Power returning to NYC as Sandy recovery continues

NYC Marathon cancelled after outcry

CBC News

Posted: Nov 3, 2012 11:34 AM ET

The lights in Lower Manhattan started to flicker on overnight for the first time since superstorm Sandy brought widespread devastation along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.
"When it comes to power, we are making significant progress," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a media briefing Saturday.
"All of the power in Manhattan has been restored. That doesn't mean every building everywhere has power, but downtown Manhattan has power restored. We are under 900,000 people now without power in the metropolitan area [of New York]," Cuomo said.
Sandra Finnegan places a sign against the marathon in front of her brother's house, which was destroyed by superstorm Sandy in Staten Island. (Seth Wenig/Associated Press)He added about 80 per cent of New York's subway service has been restored.
Long Island, which was hardest hit when it came to loss of power, has about 550,000 people who are still without power, down from 1.2 million initially.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama used his weekly address Saturday to tell victims of the storm that their country will support them "for as long as it takes to recover and rebuild."

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He said even before the storm hit the U.S. Eastern Seaboard early in the week, he instructed his team "not to let red tape and bureaucracy get in the way of solving problems," especially when it comes to restoring power.
"This week, we have been humbled by nature's destructive power," Obama said. "But we've been inspired as well. For when the storm was darkest, the heroism of our fellow citizens shone brightest."
Despite progress in restoring power, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday warned that some people could be out of their homes for months.
Bloomberg also announced the New York City Marathon, scheduled Sunday, has been cancelled. At one point on Friday, he said he was in favour of going ahead with the race, but a few hours later reversed his stand because of pressure from those who said resources should be concentrated on victims.

Sandy in the U.S. by the numbers

• Maximum size of storm: 1,609 kilometres across.
• Highest storm surge: 4.23 metres, at New York.
• Number of states seeing intense effects of the storm: At least 17.
• Deaths: More than 90 in the U.S.
• Damage: Estimated at $50 billion
• Top wind gust on land in the U.S.: 225 km/h, at Mount Washington, N.H.
• Power outages at peak: 8.5 million customers affected.
• Most rainfall: 31.9 cm , at Easton, Md.
• Most snow: 74 cm, at Redhouse, Md.

Sources: National Weather Service, Associated Press

"We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track," the mayor said.
The death toll across several states was listed at 105 on Friday night, with 41 of those reportedly in New York City. About half of New York's dead were in Staten Island, where the marathon was supposed to begin.
Around 47,500 runners — 30,000 of them out-of-towners, many of them from other countries — had been expected to take part in the 26.2-mile marathon.
For some runners, the race cancellation was a big disappointment. At the midtown New Yorker Hotel, the lobby was filled with anguished runners Friday, some crying and others with puffy eyes. Out-of-town runners said they would have been less frustrated had the race been called off earlier in the week.
But the decision to cancel came as a relief to many area residents.
"Thank God. My reaction is they have come to their senses in realizing that these resources are going to be needed where they're truly needed," said one woman from Staten Island, where 32,000 homes remained without power.
Volodymyr Krupa takes a cigarette break on his street while cleaning out his flood damaged home in the Staten Island borough of New York. (Seth Wenig/Associated Press)Toronto runner Allan Jeffries, a New York City Marathon entrant, told CBC News the decision to cancel "was the correct one," but he, too, would have preferred to learn about it earlier.
Meanwhile in Washington, Obama stopped in at the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday for an update on the storm before getting ready for a full day of campaigning across the country.
The briefing included members of his cabinet and governors who joined in by telephone.
The White House says Obama is sending out top officials to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to check on response and recovery efforts. Those officials include the health, housing and homeland security secretaries, as well as the president's homeland security adviser.

Before and after The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

At least one estimate said the total U.S. damage from the storm could at run as high as $50 billion. The cost of the storm could exceed $18 billion in New York alone.
Drivers in New York and New Jersey are experiencing long lineups at the limited number of gas stations that have power to run pumps. Some stations have asked for police assistance to help keep tempers calm.
Governor Chris Christie has ordered an even-odd system of gas rationing in New Jersey, starting at noon Saturday. Vehicles with licence plates ending with an even number can fill up on even-numbered calendar dates, alternating every other day with odd-numbered cars.
Cuomo said the U.S. defence department will set up emergency mobile gas stations at five locations around the New York City metropolitan area to distribute free fuel with a limit of 10 gallons (38 litres) per person.