Delays in restoring power after Sandy anger many

A volunteer passes a damaged home emblazoned with U.S. flags in the Rockaways, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, in the Queens borough of New York. Despite power returning to many neighborhoods in the metropolitan area, many residents of the Rockaways continue to live without power and heat due to damage caused by Sandy. / AP Photo/John Minchillo

NEW YORK Utility companies in New York and New Jersey closed in on restoring power Sunday to the last of the 8.5 million who lost it during the superstorm two weeks ago and a subsequent nor'easter, but tens of thousands of homes and businesses were too damaged to receive electricity, and delays and a dearth of updates have angered residents and government officials alike.

Power problems remained unresolved on New York's Long Island, where about 300 people protested Saturday at an office of the beleaguered Long Island Power Authority. About 130,000 of its customers still didn't have power Sunday, LIPA said, not including the homes and businesses that were too damaged.

"Each day you get a different answer from them," Carrie Baram, 56, said of LIPA. Monday will mark two weeks since she's had power at her home in Baldwin Harbor on Long Island.

She and her husband have gone to her parents' home a few times to shower, and sent their adult children to stay with friends. They had to throw out most of the food in their refrigerator, so they've been eating meals out, which is getting expensive.

"It's dark, it's frightening, and it's freezing," she said.

Workers were repairing unprecedented storm damage as fast as they can, LIPA said. About 6,400 linemen and 3,700 tree trimmers were at work, compared with 200 linemen on a normal day, said Chief Operating Officer Michael Hervey. He blamed the spotty information updates partly on outdated technology it's in the process of updating.

"I certainly feel the frustration of customers whose power remains out. Our hearts go out to them," said Hervey.

A gas line forms for free fuel from a tanker in the Far Rockaways section of Queens, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.

/ AP Photo/John Minchillo

Phillip Jones of Uniondale described feeling powerless, reduced to hoping each day would be the day the power came back on. Saturday was that day.

"You get a busy signal, busy signal, busy signal" when calling LIPA, he said.

Jones, a parole officer, had to miss two weeks of work. He and his wife and two children had been sleeping in one bed to try to stay warm.

• Sick, frail struggle most in storm's aftermath
• Volunteers help the Rockaways after Sandy
• Frustrated residents protest outside NY utility
• Sandy: Tempers heated among New Yorkers still in the cold

Most of the rest of the power outages were in New Jersey, where residents received a boost from kindred spirits in Louisiana, whose memories of devastating Hurricane Katrina prompted them to send tons of relief items north via rail in a train that arrived Saturday, organizer Donna O'Daniels said.

The donations came alongside relief workers, volunteers and demolition crews who have flocked to the region in recent days to assist with the massive cleanup. For many, the prospect of repairing or rebuilding damaged homes looms as a long-term challenge.

Thousands of displaced New Jersey residents are calling real estate offices, looking to rent a home or apartment while they figure out what to do about their storm-ravaged homes. Others are joining waiting lists at hotels filled with evacuees and out-of-state utility workers.

"A lot of people who don't have a home to go back to, a lot of property destroyed," Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "So housing is a big issue as we move forward here, to have a place for people to call home for those who don't have other resources or family members to stay with in the interim."

The superstorm also claimed another New York City life, police said. Albert McSwain, 77, died Saturday from injuries he suffered when he fell in his darkened apartment building Oct. 31. He had a head injury and had been paralyzed. McSwain was the 43rd person in the city whose death was related to the storm.

• Volunteers head for flood-damaged N.Y. areas
• Jersey Shore residents return to damaged homes
• N.J. moves Sandy evacuees from tent shelters
• FEMA camps house struggling Sandy survivors in N.J.

Fuel remained another major question two weeks after the storm. No one knows exactly what will happen in the coming week as commuters and businesses look for gas to get back to work.

Lines at gas stations in New York City remained long over the weekend after rationing was put in place for the first time since the 1970s Arab oil embargo, but were only a shade of the nightmare they had been in recent days.

In New Jersey, state-imposed gas limits continued in 12 of 21 counties. The rationing based on license plate numbers will be evaluated to see how much longer it's needed, according to a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie.

Though New York and New Jersey bore the brunt of the destruction, at its peak, the storm reached 1,000 miles across, killed more than 100 people in 10 states, knocked out power to 8.5 million and canceled nearly 20,000 flights. More than 12 inches of rain fell in Easton, Md., and 34 inches of snow fell in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Damage has been estimated $50 billion, making Sandy the second most expensive storm in U.S. history, behind Katrina.

[lordanson]

I noticed that there is much less news coverage this morning about Hurricane Sandy and its devastation. Evidently, everything is back to normal now. Kudos to good government! By the way, I have a question. Who will insure the homeowners and property owners of the affected areas, say, a year from now? And, what will their premiums be? Oh, well, sorry for asking dumb, insensitive questions.

[JV1970]

My little apartment isn't a mansion and most people wouldn't even call it fancy but I have a solid roof over my head and I have heat and electricity and running water. I also have a warm bed to sleep in and food to eat. I AM BLESSED!!!!

[auntbee77]

Hmmm...maybe if New York & New Jersey hadn't refused the help of Southern Company (the south's main power company) and the EMC companies (they provide power to the rural areas of the south) they would have power by now. All of these companies, who were volunteering their time, were turned away because they weren't union members. Hard to believe these northern states in desparate need of help would turn away any assistance. I guess the Civil War really isn't over...

[retiredgustav]

This is just another internet lie. As Mark Twain once said "A lie will travel around the world three times before the truth catches up with it.

[payasyougo]

So where is Chris Rock so he can accuse this president?

[logictoo]

Why do so many refer to Obama as "This President" instead of "The President"??? Nobody ever answers my questions but plenty call me names for asking. I don't know why.

[liselle3]

I completely understand the frustration people are feeling, but anger? At who and what? Don't misplace your anger at the folks restoring your electricity, I am sure they are working as hard and fast as they can. And the government? Seems to me they've handled it well. Let's be reasonable folks this was a bad situation and restoring power to 8.5 million homes, etc., is no easy feat. People expect way too much!

[rburse]

they can wait i mean these power company people are risking there life to give them power. be thankful that god is letting them see another day. we in the south know how these things are.

[globalcloud]

AFTER Sandy. Your insurance company won't what my CLAIM?
Now what?
http://www.pplonlinetools.com/video.php?uid=sukcqmc6ssse86ci
Do you know 3 people that need help NOW you would refer to me?
USAF VET

[lsklar1]

what about the utility crews turned away by union crews in the north?
http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/02/theres-more-georgia-power-crew-turned-away-from-sandy-stricken-new-york-for-refusing-to-join-union/

[hypnotoad72]

http://easthampton.patch.com/articles/lipa-union-workers-not-turned-away

Crews are not being turned away. Read the memo this time, there are MANY outlets reporting the truth.


And stop acting as if it was 1938. Unions did not hamper or destroy this country, and if you hate them, why don't you move to China and live as their workers do... unions lifted this country out of a two-tier pseudo-republic nation that prospered on slave labor instead of real freedom for all.

[hypnotoad72]

And another:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544237/ala-utilities-our-crews-not-turned-away-from-n.j/?tag=contentAux;mostShared

Governor Christie also debunked your claim, LSKLAR1, and noting that your article is older than the ones I've presented, I don't think it's fair to ask you reconsider your mindset.

And, as I said, there are other articles. But read these first. Especially the easthampton.patch article if you think CBS is ever-so-biased (despite your post remaining for all to see, so consider that too...)

[JRMikla]

This is why utilities shouldn't be privatized! Citizens have no voice. They can't vote the CEO out of office.

[hypnotoad72]

**BINGO!**

And, as with other issues, thanks to places like ontheissues.org, we all know corporatists (the GOP and some Democrats) would all vote to prevent giving citizens any choice or freedom... /halftangent

[mjvwsr]

If government was in charge, nobody would have power. Please tell me one thing government does well. Idiots