Sandy: 'Tens Of Thousands In NY Need Housing'

Sub-zero temperatures could see tens of thousands of New Yorkers in need of housing after superstorm Sandy, the state's governor has said.

Andrew Cuomo issued the warning as New York City residents were urged to guard against the increasing risk of hypothermia

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg estimated between 30,000 and 40,000 people in the city alone would need housing in the wake of the storm.

With temperatures projected to fall as low as -6C (21F) on Monday night, the National Weather Service is tracking a coastal storm that could impact the tri-state area - New York, New Jersey and Connecticut - on Wednesday into Thursday.

As well as strong gusty winds, forecasts predict the storm could bring rain or possibly snow, sleet or hail, to a region that is still in the midst of recovering from Sandy. Coastal flooding is also a concern.

Mr Bloomberg urged older New Yorkers still without gas for heating or electrical power to move to shelters and said 25,000 blankets were being distributed.

Electrical power has been restored to many residents

He said: "We're New Yorkers and we're going to get through it. But I don't want anyone to think we're out of the woods."

The mayor also said the Long Island Power Authority (Lipa) had not acted aggressively enough to restore power to storm-hit residents in the region.

He said it was "unacceptable" that the worst-hit areas were not being made a priority for repairs after some residents were told it could take two weeks to restore power.

The Red Cross said it was stepping up its efforts in the face of the new storm warning.

Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of its disaster services, said: "We're working closely with emergency operations centres to stand up warming facilities, warming shelters, and stocking those with additional blankets, pillows and everything needed."

Residents get into arguments over gasoline supplies

Mr Bloomberg also warned residents that fully resolving the shortages at petrol stations could take several days.

Long lines of vehicles and pedestrians formed after governor Andrew Cuomo announced the US Department of Defence was opening mobile fuel stations in New York City and on suburban Long Island.

The government then asked the public to stay away from the locations until emergency responders get their fuel tanks filled.

But National Guard Colonel Richard Goldenberg said people who were already at the distribution sites would not be turned away.

"It's chaos, it's pandemonium out here," said Chris Damon, who had been waiting for nearly four hours at one site and had circled the block five times.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie stopped gas to the Barrier Islands

"It seems like nobody has any answers."

Energy companies have said they are working around the clock to restore power to parts of New York devastated by the powerful storm.

The lights are back on in lower Manhattan after residents were left without power for nearly five days.

But resentment has festered in the city's outer boroughs and suburbs over the lack of power, fuel shortages and now heating concerns.

The worst-hit area of New York remains Queens - with 81,000 people still without power. Brooklyn and Staten Island both have 31,000 and the Bronx has 25,000 without electricity.

Domingo Isasi, waiting in a petrol queue on Staten Island, minced no words about the divide between Manhattan and the outer boroughs.

"The priorities are showing, simply by the fact that Manhattan got their power back," Mr Isasi said.

"We're the b****** kids who keep getting slapped in the head and told to shut up."

A statement from energy firm Con Edison said it had now restored power to 70% of customers - around 645,000 homes.

It said: "The hurricane is the worst natural disaster to strike Con Edison's customers in the company's history.

"Crews are facing thousands of downed wires in New York City and Westchester County.

"Some cannot be re-energised since they are in flood zones with damage that bars the safe re-introduction of electricity."

Some residents of New Jersey have been moved to tents set up by a utility company due to the length of time they are expected to be homeless as a result of last week's storm.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Sandy: 'Tens Of Thousands In NY Need Housing'

Dengan url

http://buangdwiet.blogspot.com/2012/11/sandy-tens-of-thousands-in-ny-need.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Sandy: 'Tens Of Thousands In NY Need Housing'

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Sandy: 'Tens Of Thousands In NY Need Housing'

sebagai sumbernya