry station, although the water has been pumped out, remains unusable. The L train from Brooklyn to Manhattan and the G train from Brooklyn to Queens also remain suspended with no estimated time for resuming service.
Mr. Lhota said trains would arrive at stations less often on Monday than on a normal weekday. “It’s an old system,” Mr. Lhota said in televised remarks. “It needs tender loving care, and it just had a major accident.”Mr. Lhota said trains would arrive at stations less often on Monday than on a normal weekday. “It’s an old system,” Mr. Lhota said in televised remarks. “It needs tender loving care, and it just had a major accident.”
The commute on Monday could be complicated by the return to school of nearly a million children. About 96 percent of the city’s school buses are expected to be operating, and all but 65 schools should be open, Mr. Bloomberg said. Students at closed schools will be sent to other locations, though the mayor said that keeping everyone informed about who goes where was proving difficult. The city has made over a million robocalls to parents and has purchased full page ads in Monday’s newspapers with information about scheduling changes. Monday morning would also bring another change: the return to school of nearly a million children. About 96 percent of the city’s school buses are expected to be operating, and all but 65 schools should be open, Mr. Bloomberg said. Students at closed schools will be sent to other locations, though the mayor said that keeping everyone informed about who goes where was proving difficult. The city has made over a million robocalls to parents and has purchased full-page advertisements in Monday’s newspapers with information about scheduling changes.
Mr. Bloomberg also set the stage for possible confusion at polling places during the election on Tuesday. About 143,000 voters in the city will be assigned to polling sites outside their districts, and the mayor expressed hope that the New York Board of Elections, which he has criticized for mismanagement, would be prepared. Mr. Bloomberg also set the stage for possible confusion at polling places during the election on Tuesday. About 143,000 voters in the city will be assigned to sites outside their districts, and the mayor expressed hope that the New York Board of Elections, which he has criticized for mismanagement, would be prepared.
Asked whether he thought the Elections Board was up to the task, he replied: “I have absolutely no idea.” Asked whether he thought the board was up to the task, he replied: “I have absolutely no idea.”
Meanwhile, the cancellation of the New York City Marathon did not stop hundreds of runners from showing up at Central Park on Sunday morning, many of them celebrating as if the event had not been canceled.
Portable toilets, tents and even the finish line were still set up and provided runners a photo opportunity on what would have been Marathon Sunday.
Security guards asked people to clear a path for the hundreds of runners trotting by, many in orange shirts, waving their home countries’ flags and cheering each other on. Some asked for donations for the Red Cross as they jogged by. There was a barrage of languages and an assembly of athletes from grade school children to adults of all ages. Some cried at the finish line.
Greg Osborn, 62, of Melbourne, Australia, showed up in his custom-made white and green shirt bearing his name. His wife, Yvonne, cheered him on.
“It took a long time to get here,” she said. “Then we found out it was canceled. But standing out here with the sun and all these people? It’s beautiful.”

Reporting was contributed by Michael M. Grynbaum, Mary Pilon, Eric Lipton, Steve Eder, Vivian Yee and Thomas Kaplan.

Reporting was contributed by Michael M. Grynbaum, Mary Pilon, Eric Lipton, Steve Eder, Vivian Yee and Thomas Kaplan.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: November 4, 2012Correction: November 4, 2012

Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article misstated the number of customers without power in Connecticut. It is 70,000, not 700,000.

Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article misstated the number of customers without power in Connecticut. It is 70,000, not 700,000.