This Page has Up to Date info on New York and Areas Effected by Hurricane Sandy. There is so much text on here. I just scanned through and looked at the Pics and their info and a few of the Videos. Interesting though...
Here's a couple of maps of the Areas hit by Sandy...
Don
Below are some Excerpts form...
Tuesday, 6 pm: How the Energy Grid Works and Why It Takes So Long to Get Power Back, PM Editor Marni Chan reports.
After the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy, the eastern seaboard just experienced the biggest blackout since 2003 (when a large-scale power line failure in Ohio caused several states and millions of customers to lose electricity). According to a statement issued today by New York power supplier Con Edison, “Hurricane Sandy toppled trees and flooded underground equipment in the most devastating storm in company history.”
The company approximated that 780,000 customers were without power as of this morning and estimated, “that customers in Brooklyn and Manhattan served by underground electric equipment should have power back within four days. Restoration to all customers in other areas served by overhead power lines will take at least a week.”
In the face of such huge outages and long repair estimates we at PolicyMic we were curious: Just how does the power grid work? Why was power shut off to lower Manhattan even prior to the storm’s arrival, and, why is it taking so freaking long to get it back on? To find out, we chatted with Peter Wallach, an energy consultant at Boston Pacific Company and founder of FACES (the Foundation For the Advancement of Energy Studies). Here’s what we learned.
There are pre-existing problems with the grid:
In the U.S. we use the AC system (alternating current) versus the DC system. Unfortunately, like picking the Imperial over the Metric system, we chose the wrong one. A direct current can shoot power out to one spot. But, with an alternating current you need an equal and opposite transition to balance the system, otherwise they system fails. Basically, we already have an AC grid system much more vulnerable to voltage crash, because there are more points of weakness, a.k.a. more opportunities for Sandy to do damage.
Another problem with New York is that we have one of oldest grid systems in country, built in the 1920s. New York used to have multiple utility companies, but they were consolidated when the state created a privately owned monopoly in the ’20s. This has evolved to the point where ConEd is basically the single energy provider for New York City along with a few others servicing the rest of the state.
This led to the last problem — the current way energy is sold. In our system today, power plants, the actual electrical generators, are called upon to ramp up and down their power output as the grid operator (companies like ConEd) requests. Usually an hour ahead, the operator requests X much electricity in market for the next hour. Power is bought from the generators in an auction format until the price goes up for supply to equal demand (marginal price).
The energy business is based solely on how much energy the distributor needs in a given hour, and as little incremental investment as they can do to keep the lights on. With the way the market currently works, there’s no incentive to build new infrastructure, especially considering that cost recovery for building said infrastructure takes 40 years, distributed as confusing riders on your electric bill.
How the power grid actually works:
To picture the electrical system, imagine a very broad set of tubes channeling water around to various spots. In certain spots, if small parts of the tubes get damaged or fall away, the tubes can keep functioning. But, if a particular spot goes out or the number of holes reaches a critical point, the water (electrons) will stop flowing. The water falls out of the system. For the electric grid to run, it needs to maintain a certain level of voltage. If that voltage collapses below a certain point, the system breaks. Additionally, at various points, there are gates that control the flow of the energy. If any of the gates are damaged, this is also a problem.
To get to your home, electricity is first created in a generator, which is a power plant. From the generator, a transformer — the power lines — steps up or down the amount of megawatts delivered to customers. If a large transformer, such as a big voltage line, or “backbone” line is damaged by a storm it can cause widespread blackouts, like in 2003. The transformer regulates the amount of power that goes to operate local lines (like the ones birds sit on outside your apartment).
How the grid broke and why it will take so long to fix:
For above ground lines, utility crews can’t go up in crane boxes to repair them until the wind dies down. Until the wind calms down, repairs can't even start. Some of you may have also seen the viral video or heard news of the ConEd transformer that exploded in lower Manhattan. Without this transformer — one of the water gates — the company has lost its connection between the power plant and the local lines.
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Tuesday, 4:30 pm: The West Village Halloween parade has been cancelled, the first time in it's 49-year history.
Tuesday, 4:15 pm: Amazing video of 14th St ConEd electric plant explosion:
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Tuesday, 2:30 pm: There are so many people on the streets of Manhattan with wifi devices clustered outside closed Starbucks to grab some internet. #MakesSense #FirstWorldProblems
Tuesday, 2 pm: NYC in Chaos After Hurricane Sandy Strikes – Hurricane Sandy will enter the history books as one of the most exceptional and potentially destructive storms to strike the Northeast in modern history. The storm that made landfall in New Jersey on Monday evening with 80 mph sustained winds has killed at least 17 people in seven states, cut power to more than 7.4 million homes and businesses, and caused predicted economic losses which could reach $20 billion, only half insured. Millions of people awoke on Tuesday to flooded homes, fallen trees, and widespread power outages. The storm swamped the New York City subway system and submerged Wall Street underwater.
*PolicyMic team update All of the members of PolicyMic’s team are safe, although we are experiencing severe power outages, which have forced us to shut down our Midtown office for another day. We are working around the clock remotely to bring you the latest storm updates.
Tuesday, 1:15 pm: 5,700 Flights Canceled Tuesday, Major Airports Remain Closed – More than 5,700 flights have been canceled on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cancellations caused by the storm to 15,500. That surpasses the disruptions from Hurricane Irene, which caused 14,000 flight cancellations in August 2011. The three New York airports remain closed and service is not expected to resume to and from New York before Wednesday afternoon. It could take several days, or even until next week, for passengers to be rebooked.
Laguardia :-(
Tuesday, 12:25 pm: Mayor/ governor updates: New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed the press 11:00 a.m. (see full video here), outlining key points for New Yorkers to deal with during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The mayor warned, “the worst of the storm has passed but conditions are still dangerous.” Getting the power grid and public transit repaired were listed as a top priority, as were lifesaving operations — putting out fires, restoring power to hospitals and nursing homes, and search and rescue efforts. Bloomberg implored New Yorkers on behalf of the safety of first responders to stay away from parks and beaches.
“I know it’s fun to challenge nature” he said, but “nature proved more powerful than we are.”
Transit and Power:
Subways and airports remain closed. The mayor estimated it would be at least “three to four days until ConEd and the subways are running,” however, he also noted that it could take up to five days before the systems are fully operational.
An executive order was issued authorizing cabs to pick up multiple passengers even if people are already in the car. Livery and black cars with TLC licenses are also authorized to pick up customers anywhere in the city. A subsequent press conference by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that bus service will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be running on a Sunday limited schedule. No fares will be charged for buses today or tomorrow.
Mayor Cuomo announced that all bridges are now open except those in the Rockaways, but citizens are urged to stay off the road if possible.
School and Office Closings:
Schools will remain closed today as well as Wednesday. Many federal offices are still closed however HRA centers are open for anyone seeking replacement food stamp vouchers. The mayor instructed that only those who can safely travel to work should do so. Wall Street remains shut down.
Safety:
Bloomberg urged citizens to use 911 only for “life threatening emergencies, not trees,” in order to not overload the system. To report downed trees or branches send a text to 311. The city is currently dealing with 4,000 tree service requests, mostly in the Queens area. The damaged crane on West 57th street is currently stable, however the street will not reopen until after winds die down and the boom can be firmly secured.
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Tuesday, 11:08 am: East River bridges -- BK Bridge, Manhattan, Williamsburg -- are now open.
Tuesday, 11:04 am: Mayor Bloomberg addresses the city:
Tuesday, 10:35 am: Historic power outages throughout the NYC area, as nearly 1 million people without power:
A large part of New York City is dark on Tuesday. In one quick sentence, though, New York City is more or less a sh*t show, and will likely be so for the next couple of days.
This is the biggest power outage in New York City power operator ConEdison's history.
Nearly 1 million New Yorkers are without power after Hurricane Sandy made landfall Monday night. Blackouts in Manhattan stretch from 14th Street and down, and are the most extensive in the Financial District and Lower East Side.
The Upper West Side and Upper East Side look like they have power and internet.
On a conference call at 11:40 pm, a ConEd spokesman said that "this will be the largest storm related outage in our history."
As of this morning 712,449 are without power in the New York City and surroundin areas … 1 million people in New Jersey … 925,000 are without power in Long Island … nearly half a million people in Connecticut.
ConEd has not said when power will return. ConEd cannot begin repairs until the flooding and winds subside. Worst estimates are between 3 to 4 days.
Officials in Connecticut and New Jersey say that outages can last for as long as 10 days.
New York residents can check to see blackout areas by clicking to view the Outage Map here.
In the Big Apple, subway tunnels, the waterfront, and the Financial District are flooded. The New York Stock Exchange is expected to re-open tomorrow, powered by generators.
The subway system reportedly saw “terrible” and “historic” damage.
Brooklyn has power throughout most of the borough, except in the Coney Island area, where damage is reportedly extensive.
The Bronx and Queens also reportedly have spotty power throughout those Boroughs. Laguardia Airport is reportedly flooded and closed.
Tropical storm Sandy swamped Lower Manhattan with a massive surge of seawater Monday and claimed at least one life in New York City as she terrorized some 15 million people up and down the East Coast.
At least 14 U.S. deaths were blamed on the storm, which brought the presidential campaign to a halt a week before Election Day.
An estimated 5.7 million people altogether across the East are without power. The full extent of the storm’s damage across the region was unclear, and unlikely to be known until later in the morning.
Stay safe, all. Stay safe.
Tuesday, 10:19 am: NJ Gov. Chris Christie reports massive damage to NJ's rail system and significant coastal flooding.
Tuesday, 10:18 am:
Tuesday, 9:50 am: Historic subway damage throughout New York, reports PM Editor Marni Chan: New York City is facing historic and extensive damage to it's vital public transist system, including massive flooding throughout the subway system.
Metro Transit Authority Chairman Chris Lhota released a statement on the system's site early Tuesday morning. In addition to confirming that "seven subway tunnels under the East River [were] flooded," Lhota described the damages incurred by post-tropical storm Sandy as the worst in MTA history:
"The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster asdevastating as what we experienced last night. Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on our entire transportation system, in every borough and county of the region. It has brought down trees, ripped out power and inundated tunnels, rail yards and bus depots."
Lhota continued to confirm power loses on Metro-North Railroad, evacuation of West Side Yards on the LIRR, flooding of the Hugh L. Carey and Queens Midtown Tunnel, and high water cutting off access to six bus garages.
MTA Subway service will continue to be suspended throughout the day (as will New Jersey Transit) according to their latest tweets. Lhota would not comment on a timeline for reopening, and the MTA is denying rumors that bus service will resume Tuesday at noon.
Tuesday, 9:30 am: Governor Cuomo ordered the closure of Whitestone Bridge, the Throgs Neck Bridge, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, the Henry Hudson Bridge, the Cross-Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Triborough Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge were also closed to traffic.
So was the Tappan Zee Bridge, though that bridge will reportedly re-open soon.
Tuesday, 8:54 am: BTW, Sandy is now a "post-tropical storm."
Tueday, 8:50 am: The New York Stock Exchange is expected to re-open tomorrow, powered by generators.
Tuesday, 8:35 am: For people without power, the Today Show is livestreaming their coverage of Hurricane Sandy. Watch here:
Tuesday, 7:37 am: Reports on televsion are indicating that seven subway tunnels under the East River flooded last night. This is in addition to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.
Tuesday, 7:09 am: We apologize for the gap in updates but our power has been down due to the storm. Tuesday will be a day of clean up. News of damage from the storm is still coming in. 4 million people in the tri-state area are still without power. Trees are down across the area. In New Jersey, a levee has broke and hundreds in the area are being evacuated.
Tuesday, 1:10 am: Latest path being cut by now post-tropical storm Sandy:
Tuesday, 12:30 am: Hurricane Sandy has been downgraded to a "post-tropical storm" and is stalling west of Philadelphia. Even though the core of the store is in Pennsylvania, winds are stronger further from the center, peaking around Long Island and Connecticut over 80 mph. The storm will now move north through Pennsylvania and into western New York. Winds from Sandy will reach all the way to Chicago and into Canada.
Monday, 11:38 pm: The water levels continue to lower in areas around NYC, although heavy winds will persist pushing water towards the coast. One major issue, NYU Hospital in downtown Manhattan has lost its back-up generator:
Monday, 11:04 pm: Hurricane Sandy has past Philadelphia and is slowing down. The tropical storm will likely stall, before moving north. Pressure has risen to 952 mb from the low-point at 940 mb. The lower the pressure, the more powerful the storm. This was the lowest pressure ever recorded in the North East this point in the year.
Monday, 10:44 pm: Surges of up to 9ft are being reported in downtown Manhattan. Although, tides are now dropping until 3am. The wind is driving water back into New York, but the tide is dropping. We will continue to monitor the situation.
Monday, 10:41 pm: Severe flooding in downtown New York City. The East River has overflowed (images below) into Alphabet city is beginning to recede. Battery Park city, which saw several feet of flooding, is now seeing receding water. Although it is currently unknown how much water has made its way into the tunnels in downtown Manhattan. The West Side highway below 14 St has also flooded.
Monday, 10:34 pm: Photos from the storm. FDR and 34th st. tonight.
Monday, 10:28 pm: Reports that the New York subway system could be crippled for "at least a week" due to salt water flooding the track.
Monday, 10:12 pm: Multiple deaths are now confirmed in NYC. One from a tree falling. Another from electric shock. Mayor Bloomberg has instructions for New Yorkers:
Monday, 10:05 pm: Apologies for the delay. Power has gone out for all New Yorkers below 14th St (including myself and the rest of the team). We will do our best to keep you updated. In the meantime, sever flooding has hit New York City. Here are several photos:
FDR drive flooding:
via hunteraryan
14 St & Avenue C (in Alphabet city on the lower east side of Manhattan)
Monday, 8:41 pm: Sandy has made landfall and New York and New Jersey are facing the brunt of the storm from now until a little after midnight. Power outages are being reported across New York City and winds are gusting to over 80 mph. If you are in the area, now is the time to stay indoors.
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Monday, 6:41 pm: Parts of New York City start to go black:
Hurricane Sandy is bringing dangerous wind and flooding to New York City, but now New Yorkers will also have to deal with another issue: blackouts.
Parts of Manhattan are going black on Monday night, and for an unspecified length of time. Consolidated Edison Inc, the New York City power provider, warned customers in Lower Manhattan it may shut down power on Monday evening as Hurricane Sandy barrels toward the East Coast, Reuters reported.
Power is reportedly out for over 70,000 New Yorkers, with Lower Manhattan (14th Street and below) the darkest.
Blackouts could affect streets as far north as 36th Street, the company said in a release, though would likely be limited to those avenues closest to the East and Hudson rivers. The central avenues are not expected to be affected.
New York residents can check to see blackout areas by clicking to view the Outage Map here.
The firm's automated calling system had placed calls to homeowners and businesses in the affected area.
The company said in a release it provided the same message to certain customers in flood-prone areas of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.
Con Edison said 71,500 homes and businesses were already without power in New York City and Westchester County primarily due to Sandy's high winds.
The company said all streets in New York City's evacuation zone around Battery Park City on Manhattan's southern tip would be affected by the potential blackout, as well as some on the east and west of the island serviced by the same electrical networks.
The shutdown would be a precautionary measure to avoid water damage to the utility's equipment in the event of a major storm surge. Seawater can damage underground electrical equipment. Shutting the equipment down can help to limit the damage. Among the equipment that could be harmed is the city’s extensive Subway system, of which miles of underground, electric-powered train tracks exist.
The official word from the Metro Transit Authority, New York City's public transit administrator, is, “lines are closed indefinitely.” For those in New Jersey, the system shutdown is projected to continue into at least Tuesday.
[For Live Hurricane Sandy news and updates, see here]
NJ Transit would not say when buses and trains would be rolling again, but did say service would be stopped Through Tuesday. NJ Transit said up to 8,000 employees will be on deck to get limited service running as soon as possible.
Sunday at 7:00 p.m. the MTA shut down the New York City bus and subway system, as well as Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Rail Rail, and Staten Island railway in anticipation of high winds and flooding. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also suspended the full-scale NJ transit system. For those on the roads, all tunnels going between New York City and New Jersey will close at 2:00 p.m. on Monday. To find out when the systems will reopen continue to check the MTA and NJ transit sites, or call 511 (New York) or (973-275-5555) in New Jersey for updates.
Monday, 6:57 pm: Photos from the storm:
Earlier today the "A" was knocked from the USA Today building in Virginia.
Monday, 6:14 pm: The highest points of storm surge will occur between 6:30 and 10:30 pm.
Monday, 6 pm: NYC Mayor Bloomberg on the storm:
Monday, 5:15 pm: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the Verrazano, Throgs Neck and George Washington bridges will close at 7 p.m. Monday because of the storm.
The suburban Tappan (TAP'-uhn-zee) Zee Bridge was closed at 4 p.m. because of high winds as Hurricane Sandy neared landfall.
Besides those major crossings, the following bridges also are closing: Bronx-Whitestone, Henry Hudson, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial, and Cross Bay Veterans Memorial.
Monday, 5 pm: Power out for 20,000 New Yorkers, Lower Manhattan gets shut-down robocalls from Con Ed. See here for the latest on power outages.
Monday, 4:27 pm:
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Monday, 3:10 pm: New York City: Hurricane Sandy proves that it's time to improve your infrastructure ... PM Pundit Jerome Nathaniel reports:
Last August, Tropical Storm Irene barreled through the east coast and left over 1 million people without power (over 300,000 in the tri-state area alone), caused 50 deaths nationwide, and cost the nation over $15 billion — and that was over $1 billion in New York State when you take into account the amount of money that the MTA lost from shutting down its services. The effects were most devastating for New York state’s dairy farmers who suffered tremendously due to inundated feeds for their cattle and flooded routes that impeded dairy deliveries. But even with nearly 200 upstate family farms left under water, a quick glance at any native New Yorker’s Facebook newsfeed or New York City pub promotion ringed of a single motif: “Storms aren’t that serious here because New York is storm proof!”
But arrogance is an awfully expensive vice (or virtue). As Sandy continues her 800 mile voyage across the east coast and whistles at the speed of 75 miles per hour, it is time for New York to shed itself of its sense of natural disaster impalpably — which is the same mentality of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2011 blizzard blunder — and begin to get serious about truly creating astorm proof city that is technically structured the same way as the overly confident New Yorker boasts.
Following Tropical Storm Irene, I wrote a story that called for three basic undertakings to improve the City’s infrastructure and ensure that we shield ourselves from hurricanes, tropical storms and flooding: (1) improvements to our archaic plumbing system, (2) increased construction of soft infrastructure such as wetland edges and grass swales, and (3) pushing buildings to seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification via green roof construction. Now that I am more acclimated with New York’s agriculture system, allow me to add (4) support for community farming initiatives as a much needed effort throughout the state.
The first suggestion is one that has been underway since the conception of New York’s civilization. New York’s outdated plumbing system — one that includes pipes that are over centuries old and have lead to busted water mains and emergency evacuations — needs an extreme makeover: celebrity edition. If our pipelines and sewer plumbing system is not up to snuff, then we will continue to emit 27 billion gallons of combined sewage overflows (CSO) into our waters. In case you don’t think CSOs are a pressing issue, just bear in mind that CSOs include the flowing of human and animal waste, over 40 identifiable disease causing pathogens, and storm runoff that passed through toxic metals and led into New York’s harbor.
Grass swale construction is another effective, yet admittedly less feasible, approach to making New York flood proof. Grass swales involve the use of vegetation and erosion resistant marshy lands in flood prone areas as a means to impede storm waters and filter pollutants. Building grass swales is cheap and easy; finding space in our crowded city and bottleneck traffic is another story.
While it may not be as practical in backed up highways like the Belt Parkway and the Gowanus Expressway, it is certainly wise to emphasize their construction along dairy delivery routes in the outer counties such as Westchester. In the meantime, areas of the city that is too crowded for grass swales should focus their energy on emphasizing green roofs as an effective way for City buildings to rack up the LEED points for certification. With the ability to soak in and filter 70% to 90% of the precipitation that falls on them during the summer and 25% to 40% during the winter depending on the vegetation that is used, green roofs are an ideal solution for New York City.
Another overdue push for New York State, particularly New York City, is stronger support for community supported agriculture (CSA) and local farming initiatives. Following Irene, Governor Andrew Cuomo committed over $1 million to matching up to 50 percent of the damage costs that New York farmers suffered under the hands of Irene. The US Department of Agriculture and, on a smaller scale, the Federal Emergency Management Agency also helps in providing emergency crop insurance for farmers. However, all of these measures are reactionary. A lot more can be done to preempt the inflation and devastation that America’s most forgotten, yet pivotal, industry undergoes with the turn of every tide and gusts of the wind. If the City would make it easier for local farmers to find land and funding for CSAs and local farming initiatives, then City grocers would not have to be hit hard every time an upstate and outer county delivery route closes down for flooding.
Unfortunately, the hustle and bustle of New York shuts us off from one another — so much so to the extent that a disaster isn’t an issue until it happens under our very own apartment roof. Most New Yorkers do not recognize how every storm can and will affect them, from the food in their fridge to the gas in their pumps. New Yorkers seem to have a hard time comprehending how a state that uses over 23 percent of its land for farming, receives roughly 80 percent of its local produce from upstate farms, and is among the top two dairy producers in the country can suffer during a natural disaster and directly affect their grocery bills; or how a plumbing system that religiously pumps gallons of CSO that have flown through city structure and old pipes into the Hudson will add an extra scoop of mercury and bacteria to their favorite seafood dish. Go figure.
Monday, 3 pm: This:
Go there for Updates...
http://www.policymic.com/articles/17496/hurricane-sandy-path-and-tracker-live-frankenstorm-could-reap-massive-destruction
Here's a couple of maps of the Areas hit by Sandy...
Don
Below are some Excerpts form...
Hurricane Sandy Path and Tracker LIVE: Power Outage and Subway Updates, Damage Reports
Refresh Now
Hurricane Sandy Path and Tracker LIVE Power Outage and Subway Updates Damage Reports
Hurricane Sandy wrecked the New York City area and New Jersey. Millions are without power, subway systems are crippled, and flooding is extensive.
Below are extensive updates on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Bookmark and refresh this page for the latest news. We're reporting on flooding, power outages, damage, election 2012, and closures.
And be sure to stay safe out there.
UPDATES:
Wednesday, 3:50 pm: Subway Updates: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday afternoon released an update of mass transit conditions, including details of the subway service restorations to begin on Thursday. Officials have said that for the gaps in service along typical subway routes, buses will often be added to make the necessary connections. Here is the statement from the governor’s office:
SHUTTLE BUSES:
All shuttle buses will operate north on 3rd Avenue and south on Lexington Avenue.
1. Between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and 57th Street-Lexington Avenue via the Manhattan Bridge
2. Between Jay Street-MetroTech and 57th Street-Lexington Avenue via the Manhattan Bridge
3. Between Hewes Street and 57th Street-Lexington Avenue via the Williamsburg Bridge
LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD:
City Terminal – (Jamaica – Penn Station): Suspended (anticipate shuttle between these stations later tonight)
Ronkonkoma Branch: Suspended (goal to restore hourly service from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station for AM rush hour Thursday, Nov. 1)
Port Washington Branch: Suspended (goal to restore hourly service from Great Neck to Penn Station for AM rush hour Thursday, Nov. 1)
Babylon Branch: Suspended
Port Jefferson Branch: Suspended
Montauk Branch: Suspended
Hempstead Branch: Suspended
Long Beach: Suspended
Far Rockaway: Suspended
Oyster Bay Branch: Suspended
West Hempstead: Suspended
METRO-NORTH:
Hudson Line: Suspended
Upper Harlem Line: Suspended
Lower Harlem Line: Restored with hourly service
New Haven Line: Suspended
New Canaan Branch: Suspended
Danbury Branch: Suspended
Waterbury Branch: Suspended
West-of-Hudson:
Pascack Valley: Suspended
Port Jervis: Suspended
Bridges and Tunnels
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge: Open
Henry Hudson Bridge: Open
Throgs Neck Bridge: Open
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge: Open
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge: Open
Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge: Open
Cross Bay Veterans Memorial: Open northbound to Broad Chanel; Open southbound to Rockaways but subject to period closures for emergency equipment
Hugh L. Carey Tunnel: Closed
Queens Midtown Tunnel: ClosedWednesday, 2:30 pm: The waters are receding and the sun is shining after Sandy, but downtown Manhattan remains a post-zombie-apocalypse scene with the lights out as people roam the streets seeking power and internet like Revolution extras.
Let’s take a quick look at what the what is going on.
Transit:
Mayor Bloomberg said that subways could be closed for the next three or four days. The city will not reopen the trains until it is safe to do so, and the first step in the long process of repairs is to assess the damage.
New York Governor Cuomo, at a noon press conference, said that there will likely be very limited subway service on Thursday.
Here's a quick short list of what the things look like as of noon on Wednesday:
Wednesday, 9:26 am: New Yorkers go back to work (minus subways) ... gridlock ensues.
Wednesday, 9:15 am: Officials try to turn the power back on.
Skipping on Down...
Below are extensive updates on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Bookmark and refresh this page for the latest news. We're reporting on flooding, power outages, damage, election 2012, and closures.
And be sure to stay safe out there.
UPDATES:
Wednesday, 3:50 pm: Subway Updates: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday afternoon released an update of mass transit conditions, including details of the subway service restorations to begin on Thursday. Officials have said that for the gaps in service along typical subway routes, buses will often be added to make the necessary connections. Here is the statement from the governor’s office:
N.Y.C.T. SUBWAY SERVICE:
1 trains will operate local between 242nd Street (Bronx) and Times Square-42nd Street.
2 trains will operate between 241st Street (Bronx) and Times Square-42nd Street, with express service between 96th Street and Times Square.
3 trains are suspended.
4 trains will operate in two sections making all local stops:
1 trains will operate local between 242nd Street (Bronx) and Times Square-42nd Street.
2 trains will operate between 241st Street (Bronx) and Times Square-42nd Street, with express service between 96th Street and Times Square.
3 trains are suspended.
4 trains will operate in two sections making all local stops:
Skipping on down...
SHUTTLE BUSES:
All shuttle buses will operate north on 3rd Avenue and south on Lexington Avenue.
1. Between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and 57th Street-Lexington Avenue via the Manhattan Bridge
2. Between Jay Street-MetroTech and 57th Street-Lexington Avenue via the Manhattan Bridge
3. Between Hewes Street and 57th Street-Lexington Avenue via the Williamsburg Bridge
LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD:
City Terminal – (Jamaica – Penn Station): Suspended (anticipate shuttle between these stations later tonight)
Ronkonkoma Branch: Suspended (goal to restore hourly service from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station for AM rush hour Thursday, Nov. 1)
Port Washington Branch: Suspended (goal to restore hourly service from Great Neck to Penn Station for AM rush hour Thursday, Nov. 1)
Babylon Branch: Suspended
Port Jefferson Branch: Suspended
Montauk Branch: Suspended
Hempstead Branch: Suspended
Long Beach: Suspended
Far Rockaway: Suspended
Oyster Bay Branch: Suspended
West Hempstead: Suspended
METRO-NORTH:
Hudson Line: Suspended
Upper Harlem Line: Suspended
Lower Harlem Line: Restored with hourly service
New Haven Line: Suspended
New Canaan Branch: Suspended
Danbury Branch: Suspended
Waterbury Branch: Suspended
West-of-Hudson:
Pascack Valley: Suspended
Port Jervis: Suspended
Bridges and Tunnels
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge: Open
Henry Hudson Bridge: Open
Throgs Neck Bridge: Open
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge: Open
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge: Open
Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge: Open
Cross Bay Veterans Memorial: Open northbound to Broad Chanel; Open southbound to Rockaways but subject to period closures for emergency equipment
Hugh L. Carey Tunnel: Closed
Queens Midtown Tunnel: Closed
Let’s take a quick look at what the what is going on.
Transit:
Mayor Bloomberg said that subways could be closed for the next three or four days. The city will not reopen the trains until it is safe to do so, and the first step in the long process of repairs is to assess the damage.
New York Governor Cuomo, at a noon press conference, said that there will likely be very limited subway service on Thursday.
Here's a quick short list of what the things look like as of noon on Wednesday:
- OPEN: MTA (Bus) Local, Limited-Stop and Express Bus service will operate as close to a normal weekday schedule as possible, no fares
- OPEN: Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Tappan Zee Bridge, Marine Parkway Bridge
- OPEN: NYS Bridge Authority Bridges
- CLOSED: All Subway Lines, LIRR, Metro-North (likely very limited operation on Thursday)
- CLOSED: New York State Canal System is Closed to Navigation
Wednesday, 9:26 am: New Yorkers go back to work (minus subways) ... gridlock ensues.
Wednesday, 9:15 am: Officials try to turn the power back on.
Skipping on Down...
Tuesday, 6 pm: How the Energy Grid Works and Why It Takes So Long to Get Power Back, PM Editor Marni Chan reports.
After the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy, the eastern seaboard just experienced the biggest blackout since 2003 (when a large-scale power line failure in Ohio caused several states and millions of customers to lose electricity). According to a statement issued today by New York power supplier Con Edison, “Hurricane Sandy toppled trees and flooded underground equipment in the most devastating storm in company history.”
The company approximated that 780,000 customers were without power as of this morning and estimated, “that customers in Brooklyn and Manhattan served by underground electric equipment should have power back within four days. Restoration to all customers in other areas served by overhead power lines will take at least a week.”
In the face of such huge outages and long repair estimates we at PolicyMic we were curious: Just how does the power grid work? Why was power shut off to lower Manhattan even prior to the storm’s arrival, and, why is it taking so freaking long to get it back on? To find out, we chatted with Peter Wallach, an energy consultant at Boston Pacific Company and founder of FACES (the Foundation For the Advancement of Energy Studies). Here’s what we learned.
There are pre-existing problems with the grid:
In the U.S. we use the AC system (alternating current) versus the DC system. Unfortunately, like picking the Imperial over the Metric system, we chose the wrong one. A direct current can shoot power out to one spot. But, with an alternating current you need an equal and opposite transition to balance the system, otherwise they system fails. Basically, we already have an AC grid system much more vulnerable to voltage crash, because there are more points of weakness, a.k.a. more opportunities for Sandy to do damage.
Another problem with New York is that we have one of oldest grid systems in country, built in the 1920s. New York used to have multiple utility companies, but they were consolidated when the state created a privately owned monopoly in the ’20s. This has evolved to the point where ConEd is basically the single energy provider for New York City along with a few others servicing the rest of the state.
This led to the last problem — the current way energy is sold. In our system today, power plants, the actual electrical generators, are called upon to ramp up and down their power output as the grid operator (companies like ConEd) requests. Usually an hour ahead, the operator requests X much electricity in market for the next hour. Power is bought from the generators in an auction format until the price goes up for supply to equal demand (marginal price).
The energy business is based solely on how much energy the distributor needs in a given hour, and as little incremental investment as they can do to keep the lights on. With the way the market currently works, there’s no incentive to build new infrastructure, especially considering that cost recovery for building said infrastructure takes 40 years, distributed as confusing riders on your electric bill.
How the power grid actually works:
To picture the electrical system, imagine a very broad set of tubes channeling water around to various spots. In certain spots, if small parts of the tubes get damaged or fall away, the tubes can keep functioning. But, if a particular spot goes out or the number of holes reaches a critical point, the water (electrons) will stop flowing. The water falls out of the system. For the electric grid to run, it needs to maintain a certain level of voltage. If that voltage collapses below a certain point, the system breaks. Additionally, at various points, there are gates that control the flow of the energy. If any of the gates are damaged, this is also a problem.
To get to your home, electricity is first created in a generator, which is a power plant. From the generator, a transformer — the power lines — steps up or down the amount of megawatts delivered to customers. If a large transformer, such as a big voltage line, or “backbone” line is damaged by a storm it can cause widespread blackouts, like in 2003. The transformer regulates the amount of power that goes to operate local lines (like the ones birds sit on outside your apartment).
How the grid broke and why it will take so long to fix:
For above ground lines, utility crews can’t go up in crane boxes to repair them until the wind dies down. Until the wind calms down, repairs can't even start. Some of you may have also seen the viral video or heard news of the ConEd transformer that exploded in lower Manhattan. Without this transformer — one of the water gates — the company has lost its connection between the power plant and the local lines.
Skipping on Down...
Tuesday, 4:30 pm: The West Village Halloween parade has been cancelled, the first time in it's 49-year history.
Tuesday, 4:15 pm: Amazing video of 14th St ConEd electric plant explosion:
Skipping on Down...
Tuesday, 2:30 pm: There are so many people on the streets of Manhattan with wifi devices clustered outside closed Starbucks to grab some internet. #MakesSense #FirstWorldProblems
Tuesday, 2 pm: NYC in Chaos After Hurricane Sandy Strikes – Hurricane Sandy will enter the history books as one of the most exceptional and potentially destructive storms to strike the Northeast in modern history. The storm that made landfall in New Jersey on Monday evening with 80 mph sustained winds has killed at least 17 people in seven states, cut power to more than 7.4 million homes and businesses, and caused predicted economic losses which could reach $20 billion, only half insured. Millions of people awoke on Tuesday to flooded homes, fallen trees, and widespread power outages. The storm swamped the New York City subway system and submerged Wall Street underwater.
*PolicyMic team update All of the members of PolicyMic’s team are safe, although we are experiencing severe power outages, which have forced us to shut down our Midtown office for another day. We are working around the clock remotely to bring you the latest storm updates.
Tuesday, 1:15 pm: 5,700 Flights Canceled Tuesday, Major Airports Remain Closed – More than 5,700 flights have been canceled on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cancellations caused by the storm to 15,500. That surpasses the disruptions from Hurricane Irene, which caused 14,000 flight cancellations in August 2011. The three New York airports remain closed and service is not expected to resume to and from New York before Wednesday afternoon. It could take several days, or even until next week, for passengers to be rebooked.
Laguardia :-(
Tuesday, 12:25 pm: Mayor/ governor updates: New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed the press 11:00 a.m. (see full video here), outlining key points for New Yorkers to deal with during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The mayor warned, “the worst of the storm has passed but conditions are still dangerous.” Getting the power grid and public transit repaired were listed as a top priority, as were lifesaving operations — putting out fires, restoring power to hospitals and nursing homes, and search and rescue efforts. Bloomberg implored New Yorkers on behalf of the safety of first responders to stay away from parks and beaches.
“I know it’s fun to challenge nature” he said, but “nature proved more powerful than we are.”
Transit and Power:
Subways and airports remain closed. The mayor estimated it would be at least “three to four days until ConEd and the subways are running,” however, he also noted that it could take up to five days before the systems are fully operational.
An executive order was issued authorizing cabs to pick up multiple passengers even if people are already in the car. Livery and black cars with TLC licenses are also authorized to pick up customers anywhere in the city. A subsequent press conference by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that bus service will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be running on a Sunday limited schedule. No fares will be charged for buses today or tomorrow.
Mayor Cuomo announced that all bridges are now open except those in the Rockaways, but citizens are urged to stay off the road if possible.
School and Office Closings:
Schools will remain closed today as well as Wednesday. Many federal offices are still closed however HRA centers are open for anyone seeking replacement food stamp vouchers. The mayor instructed that only those who can safely travel to work should do so. Wall Street remains shut down.
Safety:
Bloomberg urged citizens to use 911 only for “life threatening emergencies, not trees,” in order to not overload the system. To report downed trees or branches send a text to 311. The city is currently dealing with 4,000 tree service requests, mostly in the Queens area. The damaged crane on West 57th street is currently stable, however the street will not reopen until after winds die down and the boom can be firmly secured.
Skipping on Down...
Tuesday, 11:08 am: East River bridges -- BK Bridge, Manhattan, Williamsburg -- are now open.
Tuesday, 11:04 am: Mayor Bloomberg addresses the city:
Tuesday, 10:35 am: Historic power outages throughout the NYC area, as nearly 1 million people without power:
A large part of New York City is dark on Tuesday. In one quick sentence, though, New York City is more or less a sh*t show, and will likely be so for the next couple of days.
This is the biggest power outage in New York City power operator ConEdison's history.
Nearly 1 million New Yorkers are without power after Hurricane Sandy made landfall Monday night. Blackouts in Manhattan stretch from 14th Street and down, and are the most extensive in the Financial District and Lower East Side.
The Upper West Side and Upper East Side look like they have power and internet.
On a conference call at 11:40 pm, a ConEd spokesman said that "this will be the largest storm related outage in our history."
As of this morning 712,449 are without power in the New York City and surroundin areas … 1 million people in New Jersey … 925,000 are without power in Long Island … nearly half a million people in Connecticut.
ConEd has not said when power will return. ConEd cannot begin repairs until the flooding and winds subside. Worst estimates are between 3 to 4 days.
Officials in Connecticut and New Jersey say that outages can last for as long as 10 days.
New York residents can check to see blackout areas by clicking to view the Outage Map here.
In the Big Apple, subway tunnels, the waterfront, and the Financial District are flooded. The New York Stock Exchange is expected to re-open tomorrow, powered by generators.
The subway system reportedly saw “terrible” and “historic” damage.
Brooklyn has power throughout most of the borough, except in the Coney Island area, where damage is reportedly extensive.
The Bronx and Queens also reportedly have spotty power throughout those Boroughs. Laguardia Airport is reportedly flooded and closed.
Tropical storm Sandy swamped Lower Manhattan with a massive surge of seawater Monday and claimed at least one life in New York City as she terrorized some 15 million people up and down the East Coast.
At least 14 U.S. deaths were blamed on the storm, which brought the presidential campaign to a halt a week before Election Day.
An estimated 5.7 million people altogether across the East are without power. The full extent of the storm’s damage across the region was unclear, and unlikely to be known until later in the morning.
Stay safe, all. Stay safe.
Tuesday, 10:19 am: NJ Gov. Chris Christie reports massive damage to NJ's rail system and significant coastal flooding.
Tuesday, 10:18 am:
Tuesday, 9:50 am: Historic subway damage throughout New York, reports PM Editor Marni Chan: New York City is facing historic and extensive damage to it's vital public transist system, including massive flooding throughout the subway system.
Metro Transit Authority Chairman Chris Lhota released a statement on the system's site early Tuesday morning. In addition to confirming that "seven subway tunnels under the East River [were] flooded," Lhota described the damages incurred by post-tropical storm Sandy as the worst in MTA history:
"The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster asdevastating as what we experienced last night. Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on our entire transportation system, in every borough and county of the region. It has brought down trees, ripped out power and inundated tunnels, rail yards and bus depots."
Lhota continued to confirm power loses on Metro-North Railroad, evacuation of West Side Yards on the LIRR, flooding of the Hugh L. Carey and Queens Midtown Tunnel, and high water cutting off access to six bus garages.
MTA Subway service will continue to be suspended throughout the day (as will New Jersey Transit) according to their latest tweets. Lhota would not comment on a timeline for reopening, and the MTA is denying rumors that bus service will resume Tuesday at noon.
Tuesday, 9:30 am: Governor Cuomo ordered the closure of Whitestone Bridge, the Throgs Neck Bridge, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, the Henry Hudson Bridge, the Cross-Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Triborough Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge were also closed to traffic.
So was the Tappan Zee Bridge, though that bridge will reportedly re-open soon.
Tuesday, 8:54 am: BTW, Sandy is now a "post-tropical storm."
Tueday, 8:50 am: The New York Stock Exchange is expected to re-open tomorrow, powered by generators.
Tuesday, 8:35 am: For people without power, the Today Show is livestreaming their coverage of Hurricane Sandy. Watch here:
Tuesday, 7:37 am: Reports on televsion are indicating that seven subway tunnels under the East River flooded last night. This is in addition to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.
Tuesday, 7:09 am: We apologize for the gap in updates but our power has been down due to the storm. Tuesday will be a day of clean up. News of damage from the storm is still coming in. 4 million people in the tri-state area are still without power. Trees are down across the area. In New Jersey, a levee has broke and hundreds in the area are being evacuated.
Tuesday, 1:10 am: Latest path being cut by now post-tropical storm Sandy:
Tuesday, 12:30 am: Hurricane Sandy has been downgraded to a "post-tropical storm" and is stalling west of Philadelphia. Even though the core of the store is in Pennsylvania, winds are stronger further from the center, peaking around Long Island and Connecticut over 80 mph. The storm will now move north through Pennsylvania and into western New York. Winds from Sandy will reach all the way to Chicago and into Canada.
Monday, 11:38 pm: The water levels continue to lower in areas around NYC, although heavy winds will persist pushing water towards the coast. One major issue, NYU Hospital in downtown Manhattan has lost its back-up generator:
Monday, 11:04 pm: Hurricane Sandy has past Philadelphia and is slowing down. The tropical storm will likely stall, before moving north. Pressure has risen to 952 mb from the low-point at 940 mb. The lower the pressure, the more powerful the storm. This was the lowest pressure ever recorded in the North East this point in the year.
Monday, 10:44 pm: Surges of up to 9ft are being reported in downtown Manhattan. Although, tides are now dropping until 3am. The wind is driving water back into New York, but the tide is dropping. We will continue to monitor the situation.
Monday, 10:41 pm: Severe flooding in downtown New York City. The East River has overflowed (images below) into Alphabet city is beginning to recede. Battery Park city, which saw several feet of flooding, is now seeing receding water. Although it is currently unknown how much water has made its way into the tunnels in downtown Manhattan. The West Side highway below 14 St has also flooded.
Monday, 10:34 pm: Photos from the storm. FDR and 34th st. tonight.
Monday, 10:28 pm: Reports that the New York subway system could be crippled for "at least a week" due to salt water flooding the track.
Monday, 10:12 pm: Multiple deaths are now confirmed in NYC. One from a tree falling. Another from electric shock. Mayor Bloomberg has instructions for New Yorkers:
Monday, 10:05 pm: Apologies for the delay. Power has gone out for all New Yorkers below 14th St (including myself and the rest of the team). We will do our best to keep you updated. In the meantime, sever flooding has hit New York City. Here are several photos:
FDR drive flooding:
via hunteraryan
14 St & Avenue C (in Alphabet city on the lower east side of Manhattan)
Monday, 8:41 pm: Sandy has made landfall and New York and New Jersey are facing the brunt of the storm from now until a little after midnight. Power outages are being reported across New York City and winds are gusting to over 80 mph. If you are in the area, now is the time to stay indoors.
Skipping on Down...
Monday, 6:41 pm: Parts of New York City start to go black:
Hurricane Sandy is bringing dangerous wind and flooding to New York City, but now New Yorkers will also have to deal with another issue: blackouts.
Parts of Manhattan are going black on Monday night, and for an unspecified length of time. Consolidated Edison Inc, the New York City power provider, warned customers in Lower Manhattan it may shut down power on Monday evening as Hurricane Sandy barrels toward the East Coast, Reuters reported.
Power is reportedly out for over 70,000 New Yorkers, with Lower Manhattan (14th Street and below) the darkest.
Blackouts could affect streets as far north as 36th Street, the company said in a release, though would likely be limited to those avenues closest to the East and Hudson rivers. The central avenues are not expected to be affected.
New York residents can check to see blackout areas by clicking to view the Outage Map here.
The firm's automated calling system had placed calls to homeowners and businesses in the affected area.
The company said in a release it provided the same message to certain customers in flood-prone areas of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.
Con Edison said 71,500 homes and businesses were already without power in New York City and Westchester County primarily due to Sandy's high winds.
The company said all streets in New York City's evacuation zone around Battery Park City on Manhattan's southern tip would be affected by the potential blackout, as well as some on the east and west of the island serviced by the same electrical networks.
The shutdown would be a precautionary measure to avoid water damage to the utility's equipment in the event of a major storm surge. Seawater can damage underground electrical equipment. Shutting the equipment down can help to limit the damage. Among the equipment that could be harmed is the city’s extensive Subway system, of which miles of underground, electric-powered train tracks exist.
The official word from the Metro Transit Authority, New York City's public transit administrator, is, “lines are closed indefinitely.” For those in New Jersey, the system shutdown is projected to continue into at least Tuesday.
[For Live Hurricane Sandy news and updates, see here]
NJ Transit would not say when buses and trains would be rolling again, but did say service would be stopped Through Tuesday. NJ Transit said up to 8,000 employees will be on deck to get limited service running as soon as possible.
Sunday at 7:00 p.m. the MTA shut down the New York City bus and subway system, as well as Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Rail Rail, and Staten Island railway in anticipation of high winds and flooding. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also suspended the full-scale NJ transit system. For those on the roads, all tunnels going between New York City and New Jersey will close at 2:00 p.m. on Monday. To find out when the systems will reopen continue to check the MTA and NJ transit sites, or call 511 (New York) or (973-275-5555) in New Jersey for updates.
Monday, 6:57 pm: Photos from the storm:
Earlier today the "A" was knocked from the USA Today building in Virginia.
Monday, 6:14 pm: The highest points of storm surge will occur between 6:30 and 10:30 pm.
Monday, 6 pm: NYC Mayor Bloomberg on the storm:
Monday, 5:15 pm: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the Verrazano, Throgs Neck and George Washington bridges will close at 7 p.m. Monday because of the storm.
The suburban Tappan (TAP'-uhn-zee) Zee Bridge was closed at 4 p.m. because of high winds as Hurricane Sandy neared landfall.
Besides those major crossings, the following bridges also are closing: Bronx-Whitestone, Henry Hudson, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial, and Cross Bay Veterans Memorial.
Monday, 5 pm: Power out for 20,000 New Yorkers, Lower Manhattan gets shut-down robocalls from Con Ed. See here for the latest on power outages.
Monday, 4:27 pm:
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Monday, 3:10 pm: New York City: Hurricane Sandy proves that it's time to improve your infrastructure ... PM Pundit Jerome Nathaniel reports:
Last August, Tropical Storm Irene barreled through the east coast and left over 1 million people without power (over 300,000 in the tri-state area alone), caused 50 deaths nationwide, and cost the nation over $15 billion — and that was over $1 billion in New York State when you take into account the amount of money that the MTA lost from shutting down its services. The effects were most devastating for New York state’s dairy farmers who suffered tremendously due to inundated feeds for their cattle and flooded routes that impeded dairy deliveries. But even with nearly 200 upstate family farms left under water, a quick glance at any native New Yorker’s Facebook newsfeed or New York City pub promotion ringed of a single motif: “Storms aren’t that serious here because New York is storm proof!”
But arrogance is an awfully expensive vice (or virtue). As Sandy continues her 800 mile voyage across the east coast and whistles at the speed of 75 miles per hour, it is time for New York to shed itself of its sense of natural disaster impalpably — which is the same mentality of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2011 blizzard blunder — and begin to get serious about truly creating astorm proof city that is technically structured the same way as the overly confident New Yorker boasts.
Following Tropical Storm Irene, I wrote a story that called for three basic undertakings to improve the City’s infrastructure and ensure that we shield ourselves from hurricanes, tropical storms and flooding: (1) improvements to our archaic plumbing system, (2) increased construction of soft infrastructure such as wetland edges and grass swales, and (3) pushing buildings to seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification via green roof construction. Now that I am more acclimated with New York’s agriculture system, allow me to add (4) support for community farming initiatives as a much needed effort throughout the state.
The first suggestion is one that has been underway since the conception of New York’s civilization. New York’s outdated plumbing system — one that includes pipes that are over centuries old and have lead to busted water mains and emergency evacuations — needs an extreme makeover: celebrity edition. If our pipelines and sewer plumbing system is not up to snuff, then we will continue to emit 27 billion gallons of combined sewage overflows (CSO) into our waters. In case you don’t think CSOs are a pressing issue, just bear in mind that CSOs include the flowing of human and animal waste, over 40 identifiable disease causing pathogens, and storm runoff that passed through toxic metals and led into New York’s harbor.
Grass swale construction is another effective, yet admittedly less feasible, approach to making New York flood proof. Grass swales involve the use of vegetation and erosion resistant marshy lands in flood prone areas as a means to impede storm waters and filter pollutants. Building grass swales is cheap and easy; finding space in our crowded city and bottleneck traffic is another story.
While it may not be as practical in backed up highways like the Belt Parkway and the Gowanus Expressway, it is certainly wise to emphasize their construction along dairy delivery routes in the outer counties such as Westchester. In the meantime, areas of the city that is too crowded for grass swales should focus their energy on emphasizing green roofs as an effective way for City buildings to rack up the LEED points for certification. With the ability to soak in and filter 70% to 90% of the precipitation that falls on them during the summer and 25% to 40% during the winter depending on the vegetation that is used, green roofs are an ideal solution for New York City.
Another overdue push for New York State, particularly New York City, is stronger support for community supported agriculture (CSA) and local farming initiatives. Following Irene, Governor Andrew Cuomo committed over $1 million to matching up to 50 percent of the damage costs that New York farmers suffered under the hands of Irene. The US Department of Agriculture and, on a smaller scale, the Federal Emergency Management Agency also helps in providing emergency crop insurance for farmers. However, all of these measures are reactionary. A lot more can be done to preempt the inflation and devastation that America’s most forgotten, yet pivotal, industry undergoes with the turn of every tide and gusts of the wind. If the City would make it easier for local farmers to find land and funding for CSAs and local farming initiatives, then City grocers would not have to be hit hard every time an upstate and outer county delivery route closes down for flooding.
Unfortunately, the hustle and bustle of New York shuts us off from one another — so much so to the extent that a disaster isn’t an issue until it happens under our very own apartment roof. Most New Yorkers do not recognize how every storm can and will affect them, from the food in their fridge to the gas in their pumps. New Yorkers seem to have a hard time comprehending how a state that uses over 23 percent of its land for farming, receives roughly 80 percent of its local produce from upstate farms, and is among the top two dairy producers in the country can suffer during a natural disaster and directly affect their grocery bills; or how a plumbing system that religiously pumps gallons of CSO that have flown through city structure and old pipes into the Hudson will add an extra scoop of mercury and bacteria to their favorite seafood dish. Go figure.
Monday, 3 pm: This:
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Dean Howell
