Tag: hurricane damage

Reality

decisionsformyfamily5 Comments

So, I have a friend trying to understand why my Governor did what he did in allowing himself to be used as a campaign prop for a failing President.  Although I agree with the politics of this friend, I disagree with the image of my governor.  What I realize, is what I have always known.  We have a media who is corrupt and totally biased.  This friend lives in Minnesota and totally untouched by Hurricane Sandy. What he is seeing is a biased medias “paint”  job of  reality. A media portraying a President who is doing some wonderful job of handling the situation  with this storm.

Reality is millions of people still without power.

Reality is tens of thousands waiting in line for several hours for gas.

Reality is FEMA running out of water in NY today.

Reality is the Red Cross in NY being caught flat-footed and unprepared.

Reality is people pulling food from dumpsters.

Reality is FEMA once again being caught flat-footed.

Reality is a governor who has issued 85 subpoenas as of today to go after those trying to profit through price gouging of affected citizens.

Reality is local people helping, running trucks to the areas hit to help neighbors.

Reality is that New Jersey is beginning to get back to normalcy (by no means repaired ) because we had a Governor who was engaged  and made the decisions that REAL leaders make!

It will take years to rebuild what has been destroyed.

Sometimes, leaders have to make decisions that are not popular, decisions that distance him from the “Christie 2016” crowd. I have union, liberal, and democrat friends who have disagreed with me about our governor in the past, yet today many  people in this state, the state of New Jersey ravaged by an awful natural disaster, for the first time in many moons, we all agree on something, Gov. Christie is a leader!  Thank you Chris Christie!

The Politics of Devastation

decisionsformyfamily2 Comments

The storm may be gone but the scope of the mess left behind is still not fully realized.  Many areas of the south Jersey shore were allowed to return to the area today although there is still no power in many spots.  For my sister though, no homecoming yet.  Her area is still without power and now is experiencing a sewage issue.  In areas further north no power, water issues and now a shortage of gasoline causing cars to line up for waits not seen in this country since the 1970’s.  Thousands of New Yorkers line up to wait for buses since the subway system is either damaged by flooding or out of power.  

Of course with only a few days left until the presidential election, we can not allow anything to go by without jumping on it for political gain.  The President toured NJ the other day, many reporters referred to it as a “Campaign” stop.  The Mayor of NY has jumped out to use the opportunity to talk about climate change and endorse Obama.  All of this while everyday New Yorkers dumpster dive for food. Areas of Staten Island are still searching home by home looking for missing people.  The Mayor of NY still seems set to make it look like everything is fine and insists that the Marathon scheduled for this weekend will go on as scheduled.  Those New Yorkers living without running water and power are organizing saying they will rush the water stations along the marathon route if it is held, resources would be pulled from the community to ensure the race goes smoothly.  Priorities?

A shore town in my own fine state has turned away power workers who came from as far away as Alabama to help because they are non-union. Really?  Unbelievable.  They should be the last to get power restored!

NBC has rushed to get a “benefit” concert on air tonight.  Maybe I am just a little jaded but if the election was not just a few days away, would there have been such a rush?  Those held for Katrina and 9/11 were not done so quickly.  How many “stars/musicians” will preach to me about global warming and which candidate stands where on the issue?  The answer is none for me I will not be watching nor will the millions on the east coast who have yet to have power restored!

We can argue that there was plenty of warning of the storm and people should have been more prepared, I myself stocked up with 8 cases of water, batteries etc.  But, hindsight is 20/20 and these people are now without power and unable to find assistance.  Why?  I guess their mayor is too busy writing newspaper editorials.

 

So Long Sandy

decisionsformyfamily1 Comment

Well Sandy spared my home any damage but she defiantly left her mark on the state as well as many others.  My sister is still at my house and will be for the near future.  She had minor flooding at her house but the house stands.  Damage does not seem too bad in her neighborhood but they have no electricity nor do they exact it for days and they have banned anyone from returning due to unsafe conditions.  There is major damage due to trees and downed wires.  Many homes have seen severe damage.  There are some areas that have seen total devastation.

For my area life begins to get back to normal tomorrow.  Schools will reopen, Halloween will go on and most roads and business will be as if nothing ever happened.  For others, removing trees from roof tops, filing of insurance claims and for some the realization that everything is gone.