Mega-storm Sandy

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Unfortunately the way our system works, if power and transportation and creature comforts are not restored to Wall Street, they could easily all move their companies to London, at which point New York City would never have the tax money to do permanent repairs to the ghettos. In a perverse system a reasonable person is often forced into making perverse decisions. There was some real talk as this was hitting that if the subways were down for three months that there'd be a mass exodus of financial companies, for example. From a certain perspective it could very much look like your options are very constrained no matter how humanitarian you are.

[Simon_Jester]

If the subways stayed down for three months it wouldn't just be the financial companies leaving. Unless I'm badly mistaken, if that happened the entire urban center would be dead or dying as a city, if not as a population. It'd be economic paralysis. They can't move that many people in a timely fashion without the subways.

It's not only the elites' satisfaction that depends on having transportation and electricity for the bulk of the population. We all depend on being free to move about urban areas, or to commute dozens of miles in rural areas, on a day to day basis.

So I don't think we can blame New York for spending the first few days concentrating on getting transportation up and power to the bulk of the island. What we can blame a perverse system for is the lack of anything noticeable to send to the projects.

[ryacko]

There was a massive wind storm in LA a few months ago. I live on the fairly wealthy side of town, the power went out for a few hours.

Then I watch on the news that some people were without power for over a weak. Strangely, the news doesn't mention that these people without power are poor and on the east side.

[Tribun]

There was a massive wind storm in LA a few months ago. I live on the fairly wealthy side of town, the power went out for a few hours.

Then I watch on the news that some people were without power for over a weak. Strangely, the news doesn't mention that these people without power are poor and on the east side.

I think it proves the old saying that all are equal, but some more equal than others.

[fgalkin]

The National Guard showed up today at Brighton Beach, distributing water, MREs, kosher sandwiches diapers, and blankets. To get to the distribution point, they passed two open supermarkets.

I can understand blankets, as the nights are getting cold. But MREs? It's been a week, anyone in the area who had been genuinely starving wouldn't be standing in line for hours.

They also prevented us from unloading our own truck that would have gone to housebound seniors who cannot leave their apartments since their buildings lack power and the elevators don't work.

Also, apparently, using a bullhorn to give directions is inhumane and disrespectful, according to the Mayor's office. We must engage in face to face communication as equals or some such.

Now, my voice is almost gone. Fucking bureaucrats.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[ArmorPierce]

Hey guys.

A update from the eye of the storm. Power been out for a week here so no heat or electricity but luckily hot water. Father was able to pick up a tiny generator a couple days ago so we are able to warm up the house.

Next door neighbors tree fell on the power line (my father called it) and there was a big light show and fire in front of my house for a couple hours until they finally decided to shut off power in the side of town. Got most of it on tape. It started a chain reaction and pulled the wires down and started fires all down the road too but fires were put out by rain. Luckily no one touched the down power line that melted the ground and sidewalk because apparently electricity was still running through it even though we all got real close to it.

Gas lines are horrible up here but if you go south an hour from my area to trenton area and gas stations there have no lines for some reason.

National guard (I think they were I didn't talk to them) were in town having breakfast and rutgers campus during the weekend. Red cross was here giving free hot meals in the morning

[Simon_Jester]

The National Guard showed up today at Brighton Beach, distributing water, MREs, kosher sandwiches diapers, and blankets. To get to the distribution point, they passed two open supermarkets.

I can understand blankets, as the nights are getting cold. But MREs? It's been a week, anyone in the area who had been genuinely starving wouldn't be standing in line for hours.

If I might guess...

They're light, they're cheap since the army has more than they know what to do with, they're nutritious. They're probably just shoving pallets of Designated Disaster Relief Supplies onto a truck and not worrying about the details; if you don't want free food you don't have to take it.

...National guard (I think they were I didn't talk to them) were in town having breakfast and rutgers campus during the weekend. Red cross was here giving free hot meals in the morning

I have some old friends from work with ties at Rutgers; I should ask them how they're holding up come to think of it.

Also, the power line thing sounds pretty scary but impressive, I'd be curious to get a look if you ever get it on YouTube or anything.

[Terralthra]

Was I the only one seeing this make the rounds?

[Beowulf]

All hurricanes have the rain bands follow a roughly logarithmic spiral shape. Also, that's not Sandy. Sandy was bigger, and made landfall further north. I think that's Irene, from last year.

[The Yosemite Bear]

so Pathadurus is responsible for Hurricanes nwo?

[ArmorPierce]

...National guard (I think they were I didn't talk to them) were in town having breakfast and rutgers campus during the weekend. Red cross was here giving free hot meals in the morning

I have some old friends from work with ties at Rutgers; I should ask them how they're holding up come to think of it.

Also, the power line thing sounds pretty scary but impressive, I'd be curious to get a look if you ever get it on YouTube or anything.

Yeah once I either get power or access to a computer I'm putting it up on youtube. Lady at pse&g wanted to see it too.

[Edward Yee]

Power was partially restored in my house, albeit only to the front side (so as far in as the kitchen on the first floor, up until the kitchen on the second floor) but that's enough to be typing on a keyboard for the first time in days! It'll be enough hopefully to not have to reschedule an upcoming technician's appointment for looking over the boiler as well.

Thing is, the surge protector that my desktop is hooked up to which is connected by two extension cords to a socket in the front half of the house has a lit red light for "site wiring fault"...

[madd0ct0r]

you might be earthing the wire somewhere - not enough to blow it, but your meter might be spinning like crazy.

[fgalkin]

The National Guard showed up today at Brighton Beach, distributing water, MREs, kosher sandwiches diapers, and blankets. To get to the distribution point, they passed two open supermarkets.

I can understand blankets, as the nights are getting cold. But MREs? It's been a week, anyone in the area who had been genuinely starving wouldn't be standing in line for hours.

If I might guess...

They're light, they're cheap since the army has more than they know what to do with, they're nutritious. They're probably just shoving pallets of Designated Disaster Relief Supplies onto a truck and not worrying about the details; if you don't want free food you don't have to take it.

That's the point, though. There are plenty of people who need food but can't get it because their area lacks open stores, or because they have mobility problem. Rather than helping those people, the city comes to an area that DOES have food, giving out rations to people who don't really need them (and preventing us from reaching people who do).

There are areas in the city where the only source of food are relief tents operated by non-affiliated volunteers. There was one such area some 20 blocks away. Instead, they have essentially wasted their time and effort and resources.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[ryacko]

Power was partially restored in my house, albeit only to the front side (so as far in as the kitchen on the first floor, up until the kitchen on the second floor) but that's enough to be typing on a keyboard for the first time in days! It'll be enough hopefully to not have to reschedule an upcoming technician's appointment for looking over the boiler as well.

Thing is, the surge protector that my desktop is hooked up to which is connected by two extension cords to a socket in the front half of the house has a lit red light for "site wiring fault"...

Site wiring fault could mean anything.

1. Overloaded neutral wire (>5vdc measured between Neutral and Ground)

2. Reversed polarity (hot and neutral wires are reversed)

3. Missing ground wire (also includes using a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter)

My guess is that there is reversed polarity if this is recent.

[fgalkin]

Now that I finally have internet access, I have signed up for NYCcares, the official volunteer website of NYC.

This is the one project they have available as of right now:

"Hurricane Sandy Response: Clean-up at Marcus Garvey Park
Manhattan :: Harlem Thursday, 11/8/2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sign Up
Improve Marcus Garvey Park post-Hurricane Sandy with debris removal and general park clean-up. Due to conditions in parks, please be aware of your surroundings and follow directions from staff about staying safe. Please use common sense when working in these areas. Volunteers must wear closed toe shoes and clothes that they can move around in and do not mind getting dirty.
Team Leader: Kate Kinsey"

So, while people are literally dying of privation in the Rockaways, and there are streets full of debris in Staten Island, the city uses it's army of volunteers to clean up fucking PARKS.

Fuck you Bloomberg. Fuck you with a rusty chainsaw.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Block]

Now that I finally have internet access, I have signed up for NYCcares, the official volunteer website of NYC.

This is the one project they have available as of right now:

"Hurricane Sandy Response: Clean-up at Marcus Garvey Park
Manhattan :: Harlem Thursday, 11/8/2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sign Up
Improve Marcus Garvey Park post-Hurricane Sandy with debris removal and general park clean-up. Due to conditions in parks, please be aware of your surroundings and follow directions from staff about staying safe. Please use common sense when working in these areas. Volunteers must wear closed toe shoes and clothes that they can move around in and do not mind getting dirty.
Team Leader: Kate Kinsey"

So, while people are literally dying of privation in the Rockaways, and there are streets full of debris in Staten Island, the city uses it's army of volunteers to clean up fucking PARKS.

Fuck you Bloomberg. Fuck you with a rusty chainsaw.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Probably because it's not a good idea to use untrained volunteers for those things?

[fgalkin]

Untrained volunteers are the only ones who are actually there running relief efforts. Seriously. Thousands of people in the Rockaways depend on a Facebook group and a few Occupy people for survival right now.

That is how bad the things really are, and the city simply doesn't give a shit.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Eulogy]

That sounds like a recipe for a hugeass lawsuit. Or riot.

[ryacko]

No, the start of a socialist revolution, where the occupy movement begins to supplant the government's authority.

[The Vortex Empire]

No, the start of a socialist revolution, where the occupy movement begins to supplant the government's authority.

Gahaha, not a chance.

[Block]

No, the start of a socialist revolution, where the occupy movement begins to supplant the government's authority.

Shut the fuck up.

[fgalkin]

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Eulogy]

No, the start of a socialist revolution, where the occupy movement begins to supplant the government's authority.

How big is the Occupy movement's army? What equipment, assets, training do they have? How well can they take and hold important points? Is their logistic train robust and competent?

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Clearly the glorious army of workers and peasants will work exactly like this.