Hurricane Sandy Rowboat Check-In Thread

October 30, 2012 7:27 AM

Hurricane Sandy Rowboat: Check in and let us know you came through okay.

Because the longboat thread of Sandy news isn't loading for people on older mobile devices anymore, here's a tiny little rowboat thread that should load for members with limited access or older devices. Check in and let us know you're okay.

The original Sandy thread is here for news and discussion. Try to keep this one to check-ins and keep in mind we're going for fast loading for people with dodgy internet for the next couple days!

posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) to MetaFilter-Related at 7:27 AM (278 comments total)

Fine with power, internet and water in Somerset County, NJ. Better than many in this area.
posted by booksherpa at 7:31 AM on October 30, 2012

As I said in the other thread:

Lower Manhattan still without power so I expect many Mefites in that area can't check in yet.

Once the buses and taxis start running if those folks can read this or if other Mefites know of anyone who wants a shower or a place to sleep, the NYC google group has a dedicated thread full of uptown and Brooklyn dwellers with water and power volunteering their places for anyone who needs it. Post in there or email us.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:33 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Not only did two of the Mefites from Clinton Hill, Brooklyn make it okay, we're talking about a mini-meetup! (The one casualty of the storm in my house was my wireless router, which may have fried in a brief brownout.) Am logging on via a makeshift setup with the ethernet cable stretching across my lap to a chair by the window.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:35 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Situation normal here (in Virginia, near DC). A lot of our neighbors are without power, but we somehow managed to get by so far with only a few flickers, and it looks like the worst is over.
posted by capricorn at 7:35 AM on October 30, 2012

Checking in from DC -- Bulgaroktonos and I are okay and maintained power and water throughout the storm. Trains and buses are scheduled to be back up at two today. I haven't heard of any problems from any other DC MeFites and I hope everyone else is okay.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 7:35 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

New Paltz, NY. No flooding and barely any property damage (looks like the landlord lost a gutter, but not really my problem). Still trying to get in touch with my mother in Somerset County, NJ. Hopefully she and her dogs are fine.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:37 AM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Boerum Hill/Cobble Hill is fine, didn't lose anything.
posted by TrishaLynn at 7:37 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Okay here in the Bronx. Power, water, sleeping cat, pumpkin bread.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:38 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Pretty much normal in Fredericksburg VA. The bad stuff missed us. Officially, our worst gust was 43 mph.
posted by COD at 7:40 AM on October 30, 2012

Thank you all immensely for checking in. I'm going to try to avoid tearing up right now, since it's early times, but please know that I'm exceedingly happy to know you're okay.
posted by koeselitz at 7:43 AM on October 30, 2012 [8 favorites]

Lost power in Crozet, VA but should have it back soon. Everyone ok. My parents on the Northern Neck amazingly didn't even lose power.

Friends on the Eastern Shore are trapped on the second story of their house due to flooding.
posted by 4ster at 7:44 AM on October 30, 2012

Central Jersey. A couple of hundred-year oaks fell across our road, taking out a transformer and ripping all the wires out of our house (and the neighbors on both sides). We have gas heat, a gas stove, and a generator, so we're ok and just waiting things out.
posted by Karmakaze at 7:45 AM on October 30, 2012

Southern MD, Chesapeake Bay - all OK, power and internet stayed up, no sign of flooding.
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 7:45 AM on October 30, 2012

Texted with jonmc this morning. He's alive and surly.
posted by ColdChef at 7:45 AM on October 30, 2012 [56 favorites]

Lost internet for the night and there was very slight basement flooding, but otherwise, the 71 family is well .
posted by josher71 at 7:45 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Doing great here in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, where Empress Callipygos and I are throwing an impromptu Meetup at Putnam's Pub on the corner of Clinton and Myrtle Avenues at noon.

I have power, water, wifi, and snacks if anyone needs to literally or figuratively recharge.

I also have a bike and can get most places in Brooklyn (and possibly lower Manhattan now that the East River bridges are open again?).
posted by Sara C. at 7:46 AM on October 30, 2012

That's Baltimore City, by the way.
posted by josher71 at 7:46 AM on October 30, 2012

I lost a tree. It landed precariously on the gate to the public park next door, which of course didn't stop people from climbing under it.
posted by mkb at 7:47 AM on October 30, 2012

ALSO: make sure to post in this thread what you DON'T have (hot water, electricity, food, television, coffee). That way, those who have can share with those who don't have and we can all be a bunch of goddamn communists.
posted by ColdChef at 7:48 AM on October 30, 2012 [40 favorites]

For those of you with generators, don't let them run in your garages, even with the garage door open. Carbon monoxide is bad. Run those babies out-of-doors.

so glad for a check-in thread
posted by cooker girl at 7:49 AM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Doing okay outside of Philly; lots of downed trees, but my main line apartment has power and water (no internet.) I should be there tomorrow or tonight if there's anything I can do in the general area.
posted by jetlagaddict at 7:49 AM on October 30, 2012

The East River bridges are open?

Damn, I have no excuse to miss work tomorrow....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:49 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Really hungover in Vinegar Hill.
posted by nathancaswell at 7:50 AM on October 30, 2012 [6 favorites]

Yeah, DC and near environs seem to have done pretty well through it all.
posted by OmieWise at 7:55 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Present, and doing fine, posting this from Cafe Grumpy in Greenpoint, where it is really crowded.
posted by eustacescrubb at 7:56 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Just fine here in Old York. Thanks to the couple of MeFites who sent me emails asking if I'm ok. I made cocoa and went to bed early-ish. My leftovers from Sunday were slightly unappetizing, but I survived.
posted by iamkimiam at 7:58 AM on October 30, 2012 [6 favorites]

Doing great here in Glen Burnie MD (just south of Baltimore). Power went out last night for about a min then came back on.
Right now I have a excess of kids (watching sister in laws 3 kids) so if any one needs those you can have all of em. It's gonna be a long loud day in the shawnstring house.
posted by ShawnString at 8:01 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh and coldchef was awesome and texted me to see how I was...and that was awesome.
posted by ShawnString at 8:02 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

I posted this in the original thread, but:

Another check-in from Bed-Stuy. Never lost power, just a few flickers. They wind has gone down, but now it's raining. No downed trees or power lines on the block, but haven't ventured past the bodega next door.

Does anyone know what the Village looks like, near the W 4th station? My friend's mom lives on MacDougal St. and he can't get in touch. I know the power's out, but are folks okay over there?
posted by dysh at 8:04 AM on October 30, 2012

Oh and coldchef was awesome and texted me to see how I was...and that was awesome.

Anyone who doesn't answer their phone after three rings, I'm gonna assume they're dead and embalm them.
posted by ColdChef at 8:04 AM on October 30, 2012 [98 favorites]

Absolutely fine here in Astoria in Queens, NY. Never lost power or internet - congrats and thanks to the overtime workers who made sure I could stay warm, cozy, and connected.
posted by brainwane at 8:07 AM on October 30, 2012

matcha action and I checking in from Prospect Park South. We've got power and internet and the biggest concern at the moment is whether they can clean up in time for the marathon.
posted by Jeanne at 8:08 AM on October 30, 2012

I'm fine in Wallkill/Newburgh, NY. Minor wind damage around my property, but we've seemed to avoid the worst of it. Waiting to hear from relatives with homes in the Roxbury/Breezy Point area (in Evacuation Zone A) of NYC. 6 alarm fire took out almost 100 homes overnight.
posted by KingEdRa at 8:10 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Prospect Heights / Park Slope-ish, Brooklyn, NY - Safe and sound here, with novalis_dt. Our lights flickered a bunch last night, but the power never really went out. I haven't gone outside yet, though. It was disturbing listening to the sirens going by outside all day yesterday!
posted by 168 at 8:11 AM on October 30, 2012

Doing OK here in the Philly burbs. Power's been out since last night. We lost 3 big pines, but none hit the house or cars. Kids are super concerned about What Will Become of Halloween.
posted by jrossi4r at 8:14 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Just fine in U-city in Philly. Heavy rain and wind and a few power flickers, but never lost power. Haven't been outside yet though -- I'm hoping I can find an open coffee shop.
posted by DoubleLune at 8:16 AM on October 30, 2012

Power stayed on, save for a couple of flickers. Internet is fine. No flooding; will have a roofer check out the leak. Tree stayed erect. Currently full of leftover pizza.

We're fine... we're all fine here... how are you?
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:18 AM on October 30, 2012 [7 favorites]

Life goes on in Laurel, Maryland. Basement's full of a slush of rich Corinthian silt that's going to take ages to clean up, but the furnace, the hot water heater, my '79 Motobecane Mobylette with genuine sparkle white vinylette panniers, two SKB racks of vintage gear, eleven thousand pounds of tools, and a small stack of half-finished theremins survived intact.

I wore imitation Crocs for eighteen hours, so I'm going to pray for forgiveness to a small portrait of Jean Paul Gaultier.

The two pounds of bacon I bought just before the storm with the relatively overt intention to cook and eat all of it in the event of a power failure in order to avoid wasting food is about 75% intact. Dang.

I've been instructed not to drive into Baltimore to check on my facilities, but if anyone is in the vicinity either of the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower at 21 S. Eutaw or School 33 Art Center at 1427 Light Street and happens to notice anything obviously awry, please let me know.

Also, I went for a walk around the neighborhood in sweat pants, taking advantage of the complete collapse of civilization. I felt footloose, fancy free, and deliciously unsavory.

I take the weak hit on Maryland as a sign that the Lord is cool with us voting yes on 6.

[Note to self: Take this as a bit of good luck and rework the fucking gutters, sump pumps, and drainage issues around here.]
posted by sonascope at 8:18 AM on October 30, 2012 [22 favorites]

In Waltham, MA, did not lose any power, but some people across town did.

The day the storm actually lives up to the media hype around here, I will buy everybody dinner.
posted by Melismata at 8:18 AM on October 30, 2012

I wore imitation Crocs for eighteen hours

I'm about to put my actual name-brand crocs on to go out exploring in the neighborhood. May St. Jean Paul have mercy on my soul.
posted by Sara C. at 8:20 AM on October 30, 2012

The Rochester area missed most of the storm, luckily--some downed trees and power outages, but no massive problems. I could hear my sump pump working overtime, but that was it. Everything's OK in my neck of the woods.
posted by thomas j wise at 8:22 AM on October 30, 2012

Newark, DE here. Never lost power. No flooding in the basement. We got lucky.
posted by inturnaround at 8:23 AM on October 30, 2012

UPDATE: I was fine until this thread when it turns out people get e-mails from elizardbits and texts from ColdChef and those people aren't me and now I'm depressed.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:25 AM on October 30, 2012 [36 favorites]

South Williamsburg checking in: safe, dry and warm. Very grateful I was so lucky.
posted by idest at 8:25 AM on October 30, 2012

Cambridge, MA: ignignokt and I are okay. Okay enough that I feel a little silly checking in; Boston got hit, but not terribly hard.

why don't I have any mefite friends who text me? brb off to write a sad anonymous askme
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:28 AM on October 30, 2012 [5 favorites]

Safe and grateful in Greenpoint! Lost internet and had some pretty impressive flickering last night, but the electricity held and the internet just came back and I am one happy girl :)
posted by silverstatue at 8:29 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Somerville, MA has survived more or less unscathed. School's out for a second day, but city buildings are open again and the MBTA seems to be running on schedule. The universities in the area all seem to have reopened.

There were a lot of twigs and leaves on the ground on my drive to work, but no serious damage I could discern. I was really hoping the roof at my office would be missing and my cubicle flooded (because, seriously, it would be an improvement on the poor condition of everything here) but the building has stood resolute. Even the bulging ceiling tile didn't sag more.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:30 AM on October 30, 2012

I got a call from Jan in the UK. I win!
posted by TrishaLynn at 8:31 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Glad that everyone is seems safe.

I don't have a rowboat update but here in Cincinnati, we have rare October snow fall.
posted by mmascolino at 8:31 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Most folks in Manhattan below 39th st. are without power afaik. I think it may be quite some time before power comes back on for everyone in Manhattan.
posted by gen at 8:35 AM on October 30, 2012

Daughter in Bronxville NY is fine so my worry level is falling. Power is out on her campus- at least her side of it. Some cars and one dorm got treed, but no injuries reported. Cafeteria is delivering meals to the dorms. That makes me feel good.
posted by SLC Mom at 8:36 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

The day the storm actually lives up to the media hype around here, I will buy everybody dinner.

I think it kind of did. They were really predicting a "wind event" in the Boston area and that's what we got. This seemed worse than Irene though I think Irene did more damage. Perhaps all the trees got culled last year during Irene and the October storm.

I'm in Metrowest and came out ok. Had some scary moments while some trees fell next door, including a large one that landed on our neighbor's house, but our power stayed on and things seem to be mostly back to normal. My son had no school for the second day in a row.
posted by bondcliff at 8:37 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

gen: ConEd says 4 days to restore power.
posted by eustacescrubb at 8:38 AM on October 30, 2012

Really glad everyone's okay down there.
Up here in Toronto I saw a crushed car when I took my son to school, and there's been a bunch of fires and my mother-in-law's power was out and the stores made a killing on bottled water and batteries.
posted by chococat at 8:39 AM on October 30, 2012

Scratch that announcement about the mini-Meetup in Clinton Hill - the place we were gonna go is closed. Oh well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:46 AM on October 30, 2012

Apart from JonMc, Pips and TrishaLynn, I talked to gaspode today. She has no internet and the kidlet is making her watch Angelina Ballerina for the millionth time, but other than that she's golden.

Jason's_Planet is fine too.
posted by essexjan at 8:47 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Midtown Manhattan relatively unaffected; people in deli buying coffee, haggling with owners; shrug/plotz/kvetch factor back to 75% of normal.
posted by lalochezia at 8:47 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

I think it kind of did.

No, it didn't. Among other things, there was one news guy (Harper?) on the Cape, wearing goggles, screaming "OH MY GOD, THIS IS HORRIBLE!" while a very skinny teenager was behind him, waving and smoking a cigarette, not being blown over in the slightest.

Ok, maybe they did only predict a "wind event", but they kept saying "OH MY GOD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WIND EVENT!" and had nothing but scare broadcasts on all the networks, causing people to overreact anyway.
posted by Melismata at 8:49 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Casa de Diagonalize in New Haven is alive and well. Didn't lose water or power, but the whole damn house was swaying, and there's a large dangling tree branch just outside my window that's still threatening to give me a bad day if the wind keeps up.
posted by Diagonalize at 8:52 AM on October 30, 2012

Thanks for this.

And ColdChef is a mensch.
posted by Curious Artificer at 8:54 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

My uncles downtown on Vandam Street are without power, and my parents in NJ are also without power and dealing with felled trees. They both have heat, so it's all good. My UWS sister is totally fine, which is great as she has a baby. My aunt and uncle in CT are running on generator power and are grand.

We are waiting on a prognosis on our Fire Island house, which is always dicey especially faced with 28-foot swells. It's old and on stilts and faces the Atlantic, so who knows. Everyone is fine, so nobody is going to get all Anderson Cooper about the house right now.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:57 AM on October 30, 2012

No, it didn't. Among other things, there was one news guy (Harper?) on the Cape, wearing goggles, screaming "OH MY GOD, THIS IS HORRIBLE!" while a very skinny teenager was behind him, waving and smoking a cigarette, not being blown over in the slightest.

Yeah, true. I really hate the whole "reporter out in the storm facing the elements thing" and it's one of the few times in my life I ever secretly wish for harm to come to somebody on live TV.

It was crazy, the news reporters kept saying "There are actually people out here to watch!" Well, perhaps if you weren't out there showing them how not-dangerous it is they'd have stayed home.

I guess I wasn't talking about the TV news people. Yesterday was the first time I've watched the TV weather probably since Irene. I was talking about the actual, non-hyped weather reports for the area. I think they were mostly accurate.

Still, you're right. You don't owe us dinner.
posted by bondcliff at 8:58 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Empress, I'm going to walk up/down myrtle and see of either chez Lola or pillow cafe are open. Stay tuned...
posted by Sara C. at 8:59 AM on October 30, 2012

Right now I am in awe of how interconnected we all are, and so grateful for the technology that's allowed me to stay in touch with my friends on the east coast and know that they are safe. Thank you for checking in, Mefites. Sending lots of good thoughts your way.
posted by crackingdes at 9:01 AM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Just talked to my mom in Lake Como, Pennsylvania. Power's been out since 11 PM last night, and still off. She heard emergency vehicles going by her house all night and into morning. She's well stocked on food though and doing fine, just a little cold.
posted by dysh at 9:02 AM on October 30, 2012

Pillow cafe on myrtle bw ryerson and grand is open and not packed. Change of venue?
posted by Sara C. at 9:05 AM on October 30, 2012

bondcliff, media coverage of the storm can go wrong so many ways. After the governor shut down the highways in Connecticut, there was some absolute turd of a reporter casually pointing out that with everything else going on there was no way for law enforcement to actually monitor this properly. They claimed everybody should just be on the honor system, but trumpeting this on air was effectively the same as saying "Well, they can't actually stop you, so go right ahead!"
posted by Diagonalize at 9:08 AM on October 30, 2012

Belmont, MA. Lost power for a couple hours yesterday afternoon, but otherwise totally fine.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 9:10 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Sara C. - maybe later?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:11 AM on October 30, 2012

Oh, screw it pillow is still the worst service in the neighborhood, and despite the total lack of a crowd and tons of open tables, they are still not seating anyone? I'm gonna get coffee and go home and eat te piles of food I already have. These people are dicks.
posted by Sara C. at 9:12 AM on October 30, 2012

Checking in from 23rd st Manhattan.

Power most certainly out. Cell service is spotty with some towers starting to quit. Sprint and Verizon 3G still limping along. Hardest hit areas are financial district and alphabet city. This storm most definitely exceeded expectations.

I will be walking around in a bit surveying damage. If anyone needs someone to ruok a person and that person is say on the west side above canal, MeMail me.

Just a note on the other thread, at 3000 comments it is too large to render on reduced power devices.
posted by PissOnYourParade at 9:12 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

OK here in Harlem. Hope everyone here is pulling through.
posted by davidjmcgee at 9:17 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Fine up here in Rochester, NY. Some problems up by the Lake Ontario shore but otherwise minor damage from wind for the most part.

Can't get a hold of family on Long Island by phone. Some might be in shelters and the rest on higher ground. Crossing my fingers.
posted by tommasz at 9:20 AM on October 30, 2012

Fort Point, Boston: never lost power, and boy is my apartment clean now (last night it made sense to Clean All the Things while still possible).

It's a weirdly nice day today...sunny and upper 60's.
posted by maryrussell at 9:20 AM on October 30, 2012

No power or network in Willingboro, NJ (Philly burb) PSEG talking head says 1 - 1.5wks to get all of NJ back up. Lots of branches down, but no serious damage that I saw on the dog walk this morning.
posted by Orb2069 at 9:22 AM on October 30, 2012

Power is still out in the Junction, because apparently Toronto Hydro is afraid of the Luftwaffe.

Glad people in NY & NJ have mostly made it through OK.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:23 AM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

So happy that mefites seem to mostly be okay. Thanks for checking in, everyone, and for checking on each other!
posted by rtha at 9:29 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Anyone in or near Monroe Township, New Jersey? My mom is there and I haven't been able to get in touch with her. I assume it's just cause her power is out, I don't think she's in a flood zone or anything, but would be nice to hear from someone in the area....
posted by Grither at 9:31 AM on October 30, 2012

Astoria NYC here, and aside from internet going out this morning we are all good. The freakiest thing was our view of Manhattan slowly going dark.
posted by gaspode at 9:32 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Toronto Hydro has a map up showing outages, colour coded by numbers affected. I'm just north of TheWhiteSkull and things have been patchy here, but none of the outages have been over 30 minutes.

Best wishes to those of you hit harder. I cannot believe some of those photos.
posted by maudlin at 9:35 AM on October 30, 2012

Bensonhurst here (borderline zone C.) We're all good; internet has been awfully spotty. Nothing terrible happened, although I did have a borderline panic attack every time the lights flickered because grandma (who was evacuated from Zone A) is on an oxygen concentrator and didn't bring a non-electronic one.
posted by griphus at 9:38 AM on October 30, 2012

Folks seem to be flagging a lot of comments in this thread so let me just say

1. This thread is mostly for "are you okay" sorts of things and more chitchatty stuff should probably be taken to email/MeMail
2. Unless something needs a typo/HTML fix or you think it's deleteworthy, please don't flag stuff just because you're annoyed by it.

I am in Vermont, the storm basically missed us where I am. I am glad people seem safe and okay.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:39 AM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Eideteker has indefinitely been heard from.
posted by JanetLand at 9:40 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

East River bridges are open. I rode into lower Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge this morning. Was shocking to see the flooding in the Battery Tunnel in person.
posted by icaicaer at 10:08 AM on October 30, 2012

Checking in from Washington Heights, NY.
posted by tickingclock at 10:08 AM on October 30, 2012

Stayed in Newton Corner, MA after work yesterday. Power went out at 3:30pm and is still out. Lots of downed trees and power lines in the area, otherwise, all is good.

Went home to Waltham this morning. Power is out. Neighbors tell me that it went out around 4pm yesterday. NStar insists that the power is on. I'll cut them some slack this week.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 10:14 AM on October 30, 2012

As I said in the other thread, more or less: Greenpointer here, doing OK. Internet's back- yay! I don't even think we lost power. Not coming into work for the forseeable future, unfortunately.
posted by bookwibble at 10:16 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Back Bay, Boston just fine. Never lost power, which proved very useful when doing midnight laundry for tot's first stomach bug. The perspective of cleaning up a barfly crib while PICUs were being evacuated was not lost on me - we are so very, very fortunate.
posted by sonika at 10:19 AM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Downtown Baltimore is fine. Some reports of minor flooding in the Inner Harbor.
posted by carter at 10:24 AM on October 30, 2012

Sonascope - the Bromo Seltzer tower was across from my hotel, it looked fine to me when I walked in earlier this morning.
posted by carter at 10:25 AM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Checking in from West End, Boston. Only thing out right now is cable TV (who cares?), internet and power never went out. If anyone needs a place to crash/re-group/use internet, memail me.
posted by Majorita at 10:26 AM on October 30, 2012

Harford County, MD check in. Lost power around 5 pm yesterday in Churchville and Eastern Bel Air and it came on 10 minutes ago
posted by jaimystery at 10:37 AM on October 30, 2012

Just curious if anybody has seen the Oceanside/South Oyster Bay area, or have heard from people in that area. I still have one name on my list for today, and as of last night the flooding was forcing him into his second floor.

I apologize if that area has already been mentioned, I'm just not familiar enough with the area to know/recognize what's what.

TIA
posted by Blue_Villain at 10:47 AM on October 30, 2012

Bless you for making this thread.

Am here. We lost power but now it's back. Phones (landline) are out and our cells are only working intermittently. Internet and cable are spotty. But no other damage that I can see.

So glad to see people are safe and checking in.
posted by zarq at 10:52 AM on October 30, 2012 [5 favorites]

Checking in from williamsburg brooklyn, by the Lorimer stop. All is well, except the internet is out.
posted by Freen at 11:20 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Trees are down all over northeastern queens. Some across roads, a few collapsed against houses.
posted by zarq at 11:30 AM on October 30, 2012

Found my mother! Woo!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:38 AM on October 30, 2012 [29 favorites]

Glad to hear from folks from points north. DC seems to be fine, no distress calls from friends here or in Baltimore. Likewise, everybody seems to be coming through okay from Philly northward. Checking in on @CoryBooker periodically, because an extra dose of faith in humanity never hurts.
posted by EvaDestruction at 11:48 AM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

WHERE ARE MY PANCAKES FEMA
posted by elizardbits at 11:48 AM on October 30, 2012 [33 favorites]

most of my stuff is in storage and the phone just rings at their #
posted by brujita at 11:50 AM on October 30, 2012

All fine here in ChesCo, PA. All told, Irene was way worse for us -- aside from some scary wind gusts late last night, it was a pretty mild storm over here, so we were really just stupid lucky. I'm most grateful that we never lost power.

Corey Booker wins everything in my opinion. And I'm even a fan of Chris Christie today. Wonders never cease.
posted by shiu mai baby at 11:56 AM on October 30, 2012

All clear in Western MA -- a lot of downed trees and power lines on the ground, but none of last year's flooding. Feeling very much like we dodged a bullet -- my sincere sympathies to those of you who caught it.
posted by ook at 12:01 PM on October 30, 2012

Okay in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, east of Prospect Park. Lights flickered but never went out, internet went out for about five minutes, hot water was out this morning. Everything now is fine.

Anyone by any chance know anyone in/anything about the Ambler/Ft. Washington area outside of Philadelphia? I have friends out there who lost power last night and I haven't heard from them since 6:30 this morning. Probably just dead phones, but I worry.
posted by whitneyarner at 12:06 PM on October 30, 2012

Still kicking in Putnam County, NY. The wind was scary, and we lost power last night and have no prospects of getting it back before tomorrow (maybe, if NYSEG is feeling generous), but on the other hand, the tree that split in the backyard completely missed my house, my shed, and my neighbor's house, so win. Currently refugees at a Panera in CT because they have zomg power and internet.
posted by badgermushroomSNAKE at 12:12 PM on October 30, 2012

East village checking in. Walked to midtown to a hotel bar (47th and lex) to charge/have cell service.

No power below 39th st, no cell service below 26th st.

Its terrifying to be so helpless in a major city.

The substation blowing up sucked/was super loud. Haven't read upthread, since its too long a thread for my phone to handle.

Im goigng to walk to midtown work tomorrow so will be in touch properly then.

Good luck guys! Its effing scary out there!
posted by larthegreat at 12:12 PM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh I may need a hot shower at some point, but i'll deal with that tomorrow.
posted by larthegreat at 12:14 PM on October 30, 2012

ColdChef called to see if I was okay and I felt bad cause I was just drunk and covered in blanked watching MST3K.

The worst thing that happeneded to me was I lost Internet access ( and landline phone but not cable ...) so it forced me to go to the local bar where the bar man keeps refilling my beer and giving me onion rings while I use the WiFi.
posted by The Whelk at 12:17 PM on October 30, 2012 [14 favorites]

Suffolk County NY, safe here with power and internet, but some surrounding areas lack power and are more heavily damaged. Mom and I have been lucky.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 12:17 PM on October 30, 2012

( and if anyone needs a shower or a charging station in the UWS, shoot me a memail. )
posted by The Whelk at 12:18 PM on October 30, 2012

( I was worried about my friends with a basement apartment but they where on high ground and just played A LinK To The Past while loaded all night)
posted by The Whelk at 12:19 PM on October 30, 2012

My wife, baby June and I are all safe and sound out in Carroll Gardens. Never even lost power.
posted by saladin at 12:20 PM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Jersey City checking in. No power, but lots of food and water & batteries. Stay safe folks!
posted by lyra4 at 12:24 PM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

whitneyarner, I'm about 15 miles away from Fort Washington outside Philly, and my campus will be without power for at least another day due to transformer outages but otherwise we're fine. I'm not getting the sense that this area was hit especially hard, so it's probably just lack of power for phone charging, especially if you heard form them earlier this morning.
posted by Oliva Porphyria at 12:27 PM on October 30, 2012

Thank you!! I figured that was the case, but you know how the mind gremlins can get you in situations like this.
posted by whitneyarner at 12:37 PM on October 30, 2012

Texted with jonmc this morning. He's alive and surly.

Aye, everybody that isnae from new york that lives there acts like that : )
posted by sgt.serenity at 1:07 PM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Some downed trees and cables, but the power stayed on and businesses are open. I think everyone's just happy to be able to get out of their apartments.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 1:24 PM on October 30, 2012

Checking in from Princeton, NJ with PSE&G saying not to expect power to be restored before Monday night but still receiving emails from professors about the papers that they are expecting to receive Monday morning, 9 a.m. sharp. /GRUMP
posted by mustard seeds at 1:31 PM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Midtown Manhattan here. No power or water in our building (my wife and I walked down thirty flights of stairs with only a cell phone and an iPod for illumination), but mere blocks away the gargantuan billboards of Times Square are blasting full force.
posted by DaDaDaDave at 1:35 PM on October 30, 2012

We're fine here in Hadley, Mass.; got some wind and rain, but no power outage.
posted by languagehat at 1:37 PM on October 30, 2012

OK in Providence. The city did not get much action, some wind and rain, intermittently. It looks like parts of the coast were flooded and messed up, with some evacuation, but I stayed dry and empowered. My mom lives in PA, under the path of the storm, and she slept through most of it, so that's good, too.

No one called me, but Kattullus chatted with me for quite a while on line, so that was nice to get support. Yay for community!
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:50 PM on October 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

I'm on the Upper West Side in the 80's. Other than some downed trees and other minor wind damage, things are pretty good around here. We never lost power, and there was no flooding. We took a walk this afternoon, and there were lots of people out and about. I would say about a third of the store were open (mostly food and drink related). The local bagel shop was open and packed... the owner said they spent the night in store making bagels.
posted by kimdog at 1:51 PM on October 30, 2012

Fine in Northern Baltimore, except for our roof leaking. Good to hear from everyone.
posted by capnsue at 2:00 PM on October 30, 2012

Everything is OK here and we're back online now in Midtown Manhattan. E-mail or MeMail if you need anything and you're nearby--we have plenty to share.
posted by yellowcandy at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2012

Everything is tickety-boo over here.
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:15 PM on October 30, 2012

In the Jersey Shore area with my sister. Ok. No power for 7 to 10 days. No coffee. NO COFFEE! Sad face.
posted by FunkyHelix at 2:27 PM on October 30, 2012

The fucking crane is still up
posted by brujita at 2:31 PM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hey all,

I'm 2 hours north of Toronto. Even though the storm pretty much side swiped my area as it head through the south we did get quite a lot of it's effects. Guess it goes to show just how big this thing was.

Nothing really devastating here though. When I got to work this morning (restaurant) lots of people came in for breakfast that were without power. My power was on and the small towns power but it was out in a big circle around us. The radio said about 10,000 people which is a lot in my rural area. It should all be back on by the end of the day. The silver lining for me was I ended up making over twice the tips I usually do on a Tuesday morning.

The only damage at my place was part of an arbor fell down and my total lack of sleep. I slept on the couch and my shepherd decided that the best place to try to sleep was on top on me. Having a 80 pound dog jumping up throughout the night wasn't the most pleasant experience. He's either the biggest baby scardy dog or thought that he was protecting me from the wind monster outside.

Its been raining all day but no real wind. Just a light breeze.
posted by Jalliah at 2:33 PM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Grandma's building (right on Surf Ave. in Coney Island) has no electricity or water. She will be staying with us in our 1.5 bedroom apartment indefinitely.

Also the internet isn't working very well.

God have mercy on our souls.
posted by griphus at 3:04 PM on October 30, 2012 [13 favorites]

(Surf Ave. is the last avenue before the boardwalk. The apartment overlooks it.)
posted by griphus at 3:05 PM on October 30, 2012

Am without power but otherwise totally fine in central NJ. I'm walking distance from work and they have power, though, so I should be able to charge intermittently.
posted by en forme de poire at 3:22 PM on October 30, 2012

West Harlem report: electricity, internet, pickled daikon radish.

If anybody is missing a green picnic table, it's jammed next to the pier on the Hudson at 125th Street.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 3:26 PM on October 30, 2012 [4 favorites]

*waves*
posted by jason's_planet at 3:56 PM on October 30, 2012

In the Jersey Shore area with my sister. Ok. No power for 7 to 10 days. No coffee. NO COFFEE! Sad face.

Cold brew coffee! Doesn't need heat! You put coarsely ground coffee in a container and put some water in - most recipes seem to go with 4 parts water to 1 part coffee - and let it sit for 12 hours and then strain. You end up with a concentrate, which people seem to dilute with water 1-1 or more or less depending on how caffeinated you like things.
posted by rtha at 3:58 PM on October 30, 2012 [4 favorites]

how are the western TOs?
posted by brujita at 4:09 PM on October 30, 2012

I'm in Richmond, VA and we were very fortunate. Some power outages but no major damage. I have a friend who lives on Granada in Lindenhurst, NY and her entire street flooded causing major damage to her bottom floor apartment.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 4:12 PM on October 30, 2012

Cold brew coffee! Doesn't need heat!

My mother was without power in MA this morning and was stupidly happy that she figured out how to make coffee on her barbecue grill this morning. I will suggest this alternative for her in the future.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:16 PM on October 30, 2012 [7 favorites]

On the coffee front, if you are stuck with beans you can't grind- use a rolling pin.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 4:17 PM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Alexandria, Virginia here: lost power for about 10 hours, but compared to the 8 days we lost it after the derecho storm in June? Cakewalk. Lots of wind shaking the building (I'm on the 16th floor), some rain worked in through the windows, some trees and fences down on the property --- all in all, we were lucky.

Metro trains resumed this afternoon (2pm Tuesday); the Feds, the Smithsonian and most schools to be reopening tomorrow.
posted by easily confused at 4:30 PM on October 30, 2012

Checking in from DC area (Maryland): We lost power for about 18 hours beginning last night. It came on a few hours ago. Other than some leaking in the roof over the kitchen and laundry room (I live in a row house), there's been no damage, I'm happy to say.
posted by Cash4Lead at 4:38 PM on October 30, 2012

Portland, Maine area. Lots of wind and driving rain; driving home was not fun - tree in the road, and lots of branches. Lost power sometime @ 11 p.m. We have a woodstove, but the fire was more for cheer; it wasn't and still isn't cold. Work was canceled today (w00t!). Gas stove, so I made French toast and coffee. We came in town to charge phones & use the Internet. The electric co. website says we still don't have power, so I guess we'll get dinner before we go home.
posted by theora55 at 4:54 PM on October 30, 2012

Hey, just seeing this now. Also in Vinegar Hill/Dumbo area. I'm fine, have power/internet/everything. I walked to Hoyt Street today to go to Mile End and didn't even see downed trees along Henry.

Down by the water is a mess though.
posted by sweetkid at 5:14 PM on October 30, 2012

Southern RI: Lost power from about 5pm to about noon this morning. Boyfriend's house is still without power. No damage though, thank goodness. Some beaches further south/coastal seem pretty rough here in RI.
posted by quodlibet at 5:16 PM on October 30, 2012

The Pink Superhero, Stynxno, and Pinkxno (NYC) reported being ok and still with power as of this morning, and were offering refuge (including bubbly) to anyone less fortunate.
posted by The Deej at 5:49 PM on October 30, 2012

Sat through it in Park Slope. From where I was, it was a little windy, with a slight rain. Almost bizarre that the storm I was strolling about in last night caused all of this, but I guess most of the damage in NY was due to storm surge.

Sending my best to those who weren't as lucky.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:01 PM on October 30, 2012

A couple died walking their dog last night in Ditmas Park during the storm. A tree fell on them. So be careful strolling around in storms, anything can happen.
posted by sweetkid at 6:42 PM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

All turned out ok in Newark, DE. We didn't even lose power, though others did.
posted by JMOZ at 6:45 PM on October 30, 2012

Yes! Refuge is yours, if you can get up to Washington Heights.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:18 PM on October 30, 2012

We are fine but on Night 2 of no power in Arlington, Virginia, and getting ready for a chilly night. Four big trees down in the streets and power lines around our house, but no one hurt. Our toddler is supposed to have her Halloween party at preschool tomorrow, if the school has power by morning, and I hope we all do (and that I can shower before the party, peeyew!).
posted by onlyconnect at 7:25 PM on October 30, 2012

Central Harlem here, it was remarkably anticlimactic in our neighborhood--just a few loose branches in the backyard and some lingering fury at my workplace for insisting that everyone drive into another borough during a fucking hurricane to wait around for clients who (sanely) stayed home.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 8:14 PM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

Cold brew coffee! Doesn't need heat!

Funny, I didn't really do any of the typical hurricane prep. But I brewed a huge pot of coffee.
posted by nevercalm at 9:39 PM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

I didn't do the bathtub thing. I felt pretty confident I wouldn't lose power and I was right. Random chance.
posted by sweetkid at 9:45 PM on October 30, 2012

Checking in. We lost power for 12 hrs, and my folks close to DC had a big tree come down but thankfully it missed the house.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:47 PM on October 30, 2012

My folks are also close to DC (VA). My brother lost power in Arlington but my Herndon/Chantilly parents were fine.
posted by sweetkid at 10:10 PM on October 30, 2012

Hell's Kitchen check-in. All's well here. Lost phone and internet last night. Up again today.

Oh, and not really a Halloween-festive mood today but Boo! Happy Halloween everybody.

Signed up to do volunteer work with https://lowereastside.recovers.org/ – [phone]

There are other places too in case anybody is interested: https://astoria.recovers.org/ – [phone]
and https://redhook.recovers.org – [phone]

Larthegreat, if you need, come on over for a hot shower, charge your equipment etc. I'm on West 49th, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. It's only a shower stall in the kitchen. It's primitive and simple but friendly. I'll be here in the afternoon. nickyskye [at] gmail
posted by nickyskye at 11:16 PM on October 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Heard from the husband, finally. USCG Station NY (in Staten Island) and Station Sandy Hook are in very bad shape. He won't be home for a few days. We have power back, which means I can un-assemble the go bag, drain the bathtub, and possibly clean up around the apartment. No idea what to do with the gallons and gallons of water that are lining my kitchen counter.

Be safe and watch those falling trees folks!
posted by lyra4 at 4:35 AM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Looking for some info on how Hoboken fared. Haven't heard from my friend up there & his office is on a first floor. :(

Any Hoboken info appreciated.

I don't know which is the right place to post this, gray or blue, so I figured I'd start here.
posted by yoga at 5:08 AM on October 31, 2012

Would your friend have ridden out the storm in his office? Most places of business were closed for the storm, and news media emphasized staying home and being safe.
posted by Sara C. at 5:17 AM on October 31, 2012

yoga, I have friends in Hoboken - no power as of last night, lots of flooding, but they were safe. Check the nj.com Hudson Country page (Hudson County is Hoboken, Jersey City, Bayonne), they have some updates like that the National Guard is there now.
posted by lyra4 at 5:18 AM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Lost power in Passaic County Monday evening, not back yet. No work yet for ms. mintcake (Newark, likely tomorrow) or me (Bayonne, who knows when). Family and furballs are all fine. Donated my Bodum French press to my mom last night (gas stovetop represent) and BLEW HER MIND.

Thanks for all the updates, y'all. Glad you're okay.

(Anyone been in touch with Hermitosis?)
posted by mintcake! at 5:30 AM on October 31, 2012

As for ColdChef's advice, what I DON'T have is a chainsaw. I need to clear a fallen tree that was formerly on my property but is now blocking access to the park next to my house.
posted by mkb at 5:39 AM on October 31, 2012

Does anyone know if Manchester, NJ (Ocean county) was badly hit? My elderly aunt lives there alone and I can't reach her by phone.

Also, has anyone been able to make long distance phone contact with Suffolk county on LI?
posted by tommasz at 5:39 AM on October 31, 2012

Careful with the rowboats people. Just sayin'.
posted by kaibutsu at 5:43 AM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Checking in from Fairfield, CT. Although we are off the coast and had no flooding (and fairly minimal rain given the circumstances), the knocked down a tremendous number of trees. I went out yesterday for ice, and within a 1/4 mile of my house I saw at least 4 spots with power lines down and no crews working on them yet. As a result of all the trees down, we lost power early in the storm and have not regained it since. CL&P is telling us 7-10 days before power is back.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 5:56 AM on October 31, 2012

Good morning from somewhere in New Jersey! I (perhaps stupidly) was visiting my sister in the West Village (near the 4th St. subway stop) Saturday-Monday and then got a bit stuck there until this morning. Power and cell phone service are still out over there as of 7:30 this morning, but no flooding and people seem in pretty good spirits. Some bodegas and bars have been open even with the power out. Woodfired pizza place down the street appears to be open too. Walked uptown a ways yesterday afternoon and didn't see electricity until 34th Street-ish, cell reception kicked in a little sooner. Lots of out and about; long lines at diners and delis (which didn't seem to have a lot of staff or food available).
Amtrak is still down between NYC and Boston but is running from Newark to points south - I managed to get a cab out there and am on the train and on my way back to suburban DC, where apparently my neighborhood didn't even lose power - looking forward to a hot shower!
posted by naoko at 6:25 AM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Many thanks, lyra4.
posted by yoga at 6:35 AM on October 31, 2012

Any Hoboken info appreciated.

There is a lot of flooding and power outages according to my friend in a third floor apartment on Garden Street (who is a MeFite and I'll encourage her to update but she's mainly using dial-up, her land line is working fine) but other than that sort of thing--and complete debilitation of the PATH train station--I haven't heard about any other destruction. Her building manager is in a garden apartment and they had some sewage flooding problems and left to go to higher ground. The Mayor is pretty on it there and a good communicator and Hoboken's facebook and Twitter are good places to check in to see what's up.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:47 AM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Drove my kids to pre-k this am. The local roads in NE Queens are a mess. Many traffic lights not working. Trees everywhere uprooted or knocked down. There are a lot of sanitation crews working to clear debris.

Unfortunately, when the trees toppled, some of them seem to have taken out cable/phone lines or transformers. There are some smaller, numbered avenues with their roads taped off. Had to detour on side streets a bit to get home.

Clearview Expressway was clear and traffic was very light and moving. Some traffic lights on the service road were out.

Interboro express buses don't seem to be running, either.
posted by zarq at 6:54 AM on October 31, 2012

tommasz, my boyfriend's grandparents are also in Manchester. Our latest news from them (last night) is that they don't have power, or phones, but that they were fine. In their neighborhood (a retirement community) the direct damage was mostly fallen trees. So, that's what we know about Manchester.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:02 AM on October 31, 2012

E vill, lost power but knew it was going to happen when griphus mentioned transformer exploding in other thread. That and the floating cars pic- two seconds later, lights out for me! Thanks to EM?? For coffee ziplock cold press idea, amazing!! Thanks Metafilter. And thanks uptown friends for letting me charge ph! And shower!
posted by bquarters at 7:12 AM on October 31, 2012

Correction: some express buses do seem to be running between Queens and Manhattan. Have a couple of friends on FB complaining that they've been sitting in traffic on the LIE for a couple of hours.
posted by zarq at 7:16 AM on October 31, 2012

North Shore of LI checking back in! I lost power ~4 pm Monday, and don't expect it back for at least a week - the wire right in front of the house is down. My office at the university has power, so I made it over and I am recharging ALL THE THINGS and then I will go back home. I'm fine, and all my stuff is fine, but there are trees down EVERYWHERE. Far luckier than a lot of Long Island, though. I'll put up with the power outage.
posted by pemberkins at 7:37 AM on October 31, 2012

ocherdraco, thanks for that. She's in a retirement community as well, so it sounds like she should be okay.
posted by tommasz at 8:13 AM on October 31, 2012

also if anyone has a spare macbook pro charger they can part with for a couple of days on the UWS plz let me know via memails
posted by elizardbits at 9:21 AM on October 31, 2012

All well here in Brooklyn. Internet was lost for a bit but we now have hot water, power, and electricity. All extended family are alive.

**We have emergency gear, spare food, medical supplies, and other things for the zombie apocalypse. (hilariously, in part due to an AskMe that advised me to keep go-bags packed!) So if anyone needs anything, even if it's weird, memail me, there's a good chance we have it.
posted by corb at 10:27 AM on October 31, 2012

Timonium, MD: Power was out for 24 hours, came back on last night. (Thank you, BGE.) Sump pump only had 6 hour battery backup, so floor is wet in basement. No structural damage.
posted by Fferret at 10:59 AM on October 31, 2012

Anyone in Brooklyn have a spare cot fit for an 85-year-old woman?
posted by griphus at 11:28 AM on October 31, 2012

We have a tall air mattress (same height as a cot) that we'd be pleased to lend you.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:39 AM on October 31, 2012

Unfortunately, grandma is old and sick and can't do air mattresses (we've been sleeping on the one we own while she's been in our bed.) Thank you anyway, though!
posted by griphus at 11:44 AM on October 31, 2012

THROW YOUR OWN DAMN HALLOWEEN PARADE
posted by The Whelk at 11:44 AM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Are you without el and power in Manhattan?

If you need to have a warm shower and/or charge your phone and laptop, please drop me a message. Midtown East.

DB
posted by Doggiebreath at 11:48 AM on October 31, 2012

North Shore of LI checking back in! I lost power ~4 pm Monday, and don't expect it back for at least a week

I'm sort of mid-island and that's pretty much what we've got going on. Trees down all over the neighborhood, wires merrily swinging about in the wind, but no flooding or, as far as I can see around the neighborhood, major structural damage.

I'm trying to get home from work before dark so I can do some dishes and cook the meat that's defrosting in the freezer. It's really hard to cook and wash dishes by lantern-light.
posted by uncleozzy at 11:54 AM on October 31, 2012

from Twitter - Apparently Time's Up is using bike generators to generate power for cellphones on Ave C + E 10th St.
posted by The Whelk at 11:55 AM on October 31, 2012 [5 favorites]

I'm glad to see you're all doing relatively okay.

A former New Yorker, I've been kind of jealous actually of my New York friends on the Facebook - seems like everyone basically had, flooding and such notwithstanding, awesome sleepovers a la middle school only with booze.
posted by Lutoslawski at 12:28 PM on October 31, 2012

my neighbor posted on fb that he was able to go into our building (2 doors down from the crane) for a few minutes to get some things.
posted by brujita at 1:00 PM on October 31, 2012

Alive. Walked from StuyTown to Cobble Hill today. No power there, full power here. Work in FiDi is WAY cancelled. So tired but had the funnest hurricane party
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:06 PM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Right, new proposition.

If anyone in Brooklyn is looking for a third person to be in their car so they can get over the bridge and into Midtown, I am more than happy to be that third person. Memail me if you're interested.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:06 PM on October 31, 2012 [7 favorites]

Hamilton, Ontario. Friends and family to the north in Toronto and to the east in the Niagara Peninsula lost power for a while, but not us. There were occasional spurts of light rain, and my flag wrapped itself the wrong way around the flagpole on the front porch, but we're through the worst of it now.

Best wishes and good vibes to those more impacted than us.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:23 PM on October 31, 2012

Got no power but perfectly well otherwise. Wonderful to see so many mefites helping each other out.
posted by Wretch729 at 1:38 PM on October 31, 2012

Another option for people in (some parts of) NYC and environs looking for a hot shower or power to charge cell phones:

New York Sports Club announced today that it’s opening its doors free of charge to anyone who needs to shower, charge their cell phone, or blow off steam with a stress-relieving run on the treadmill.

Linked article has a list of currently open NYSC locations in NYC, upstate New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
posted by DaDaDaDave at 1:52 PM on October 31, 2012 [3 favorites]

I'm ok in Jersey City - no power still, no cell or Internet at my apartment, drove until I found a signal. My parents in Tenafly are ok, huge tree split practically in half in their yard but luckily fell away from the house.
posted by oh yeah! at 2:02 PM on October 31, 2012

We still keep getting alarming messages like:

"RAHWAY PD: 9 pm curfew still in effect for city of rahway residents. please stay in if that is possible. there are still dangerous conditions outside "

Roads are still getting cleared, though I saw more traffic lights out than working when I went out today.
posted by Karmakaze at 2:22 PM on October 31, 2012

Central Pa.: Power's back, doctors' offices and schools are reopening, neighbors are OK, all livestock intact (Mama turkey sat on her little ones for the duration inside the coop; everybody else huddled underneath; pigs are complaining about the dearth of kitchen treats; chickens out eating worms). Greenhouse is gone, sadly, but the dirt-floor basement stayed bone dry. Many thanks to those who sent encouraging emails; hope you're well, too.
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:54 PM on October 31, 2012 [3 favorites]

MeFi is loaded with awesome posts and I am stuck with cell service on my iPhone. Things could be much worse and for that I am grateful.
posted by caddis at 3:31 PM on October 31, 2012

A former New Yorker, I've been kind of jealous actually of my New York friends on the Facebook - seems like everyone basically had, flooding and such notwithstanding, awesome sleepovers a la middle school only with booze.

When Mt. Hood blows, you will get all sorts of like activities, and MeFi/FB attention, Lutoslawski. :-)
posted by Danf at 4:03 PM on October 31, 2012

Elmo spoke on WNYC to tell the kids everything is okay. He got some peanut butter.
posted by Trivia Newton John at 4:21 PM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Our bees are gone. 20+ hives. Such strong genetics, just washed out to sea. This fucking sucks.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:19 PM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

between Ave C & D, below 'C' level we call it. We got flooded, lost power, heating, phone service & internet. Spent the day doing triage with waterlogged items. borrowed some internet from a friend to post this. Hugs for everyone who needs them.
posted by Obscure Reference at 5:23 PM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh, showbiz_liz, that's awful. I'm so sorry.
posted by rtha at 5:41 PM on October 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Anything you need, OR?
posted by ocherdraco at 5:42 PM on October 31, 2012

Oh liz, I am sorry to hear that. Obscure, please let me know if you need anything.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 5:46 PM on October 31, 2012

I'm sorry, s_l.
posted by brujita at 5:55 PM on October 31, 2012

So, so sorry s_l. I can only imagine how devastated you are after the bee crisis in the past years, and now this.
posted by cooker girl at 6:13 PM on October 31, 2012

Oh, damn, damn, damn. That sucks. :( So sorry showbiz_liz. How awful. :(
posted by zarq at 7:18 PM on October 31, 2012

So sad about your bees, showbiz_liz. Hugs.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 11:16 PM on October 31, 2012

Oh no, the hives are totally gone? how horrible. :(

Our friends who had been trapped by flooding in Hoboken got out and walked down to our part of JC last night. Yes! We had a big dinner of eggplant parm cooked up with various things that had thawed in our freezer, much wine, and they spent the night tucked safely away in our office on an air mattress. Also my husband finally got to come home for a night! So we got some stories from him about the storm over dinner.

So I am feeling like the luckiest storm survivor right now- my apartment is full of folks I love & we have much alcohol. I'm sending some of my good luck in thoughts out to everyone here still powerless & trying to get in touch with friends.
posted by lyra4 at 4:01 AM on November 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Sorry about your bees--I know the feeling of losing a hive, but losing a whole apiary...aagh.
posted by sonascope at 4:18 AM on November 1, 2012

Last night, I ran into a friend who lives on the south shore of LI, in a mandatory evacuation zone, only 5 or 6 miles from me. He went back to his house to find, really miraculously, only relatively minor damage. Other than probably replacing the floors on the first floor and somehow removing the stink of heating oil, his house is more-or-less okay.

Much of the neighborhood, though, is ruined. Many of his neighbors' homes are completely destroyed. It's a really terrifying amount of damage.

We did get power back last night at our house, amazingly, and I know there aren't too many LIers here, but if anybody needs a hot shower or a warm place or just some Halloween candy, MeMail me.
posted by uncleozzy at 4:46 AM on November 1, 2012

SLC Mom: "Daughter in Bronxville NY is fine so my worry level is falling. Power is out on her campus- at least her side of it. Some cars and one dorm got treed, but no injuries reported. Cafeteria is delivering meals to the dorms. That makes me feel good."

SLC Mom wow no kidding.
posted by Deathalicious at 6:30 AM on November 1, 2012

Very cold night without heat or power here on the North Shore! I'm glad I never put away all my camping stuff after three very chilly weeks working on the Adirondacks recently. So until the power is back, I'll be sleeping in camping gear and a sleeping bag underneath my normal comforter and blankets. Toasty! I'm very glad to have heat and power over at my office.

Also, the neighbor kids egged my car last night. This may be a post-hurricane wasteland, but Halloween is still Halloween...
posted by pemberkins at 6:44 AM on November 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Grandma is back in her apartment (with power and water, but no landline) as of last night. Which is great because we have our apartment back, although we now have a very nice $175 cot we can't return. Small price to pay, honestly.

I am sorry about your bees, showbiz_liz.
posted by griphus at 6:49 AM on November 1, 2012

s_l, how awful. I am so sorry about your bees.
posted by pemberkins at 7:12 AM on November 1, 2012

I've finally been able to get hold of my aunt in NJ, she's got power and phone as of last night. Haven't been able to talk to my parents in Middle Island directly but talked to my brother in Freeport. Parents are without power but otherwise fine. Another brother got evacuated (he lives south of Merrick Rd) and returned to a foot of water in his crawlspace.

Hugs to everyone down there, especially those not as lucky as my family has been.
posted by tommasz at 7:21 AM on November 1, 2012

My girlfriend just texted me saying that there's serious gridlock around Smith St. in Brooklyn, so heads up everyone.
posted by griphus at 7:40 AM on November 1, 2012

Checking in from central NJ near Trenton. We have about four downed trees but luckily none of them hit the house. A chimney cap and a few downspouts came off the house and there are tree branches everywhere. We had no power for about 36 hours but it's back on now. I consider us very lucky.

Also grateful that my parents in Marlton NJ never lost power or had any damage (mom is on ventilator).
posted by amro at 8:13 AM on November 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

So glad to hear it, amro!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:15 AM on November 1, 2012

Glad to hear people are okay! Sending prayers (for the religious) and/or positive thoughts (for the areligious) your way.

Crews from my end of the world have been dispatched to Allentown, Pennsylvania and western parts of Virginia to assist in restoring power, so don't be surprised if you see anyone from Louisville Gas and Electric or Kentucky Utilities wandering around your town. Please forgive both the accents and occasional fistfight over the upcoming Kentucky college basketball season.
posted by magstheaxe at 8:42 AM on November 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Central Greenwich Village, obvs still no power or cable today. Food in the fridge and freezer finally pretty much room temperature and will get thrown out this evening, but we have gas and (cold) water so we can subsist on pasta and jar sauce till forever. We have plenty of firewood which was nice for light on Mon and Tues but is becoming important for heat as nighttime temps drop into the 40ºs.

The rich-people building across the street from us has enough backup power that as of last night their lobby was brightly lit, and the NYU construction sites across Washington Sq Park seem to have generator power or something, their security lights are all on.

So things aren't too dire. Our cat Alcibiades misses his electric water fountain though!

Our concern is mostly for older people downtown who live above the floors where the city's water mains can supply water pressure and who can't easily get out without elevators. Lack of door bells and buzzers is a complication, since you can't check on them without some way to get in to their buildings to knock on their doors.
posted by nicwolff at 8:44 AM on November 1, 2012

LI north shore here - Oyster Bay specifically. We got our power back yesterday afternoon. No damage to our property and no flooding in the basement. We are feeling very fortunate. Town is in surprisingly good shape, except for the waterfront TR park of course. Power is sparse in the hamlet though. If anyone nearby wants a hot shower or laundry or anything, drop me a line.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 9:02 AM on November 1, 2012

Power just came back on here in Putnam County, NY. Now for the cleanup: disposing of a freezer full of melted food, cleaning the toilet that we had to ration flushing when we were without power, sweeping up all the junk and crumbs that tends to accumulate when you can't see what you're doing. Oh, and showering off five days' worth of human funk with blessedly hot water.

Slowly checking in with everyone I know who lives in theNYC area or has loved ones who do. So far the worst anyone's suffered is a little flooding, a whole lot of no-power, and way too much enforced family bonding time.
posted by badgermushroomSNAKE at 9:07 AM on November 1, 2012

The storm itself was no problem (I live way up at the north end of manhattan) but I had a kidney stone during the storm so wasn't able to get to the ER until tuesday morning. Fortunately I had power, water, cats and I don't live alone. Now I have percocet and my work is closed so I'm not missing anything while I wait for it to pass. Really not fun having a medical emergency during a storm, but at least it was a relatively minor one, just uncomfortable.
posted by Perfectibilist at 10:12 AM on November 1, 2012

I'm sorry about your hives, showbiz_liz. That is heartbreaking. Do you think they flew to calmer skies, sensing it was coming?

I still haven't connected with my friend in Hoboken. It sounds like they got seriously hammered. Keeping them crossed.
posted by yoga at 10:16 AM on November 1, 2012

i miss my mom's rich people building with private generators that had 3mos of backup power and an indoor pool and a restaurant and a movie theatre.

i mean obvsly i miss my mom too but whatevs, priorities.
posted by elizardbits at 10:29 AM on November 1, 2012 [7 favorites]

We all miss Lady Jessica, elizardbits, but Arrakis is your new home and you should try your best to appreciate it.
posted by griphus at 10:37 AM on November 1, 2012 [8 favorites]

I just heard from my Hoboken friends - they are indeed alive! It was a very short note, so I don't know if they're in a shelter or what, but I was really glad to hear from them.
posted by yoga at 10:37 AM on November 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

TELL ME OF THE UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLIES OF YOUR HOMEWORLD USUL
posted by elizardbits at 10:41 AM on November 1, 2012 [10 favorites]

I've been all up in the other thread's business all week, but I am in Manhattan, still with no power, but hiding out uptown for a couple of days so I could work and have access to hot water. You know what is the best thing ever? Hot water in the shower. Seriously. Best ever.
posted by bedhead at 3:42 PM on November 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Sorry to hear about your bees, Liz.

I was staying with my parents downtown and they still don't have power/water. I am back in Brooklyn for now and it's very nice to be in my own place that has stuff like flushing toilets, though sobering to see all the fallen trees including a few perilously near to my house. My parents did come here with me to shower and so forth but didn't want to stay over. My work does not have power either and has been canceled; this is the longest I've had off since I started there almost 4 years ago but it's not been much of a vacation.
posted by mlle valentine at 3:46 PM on November 1, 2012

The power didn't even go out here (within 1/2 mile of the MA shoreline!), but my phones were out for a couple of hours during the worst winds in the afternoon. I wasn't too happy about that. In the morning, there were a few branches on the ground outside, but that was about it.

I'm glad I stayed inside all day, though, especially with the good people of the blue and green to keep me company. I had some kind offers of help on my emergency Kindle loading mission, which turned out not to be absolutely necessary, but now I have some good Thanksgiving/Christmas train reading ahead of me.

So I had it good up here. Sounds like others didn't fare so well. showbiz_liz, I am so sorry to hear about your bees. I've seen some photos of Breezy Point and Hoboken; awful.
posted by Currer Belfry at 3:53 PM on November 1, 2012

Are there any resources for how people who are in New York City but not affected materially by the storm can volunteer to help?
posted by to sir with millipedes at 4:02 PM on November 1, 2012

We're still without power with no restoration in sight thanks to our power lines being demolished. At least we gave hot water (the gas water heater is working even though the house heat isn't). I was out today and New Jersey really is a literal disaster area even thus far from the shore.
posted by Karmakaze at 4:23 PM on November 1, 2012

(we're in greenpoint and in good shape. Have been commuting to work. Mefites who need help should MeMail me.)
posted by to sir with millipedes at 4:43 PM on November 1, 2012

showbiz_liz - I'm sorry about your hives. There are three hives where I work. Two of them floated across the fenced nursery where they live and the other wasn't flooded. The bee people who come by and take care of them said that there were heavy losses but I don't know the full prognosis because I was on my way home from work and the guy I was getting a ride from wanted to get home.

I'm really impressed that they remained upright in the water. Very few other things of that shape did.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:47 PM on November 1, 2012

I live in Oceanside, out on Long Island. We're all OK; our house lost a bunch of shingles and might need a new roof, but here's hoping the homeowner's insurance covers it. Floodwater got to the driveway two houses down from us, but we miraculously stayed dry. Lots of people in our town flooded out, though -- basements gone, two and three feet of water even in the first floor. Mud in the streets everywhere, trees and wires down everywhere you look, most of the traffic lights out, sirens up and down Long Beach Road nonstop, woodsmoke everywhere. It's bad times... but not as bad as Long Beach, the town between us and the ocean.

We have no power/heat, no mobile service to speak of, and they're telling us to conserve water to avoid a sewage backup. We, uh, relocated to Pennsylvania for the weekend. Hopefully we'll get power back before Election Day? Though the lines to *just our house* have broken, and they're saying that single houses are low-priority... and it might be two weeks to get everyone up and running. Really mixed feelings right now.
posted by Andrhia at 6:35 PM on November 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

Just got an email from my friend in Hoboken. Her power is back on [she is at 200-ish Garden] as of this evening and she says cell service there is pretty much non-existent but her wifi is mostly working. The report they are getting is that the PATH train won't be running for a month [!] and there's no more standing water where she is though people's basement/garden apartments are still full of muck. The bodega on her street corner has been open most of the day and most of the stores on the main street are closed, or were yesterday she didn't give me an update today.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:39 PM on November 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

I'm in Essex County in northern NJ, we just got power back about an hour ago! I can't say it will stay on but I can charge my phone in my own house for the time being. It went out on Monday so it's been a rough few days. For us over here the worst things are the lack of stores open for food and the damn gas lines.
posted by crankylex at 7:38 PM on November 1, 2012

showbiz_liz, do you guys at least still have the bees that are on the roof of the Navy Yard building? My husband works in that building and has been to the market that was up on the roof recently. I'm so sorry you lost your bees.
posted by bedhead at 9:46 PM on November 1, 2012

showbiz_liz, do you guys at least still have the bees that are on the roof of the Navy Yard building? My husband works in that building and has been to the market that was up on the roof recently. I'm so sorry you lost your bees.

I believe we do, yes. And I'm hearing that one of the ruined hives managed to swarm before the storm hit and later returned to the pier, so it might survive. Depending on how many are left at out Queens location I think we're at... 6 to 8 remaining, with 17 lost. Still, it wouldn't be such a big deal if these hadn't been such good bees- they'd previously been abandoned out in a farmer's field, totally unmaintained, for like 15 years. Great natural disease resistance. No hurricane resistance though I guess!
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:34 PM on November 1, 2012 [5 favorites]

Fairfield County CT, been hunkered down for the most part. Power came back within 30 hours and feeling very lucky.
posted by sfts2 at 6:08 AM on November 2, 2012

Still no power or heat by me in Jersey City, police car rolled through the streets yesterday announcing via loudspeaker that PSE&G estimated 2-3 days until power is restored so I guess that means Monday maybe? Was able to get a hot shower yesterday at a neighbor's health club down by exchange place. Driving to my parents' later today and we will be staying overnight with friends in Manhattan UWS, to be at a family bar mitzvah Saturday morning. I worry about leaving my cats unsupervised for too long, old cat still stalks new cat, Feliway diffusers no longer working due to no power, but I was able to find an open pet supply store on Tuesday with Feliway collars so I think that's helping avoid a full-on fight.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:00 AM on November 2, 2012

to sir with millipedes - some opportunities for New Yorkers to help are here and here.
posted by mark7570 at 7:11 AM on November 2, 2012

Just got power/utilites all back this morning! Lots of destruction all around us, very few with power - we are incredibly lucky.
posted by blaneyphoto at 7:26 AM on November 2, 2012

Glad to hear some folks are getting power back! I'm still out of power here in Suffolk, but at least the wires & downed trees were removed from in front of my house this morning. Progress!
posted by pemberkins at 9:33 AM on November 2, 2012

They have to clear this off of our power pole/transformer before they can even think about getting our neighborhood hooked back up. On the other hand, if someone in the Rahway/Colonia area just needs a hot shower, I could probably make that happen.
posted by Karmakaze at 9:48 AM on November 2, 2012

Tumblr responds to the current situation
posted by The Whelk at 9:53 AM on November 2, 2012

Other than having to throw away 50 pounds of caribou meat and about 10 pounds of frozen halibut steaks (it's a long story)

Are you in a meat CSA because hook me up.
posted by griphus at 10:23 AM on November 2, 2012

Does anyone know what is up with these rumors/reports that New Jersey is turning away non union power trucks? Someone posted it on FB but when I googled it it was all teaparty and Breitbart links. Sounds like "cuz Obama" bs to me but I wanted to see if I could back that up somehow.
posted by sweetkid at 10:27 AM on November 2, 2012

Got a final count from my dad re: Breezy Point.

111 homes burned.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:25 AM on November 2, 2012

http://ask.metafilter.com/227989/Airline-where-pet-can-fly-wo-certificate-of-health-from-vet-Sandy-Emergency

if any nyc dog-friendly mefites have a car and enough gas, there is a downtown corgi in need of some help getting to the vet uptown
posted by elizardbits at 11:46 AM on November 2, 2012

Still no power in Fairfield, CT. Keeping my fingers crossed for power this afternoon, as it's supposed to cool off tonight. We're working our way through 5 cords of firewood and cooking what's left in the fridge and freezer.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 11:48 AM on November 2, 2012

How to help: LES and area
posted by The Whelk at 11:53 AM on November 2, 2012

Photo/Video of walking around Manhattan's Powerless Zone
posted by The Whelk at 12:06 PM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

my neighbor posted on fb that he'd been hearing noises about the crane coming down monday. haven't seen anything anywhere else.
posted by brujita at 3:53 PM on November 2, 2012

THING1, THING2 and me are fine. after almost a week w/o power & mobile service, my part of Stuyvesant-Town is back in business. the Avenue C side of PeterCooper/StuyvesantTown along with the C & D side of the Lower East Side still remains in the dark.
posted by liza at 6:08 PM on November 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

Current estimates for power restoration on Long Island:

By end of the day Wednesday, November 7th, we expect to restore power to 90% of all customers whose homes and businesses that are safe to accept power. Additionally, those customers in and around the most severely damaged areas of Brookville, St. James and Port Jefferson should expect to be restored in up to another week or more.

I live in St. James. Looks like I am in this for the long haul! At least my house is still in one piece.
posted by pemberkins at 8:42 AM on November 3, 2012

Roommate just let me know that power and water are back in our apartment (Chinatown) as of last night but heat and hot water are still out. I went to my parents home on Long Island last night and everything is good where they live. They were only without power and hot water for about a day and a half out on LI but in the city it took 4 days for the power alone to be restored.

(and yes, everyone in this thread most certainly needs a hug. Hugs for all!)
posted by lovelygirl at 9:30 AM on November 3, 2012

Does anyone know what is up with these rumors/reports that New Jersey is turning away non union power trucks?

Turned out to be BS. Christie shot it down himself in yesterday's press conference.

Still no power here in Passaic County. Hopefully by Monday. PSE&G crews are in neighboring towns today.
posted by mintcake! at 9:51 AM on November 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

I figured it was BS but I'll never convince the FBers. Thanks mintcake, good luck with the power.
posted by sweetkid at 12:07 PM on November 3, 2012

My neighbor forwarded an email from the super telling the residents that the crane was in the process of being secured.
posted by brujita at 3:18 PM on November 3, 2012

My power in Jersey City has been restored, my parents' house still has none and there is no word from their town's mayor or sheriff on when it is expected to be, so they are home with me for the night and tomorrow we will try to figure out a plan for the upcoming days.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:28 PM on November 3, 2012

Power came on for us here in Fairfield, CT at 5:30 this morning. I've never been happier to hear the alarm system going off.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 3:36 AM on November 4, 2012

I just got power back! (And ran straight to Metafilter because of course I did.) I guess I live in one of the luckier parts of St. James. Hang tight, Long Island, we're getting there!
posted by pemberkins at 3:50 PM on November 4, 2012 [3 favorites]

My internet just came back. Hope everyone else is safe and out of the dark.
posted by cazoo at 3:56 PM on November 4, 2012 [1 favorite]

Crane secured but not removed. My neighbors were allowed back in, but I don't feel comfortable doing so until it's completely down.I'm still in Canada for the next few weeks, so I'll wait and see.
posted by brujita at 12:46 AM on November 5, 2012

I just want to say thank you to everybody. During the storm and for several days after, this and the other Hurricane Sandy thread were MetaFilter for me. The crisis isn't over yet, but y'all have been tremendous.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:41 AM on November 5, 2012 [3 favorites]

Power! and internet! just an hour ago, and a flight out of JFK on Wednesday, only a week delayed. We were completely out of touch here in western NJ. Mostly downed trees from what we can see but have not seen any of the news.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:40 PM on November 5, 2012

With storm on the way, Bloomberg tells New Yorkers to get off the road.

"The city is taking significant precautions in advance of the storm, including halting all construction, closing all city parks, encouraging drivers to stay off the road after 5:00 PM, or to use extreme caution if they have to drive and employing door-to-door operations to urge people without heat to take shelter to stay warm," Bloomberg's office said in a statement.

The mayor warned that just because this storm isn't as bad as Sandy, it will likely compound issues created by the superstorm.

"While this storm is significant, under normal circumstances, it would likely result in minor coastal flooding in low-lying areas, and the normal risk of downed trees associated with these types of storms," his statement said. "Because Hurricane Sandy weakened trees and caused extensive damage and debris, the predicted wind speeds present an increased risk of more downed trees and tree limbs, as well as windblown debris. All New Yorkers are urged to stay indoors during inclement conditions."

posted by zarq at 10:22 AM on November 7, 2012

Oh, hello there. I never lost power or anything up here in Harlem, and have been forced to work from home since last Monday (a quite pleasant situation in most regards, I am extremely lucky). Hence, I have missed this thread until now.

I am fine, but several friends and coworkers living in FiDi are still without heat & internet, and some of them actually cannot return to their apartments at all for weeks or months due to the extensive flooding/contamination and lack of heat/hot water. Many businesses south of Wall St. have taken a big hit and won't be open again for months, others are already open and serving us again.

Want to encourage everyone in NYC to get downtown and support your local businesses! I'm sure you already are.

Thanks for this thread, Eyebrows.
posted by xiaolongbao at 5:41 PM on November 7, 2012

It's much worse up here in New England today than it was during Sandy, wind up to 60mph and freezing temps - heavy seas all the way up the bay, and they closed the big bridges to trucks and busses, with snow on the ground. If it's like that down in NYC and Jersey, it will significantly set back recovery efforts. Ugh.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:36 AM on November 8, 2012

More folks in NJ lost power last night. They canceled the repairs for my street that they were going to do yesterday, thanks to the snow and wind. So, yeah, it is a setback.
posted by Karmakaze at 5:52 AM on November 8, 2012

It doesn't seem too bad this morning, cold and snow-wise, but I am sure last night was absolutely awful for anyone without power - bitterly cold and very windy, plus the snow.
posted by elizardbits at 5:55 AM on November 8, 2012

Western LI is under 6-8 inches of heavy, wet snow. More downed trees, more downed power lines, traffic signals out, still no gasoline for cars and generators. Even when the weather does improve later today and they can resume repairs, it's gonna be slow going.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:59 AM on November 8, 2012

Still stuck in the post-Sandy Long Island power outage. Sorry if self-linking in MetaTalk is naff, but I'm doing some rage-blogging and wanted to share before my wifi timer at Panera is up: post 1 and post 2.
posted by Andrhia at 8:28 AM on November 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

Yeah, pretty gross weather here in central Suffolk. Andrhia, your posts are 100% accurate. I hope you get power back soon down there!
posted by pemberkins at 8:48 AM on November 8, 2012

I'm also stranded without power in central Suffolk. After a long wait, I was finally able to talk to a human at LIPA (by the way, the only way to do this is to select "report a downed power line" in their touch-tone menu), only to discover that my power is slated for return this Saturday. I'm not sure I should trust this, though, since they promised I would get it back yesterday by 10PM as of 5PM the same day. Yes, I understand that the snowstorm would complicate things, but you'd think they might have figured that into their estimates, since we all heard about this storm about a week ago. It seems like LIPA is easily taken by surprise by inclement weather.
posted by Edgewise at 1:01 PM on November 8, 2012

Power back yesterday. AT LAST. But let me tell you a little story about LIPA, which will go a long way toward explaining this whole sorry situation on the island.

A few years back, a pole in a major road near me snapped in a windstorm. LIPA came by, threw up a new pole, and then tied the top stub of the old pole to the new one. And when I say "tied" I do not even mean "lashed securely in place." I mean "suspended the top of the old telephone pole from the new pole so it was hanging precariously near the main road and, coincidentally, not far from a preschool." And then LIPA left it there like that for weeks. For MONTHS. They didn't come back to do a proper repair and transfer all the wires to the new pole until someone complained to the local paper, and they started getting bad PR.

So. Yeah. In retrospect, considering how that same attitude toward maintenance must have played out across the whole power grid... it's no wonder that it's slow going.
posted by Andrhia at 3:48 PM on November 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Power back late Friday night. What a relief.
posted by Karmakaze at 5:57 AM on November 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hey, I have 4-5 friends from Operation Groundswell looking to head down to NYC and do some volunteer post-Sandy relief. Everyone I know through OG is awesome; if anyone can put them up for a few days, drop me a MefiMail. They have bed rolls, etc, and just need a roof Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

cheers!
posted by kaibutsu at 10:16 PM on November 12, 2012

Obviously checking in WAAY late but I'm in Huntington. Went without power from late afternoon Oct.29 until Nov.5 evening; lost it again two days later in the nor'easter and got it back two days after that. I'm on the North Shore which looked horrible until I saw what happened elsewhere. Too many people aren't prepared, but especially the infrastructure--the need to eliminate trees that sit cheek by jowl with utility poles; rules that prevent residents from touching trees if they somehow "belong to the town," etc. Long Island needs a major rethink of allowing homes that sit a foot or so above canals that feed in from the ocean, underground wires, etc. I hope everyone else got out okay. And thieves, my goodness. One woman I spoke to lost hers to a thief, a man she now realizes was canvassing the neighborhood before the hurricane hit; another guy describes how his generator was running but it got louder, then the sound changed. So he went out, thinking it was failing and discovered that a thief had rigged up the guy's lawn mower to run to cover the sound of the generator shutting off as it was being carted away by the bad guys.
posted by etaoin at 12:02 PM on November 17, 2012