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| Nor'easter's snow complicates Sandy recovery in New York City's Rockaways | Nor'easter's snow complicates Sandy recovery in New York City's Rockaways |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A powerful winter storm has blanketed the US east coast in snow, creating new hardships for those still recovering from the devastation of superstorm Sandy. | A powerful winter storm has blanketed the US east coast in snow, creating new hardships for those still recovering from the devastation of superstorm Sandy. |
| Parts of New Jersey, still struggling to recover from the effects of last week's damage, were hit with more than 12 inches. There was a six-inch dump from Connecticut to Rhode Island. Thousands of people whose power had only just been restored after Sandy, lost it again. | Parts of New Jersey, still struggling to recover from the effects of last week's damage, were hit with more than 12 inches. There was a six-inch dump from Connecticut to Rhode Island. Thousands of people whose power had only just been restored after Sandy, lost it again. |
| "I am waiting for the locusts and pestilence next," said the governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, as the storm approached on Wednesday | "I am waiting for the locusts and pestilence next," said the governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, as the storm approached on Wednesday |
| In Belle Harbor, a hard-hit neighborhood on New York City's Rockaway peninsula, piles of last week's wreckage still lined the street. As night fell on Wednesday and the storm intensified, the mounds of torn-up wood and debris began to look like miniature mountains capped in snow. | In Belle Harbor, a hard-hit neighborhood on New York City's Rockaway peninsula, piles of last week's wreckage still lined the street. As night fell on Wednesday and the storm intensified, the mounds of torn-up wood and debris began to look like miniature mountains capped in snow. |
| The wind whipped outside Belle Harbor's St Francis Parish, where an ad-hoc relief center has been established. In a gymnasium filled with stacks of donated food, clothes and supplies, a handful of army National Guard members mixed in among a few dozen volunteers and residents. Three uniformed police officers watched from a balcony as two young boys tossed a ball back and forth. In a separate room, an elderly woman slept on a military-style cot under a pile of blankets. A small space heater was pointed in her direction. | The wind whipped outside Belle Harbor's St Francis Parish, where an ad-hoc relief center has been established. In a gymnasium filled with stacks of donated food, clothes and supplies, a handful of army National Guard members mixed in among a few dozen volunteers and residents. Three uniformed police officers watched from a balcony as two young boys tossed a ball back and forth. In a separate room, an elderly woman slept on a military-style cot under a pile of blankets. A small space heater was pointed in her direction. |
| Sixteen-year-old Jamie Dolan sat among the gymnasium donations. The aspiring young actor began volunteering at the center four days ago. His home is still without heat or hot water. He took his first warm shower on Tuesday, a full week after Sandy struck. He hasn't been back to school. He recently acquired a generator-powered space heater for his room. For the last week has been sleeping in multiple sweaters and a coat, with his blanket pulled over his head. He was unsure when things would return to normal. | Sixteen-year-old Jamie Dolan sat among the gymnasium donations. The aspiring young actor began volunteering at the center four days ago. His home is still without heat or hot water. He took his first warm shower on Tuesday, a full week after Sandy struck. He hasn't been back to school. He recently acquired a generator-powered space heater for his room. For the last week has been sleeping in multiple sweaters and a coat, with his blanket pulled over his head. He was unsure when things would return to normal. |
| "Some people said weeks, months," Dolan said. "I'm hoping soon." | "Some people said weeks, months," Dolan said. "I'm hoping soon." |
| Fema locked its doors at a number of its disaster relief centers Wednesday. Signs in the windows read "FEMA CENTER CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER". New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg advised residents in low-lying areas – including the Rockaways – to seek shelter elsewhere. Earlier in the week he estimated as many as 40,000 New Yorkers could face relocation amid the worsening weather conditions. | Fema locked its doors at a number of its disaster relief centers Wednesday. Signs in the windows read "FEMA CENTER CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER". New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg advised residents in low-lying areas – including the Rockaways – to seek shelter elsewhere. Earlier in the week he estimated as many as 40,000 New Yorkers could face relocation amid the worsening weather conditions. |
| Leaving is out of the question for many Belle Harbor residents. According to Dolan, the massive wall of sea water that rushed through the neighborhood did serious damage to vehicles. "All cars are ruined," he said. Dolan criticized Bloomberg for not making the Rockaways more of a priority. "He knows how bad it is. He just doesn't want to show anyone." | Leaving is out of the question for many Belle Harbor residents. According to Dolan, the massive wall of sea water that rushed through the neighborhood did serious damage to vehicles. "All cars are ruined," he said. Dolan criticized Bloomberg for not making the Rockaways more of a priority. "He knows how bad it is. He just doesn't want to show anyone." |
| The mayor made an unscheduled visit to the Rockaways on Saturday and was confronted by frustrated residents, including a woman who yelled: "When are we gonna get some fucking help?" Another man said: "There's old ladies in my building who got nothing." | The mayor made an unscheduled visit to the Rockaways on Saturday and was confronted by frustrated residents, including a woman who yelled: "When are we gonna get some fucking help?" Another man said: "There's old ladies in my building who got nothing." |
| Wednesday's storm knocked out electricity for roughly 16,000 Con Edison customers, bringing the total number of ConEd customers without power to 80,000, up from 64,000 earlier in the day. | Wednesday's storm knocked out electricity for roughly 16,000 Con Edison customers, bringing the total number of ConEd customers without power to 80,000, up from 64,000 earlier in the day. |
| In the Rockaway neighborhood of Shore Front Parkway – two miles from Belle Harbor – police discovered the unconscious and unresponsive body of 78-year-old William McKeon. According to NYPD spokesman Paul Browne, McKeon was found "at the bottom of a pitch-black stairwell that was still wet and covered with sand". He was bleeding from a wound to the head. The office of the medical examiner determined McKeon's fatal injuries were storm-related. His death raised the total number of Sandy's New York fatalities to 41. | In the Rockaway neighborhood of Shore Front Parkway – two miles from Belle Harbor – police discovered the unconscious and unresponsive body of 78-year-old William McKeon. According to NYPD spokesman Paul Browne, McKeon was found "at the bottom of a pitch-black stairwell that was still wet and covered with sand". He was bleeding from a wound to the head. The office of the medical examiner determined McKeon's fatal injuries were storm-related. His death raised the total number of Sandy's New York fatalities to 41. |
| Police officer: 'Looting is acceptable if it's for your family' | |
| Off-duty New York City police officer Anthony DiCarlo sorted stacks of non-perishable food items in the St Francis gym. He was confident his neighborhood would recover from the setbacks it has endured over the last week. | Off-duty New York City police officer Anthony DiCarlo sorted stacks of non-perishable food items in the St Francis gym. He was confident his neighborhood would recover from the setbacks it has endured over the last week. |
| "It's a good community, it's a strong community," he said. "It's been through a lot." | "It's a good community, it's a strong community," he said. "It's been through a lot." |
| DiCarlo added, however, that residents were on edge over the possibility of looters taking what they have left, a persistent fear among those in New York's most affected areas. Fifteen people were arrested for looting businesses in the Rockaways last week, including a liquor store, clothing stores and a Radio Shack. DiCarlo acknowledged that residents had reason to be scared. | DiCarlo added, however, that residents were on edge over the possibility of looters taking what they have left, a persistent fear among those in New York's most affected areas. Fifteen people were arrested for looting businesses in the Rockaways last week, including a liquor store, clothing stores and a Radio Shack. DiCarlo acknowledged that residents had reason to be scared. |
| "It's snow, it's cold. People are fending for themselves," he said. And in perhaps a startling admission for a law enforcement officer, he added: "Looting, to me, is acceptable if you're looting for your baby or your family." But not for a "60 inch flat-screen TV". | "It's snow, it's cold. People are fending for themselves," he said. And in perhaps a startling admission for a law enforcement officer, he added: "Looting, to me, is acceptable if you're looting for your baby or your family." But not for a "60 inch flat-screen TV". |
| Volunteers with Occupy Sandy – a collaboration between the Occupy Wall Street movement, the environmental organization 350.org and others – have been in the neighborhood for days and have established their own base of operations, offering residents hot food and assistance. | Volunteers with Occupy Sandy – a collaboration between the Occupy Wall Street movement, the environmental organization 350.org and others – have been in the neighborhood for days and have established their own base of operations, offering residents hot food and assistance. |
| Shortly after nightfall Wednesday, Occupy Sandy volunteer Nastaran Mohit was attempting to provide prescriptions to storm victims trapped in their homes. Wet snow was coming down in steady sheets and the streetlights were out, making for an eerie scene on the deserted streets. Without warning, a man with a walker appeared in Mohit's headlights. Wearing a soaking leather jacket and tan pants, the man ambled slowly down the road. Snow had piled on his shoulders and head. Mohit pulled up beside him, rolled down her windows and asked if he needed help or a ride. | Shortly after nightfall Wednesday, Occupy Sandy volunteer Nastaran Mohit was attempting to provide prescriptions to storm victims trapped in their homes. Wet snow was coming down in steady sheets and the streetlights were out, making for an eerie scene on the deserted streets. Without warning, a man with a walker appeared in Mohit's headlights. Wearing a soaking leather jacket and tan pants, the man ambled slowly down the road. Snow had piled on his shoulders and head. Mohit pulled up beside him, rolled down her windows and asked if he needed help or a ride. |
| "I'm good," the man said. Mohit pressed him. "Are you sure?" she asked. The man quit responding and continued shuffling along. Mohit eventually relented, rolled up her windows and continued on. | "I'm good," the man said. Mohit pressed him. "Are you sure?" she asked. The man quit responding and continued shuffling along. Mohit eventually relented, rolled up her windows and continued on. |
| "Down in these areas, most of these folks – unless they're disabled or elderly and have absolutely no contact with friends and family – they evacuated," Mohit said. A number of those who have stayed behind are in need of psychiatric medication, she added. | "Down in these areas, most of these folks – unless they're disabled or elderly and have absolutely no contact with friends and family – they evacuated," Mohit said. A number of those who have stayed behind are in need of psychiatric medication, she added. |
| Last weekend volunteers canvased Belle Harbor and the Rockaways delivering food and water and assessing the needs of the community. Mohit says the volunteers found a number people they encountered were lacking vital medications. Since that time volunteers have been systematically cataloging the medical needs of individual residents. That information was consolidated in a binder Mohit carried during Wednesday night's storm. | Last weekend volunteers canvased Belle Harbor and the Rockaways delivering food and water and assessing the needs of the community. Mohit says the volunteers found a number people they encountered were lacking vital medications. Since that time volunteers have been systematically cataloging the medical needs of individual residents. That information was consolidated in a binder Mohit carried during Wednesday night's storm. |
| "People were literally writing medical needs on these little pieces of paper and I had to have volunteers transcribe them into these forms," she said. The illnesses reflected in the binder are grave. "We have folks that are HIV/Aids patients. We have a lot of methadone users in this area. We have folks who are on cancer meds. We have a lot of chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes." | "People were literally writing medical needs on these little pieces of paper and I had to have volunteers transcribe them into these forms," she said. The illnesses reflected in the binder are grave. "We have folks that are HIV/Aids patients. We have a lot of methadone users in this area. We have folks who are on cancer meds. We have a lot of chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes." |
| According to Mohit, a number of medical professionals have volunteered their services in the Rockaways, including physicians, nurses and emergency technicians. But, she added, knowing which residents need what medication is only part of the problem. Doctors inclined to fill out prescriptions for storm victims are hampered by the constraints of liability, she said. "They write these prescriptions and they're held accountable for anything that happens." | According to Mohit, a number of medical professionals have volunteered their services in the Rockaways, including physicians, nurses and emergency technicians. But, she added, knowing which residents need what medication is only part of the problem. Doctors inclined to fill out prescriptions for storm victims are hampered by the constraints of liability, she said. "They write these prescriptions and they're held accountable for anything that happens." |
| Even with a prescription, volunteers face further challenges. On Wednesday night Mohit attempted to fill an elderly resident's prescription for psychiatric medication at a recently opened pharmacy. Only a small portion of the building was accessible. On the pharmacy's floor were cardboard boxes full of blankets and bottled water. There was a box of hand warmers on the counter. All were free to the public. | Even with a prescription, volunteers face further challenges. On Wednesday night Mohit attempted to fill an elderly resident's prescription for psychiatric medication at a recently opened pharmacy. Only a small portion of the building was accessible. On the pharmacy's floor were cardboard boxes full of blankets and bottled water. There was a box of hand warmers on the counter. All were free to the public. |
| Mohit was denied the medicine she sought because the resident's insurance was expired. "Now we have to find someone to go back to this woman," she said. | Mohit was denied the medicine she sought because the resident's insurance was expired. "Now we have to find someone to go back to this woman," she said. |
| While Mohit is proud of the support volunteers such as herself have provided for Sandy's victims, she acknowledged the enormity of the problems at hand particularly in light of the latest storm. | While Mohit is proud of the support volunteers such as herself have provided for Sandy's victims, she acknowledged the enormity of the problems at hand particularly in light of the latest storm. |
| "It's just not enough," she said. | "It's just not enough," she said. |