Philadelphia Inquirer - 11 hours ago
Christie told residents Sunday the state was slowly getting to a "new normal" after the ravages of Sandy - while warning that progress could be ...
end quote from Google.
N.J. sees a 'new normal,' but fears approaching storm
HOBOKEN, N.J.
- Joined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Gov. Christie
told residents Sunday the state was slowly getting to a "new normal"
after the ravages of Sandy - while warning that progress could be
threatened in days by another storm.
An approaching nor'easter could bring 50 m.p.h. winds and three to
four inches of rain Tuesday into Wednesday, enough to set back strides
made toward stabilizing Shore towns and other communities still in shock
over the devastation last week's historic storm wrought."We're hoping it goes somewhere else," Christie said.
In case it doesn't, he assured residents the state was "preparing for it" - whatever "it" ends up being.
AccuWeather reported Sunday that the Jersey Shore could experience more flooding from the approaching storm because Sandy destroyed so many dunes.
It is water the state does not need as residents along the coast spent the weekend dragging sodden belongings to curbs and grappling with removing sand from living rooms and businesses. Those people were considered the lucky ones in that they still had intact homes and businesses.
Napolitano drew attention to the less-fortunate survivors of Sandy, which she called one of the largest natural disasters ever to hit the United States.
"Housing is our No. 1. concern," she said. "There's still real hardship out there."
Earlier Sunday in Hazlet, Monmouth County, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno expressed concern that some on the barrier islands, cut off from the mainland and operating without electricity and, likely, radio and television, didn't even realize another storm was headed their way.
From the News Desk
In one of those communities, Seaside Heights, among the worst-hit beach towns, houses floated off foundations during Sandy, snapping natural-gas pipes. Keeping the gas on, Christie said, could cause devastating fires. While the state replaces the damaged gas infrastructure on the barrier islands, residents will be provided with propane tanks and converters, he said.
Christie offered no specifics regarding when residents would be allowed to return to their homes in those communities.
"I'm not letting anyone back on the barriers until it's safe," he said. "It's going to be a while before people get to go home."
The task ahead for the Federal Emergency Management Agency - which started setting up disaster-recovery centers Friday in New Jersey to help storm victims apply for aid - largely involves providing more permanent housing for thousands of the displaced, who are staying in apartments and hotels, Napolitano said.
Christie said Sunday all 21 New Jersey counties would be included in the major federal disaster area declaration, making all residents eligible to seek FEMA assistance.
Despite so many grim conditions, there's reason for optimism, Christie said.
Roads have been cleared, potable water has been restored to much of the state, and the number of homes without power has dropped from 2.7 million to just under a million.
"I know that when I tell you that, it doesn't mean a damn thing to you until your power's on," Christie said to laughter. Acknowledging his renowned aggressive style, even spoofed over the weekend on Saturday Night Live, he added: "We'll continue to push and shove [the power companies], using my type of gentle persuasion. It's very subtle."
He said bus service had been mostly restored and that four lines of NJ Transit should be up and running this week, including two lines into New York's Penn Station. PATH trains into New York City - where tunnels flooded during Sandy - are a different story. Christie said ferry service had been increased between New Jersey and New York in the interim, as the state works on pumping out the tunnels.
In the meantime, commuters driving to work should try to carpool - and they shouldn't fear fuel shortages that created long lines at many stations in the northern part of the state over the weekend, Christie said. Power losses at refineries and pipelines during and immediately after Sandy had made gasoline deliveries impossible. Power to those facilities has been restored and Christie said he expected more fuel to be available this week.
One deadline loomed for state officials Sunday - Tuesday's election.
Although about 100 polling places were still without power Sunday, Guadagno said, the state was working to accommodate voters. Those displaced from their homes can vote by e-mail or fax, and polling places without power will enlist buses to act as temporary voting booths. Residents can also fill out provisional ballots at any New Jersey polling place, Guadagno said. Polling places without power may have to use paper ballots, which could delay vote-counting on election night, Christie said.
"We encourage you to vote - it's one of the ways we will get back to normal," Guadagno said.
In another step toward normalcy, Christie said he hoped to have children back in school by the end of the week, adding that 800 of the state's 2,400 schools would be open Monday. He said he wanted to stick to the state's mandatory 180-day school year and, with winter and possible snow days still approaching, didn't want to lose more time.
"I don't want teachers having to hold Fourth of July barbecues at school," he said.
end quote from:
N.J. sees a 'new normal,' but fears approaching storm
I really can't think of a worse time to have been hit with this kind of Superstorm than Halloween. It hit just before the traditional "Nor'Easters tend to hit. So with the dunes all washed away and the shores permanently changed in some places (if you have looked at pictures or have been to the area) many of areas of Sandy's changes to the landscape and scenery are likely to become more permanent during the winter storms which will continue to ravage vast areas of the coast no longer protected by dunes and other natural protections. In addition to this, the rising water level in the ocean is another problem especially when you add high tides and full moons all winter and spring into the mix along with high waves from storms.
I think all governmental and emergency personnel there are concerned about the potential for more loss of life during the storms coming now.
No comments:
Post a Comment