People are writing me in distress asking how to find out if their relatives in Brooklyn are OK.
So, here are some thoughts if you have loved ones in Brooklyn and wish they'd call or email already.
- The chances are that your Brooklyn people are OK (even if their property isn't). Why? Well, most New Yorkers are. That's because NYC undertook an enormous evacuation process to get people out of risky situations.For instance, electricity was turned off in very expensive high rise apartment buildings in Williamsburg, as well as public housing developments in Coney Island, to "encourage" people to get off their duffs and out of the flood zone. There was a shut down of all transit before and during the storm, and if you didn't get the message to stay inside, then you'd have to have been deaf. Also, the weather was just terrible; nobody would really choose to venture out in that wind.
- Mobile communications are jammed, maybe: It would appear to be the case that mobile phone service into Brooklyn and possibly other parts of NYC has been affected by the storm. As of Tuesday evening, I can attest to the fact that people who have tried to reach my mobile aren't getting through, even though it is charged and umbilically attached to me.
- If you haven't heard from someone in Brooklyn, there's a good chance it's related to the temporary fact that they have no electricity (slightly under 10% of Brooklyn households are out of power), or that the aforementioned mobile phone service isn't functioning.
- Not only is power out in some sections, but the places where you'd go to plug in a dead phone or lap top were closed before, during and after the storm, too. For instance, public libraries are closed. So are campuses. Stores and cafes just began opening this afternoon. It's hard to get anywhere; some streets are closed off, it's not safe to bike, mass transit didn't start again till midday (and then just buses).
- If your Brooklyn person was evacuated, then they might have gone to a "hub" shelter, only to be relocated to one of the "spokes" of that hub. So they might have told you they were going, say, to a huge public school, but then end up in a satellite location. They're all about the same level of (dis)comfort. There are not a lot of public phones and no WiFi in these places; if you don't have a functioning phone it might be hard to make a call or send an email.
- Brooklyn residents who were hardest hit might have a lot on their plate: lost homes, cars, not be able to get to work. If they weren't ready for the storm, and live in a "Zone A" flood area (high risk for flooding) then they probably have a lot of things to do to begin to rebuild their lives. So give them time.
- Liquor stores in some neighborhoods were doing a darn brisk business before Hurricane Sandy hit, and some folks were having "hurricane parties." Maybe your Brooklyn person was partying hard.
- If something still seems fishy to you about not having heard from your Brooklyn contact, then call "311" which is New York City's all-purpose switchboard. Don't call 911 unless its an emergency. Tell the 311 operator what your concern is. If your Brooklyn person is 85, lives alone and has Alzheimers, they might refer you to an emergency number. If your Brooklyn person is 25, college educated and isn't always so good about calling home anyway, they might direct you otherwise.
- Above all, avoid the media hysteria and be patient. We love the media. But it can make you nuts. People from all over the world have seen horrific images of flooded highways, airports, tunnels and so on. I myself have heard from people in three or four countries in the past 12 hours, friends I haven't talked to in 6 months, all wanting to touch base. But this is not like September 11, 2001, when citizens raced to help; Hurricane Sandy has been dealt with by professionals: cops, firefighters, engineers, and so on. The media is essential in letting us know what's happening, but they also pick the most alarming and extreme photos to shoot around the globe. So your Brooklyn person, who's here and dealing with the actual day to day of things, might not be operating at the same level of whipped up intensity as, say, Wolf Blitzer.
In the event that your Brooklyn person has been affected: lost their home, car, job, or have a crisis (like a tree crashing on the car or roof), they'll need your support. So, keep trying, call a friend or someone else who might know them, and wait to hear from them.
Which reminds me, I haven't talked to my dear, dottering old father in law since this morning....
Comments
Hi there, any information on whether there will be any transportation provided to those who live in Brooklyn to get to Manhattan? Since they are encouraging us to get back to work there must be some other way than having to pay for a taxi everyday until the MTA is up and running again. They can’t possibly expect us to pay over $100 everyday until things are back to normal.
The city is working on getting the MTA functioning as soon as possible. Thats the focus.
Well sounds like the nypd is cleaning things up and bloomberg paying ppl to just maintain control of the crowds by posting fake and unrealistic facts about what is really happening in lower manhattan, brooklyn and queens. The nypd, engineers and so called “specialists” have already taken care of ppl specially those on section 8, the elder, etc. Thank God for the police and engineers!! Sounds like Bloombergs psychosis on cleaning the city with the police has really turned out to be a good seller.
any word on when warbasse might get its power back on?
Con Ed isn’t saying when power will be back on. I hope by the weekend. What is “warbasse?”
That’s a big apartment complex in Brighton. And anyone know if residents of Shore View Nursing Home have been evacuated. No phone or their answering machine
They’re on Brighton 3 and Neptune Ave. THANKS ← TAP AGAIN TO SAVE.
Given the location, these people would have been evacuated well before the storm hit. For sure. I got very flooded down there. You can try calling 311 to see where they are. It
Friends in Warbasse. Any news on power generators greatly appreciated.. They weren’t able to evacuate. Running out of stored water.
Anyone delivering aid to apt buildings I can call to do a welfare check on them and get them somewhere else?
(I’m in CA, trying to find out what I can do from here.)
Thx
I have a boyfriend living in 2650 East 13th Street, he told me it’s near Sheepheads Bay.. I keep on contacting him since Monday, but unfortunately i’m having a hard time getting through him.. I’m really worried i don’t know what to do, I keep on hoping & praying he and family are all safe.. I just want to know if there’s still flood and power outage in his area? Thanks
I believe this address falls in a Flood Zone A, which means the entire population of the buildings would have been evacuated well before the storm hit. You can plug in the address here: http://gis.nyc.gov/oem/he/index.htm, and see for yourself. There is power outage in this general area, probably will be fixed by weekend. Not sure when evacuees will be returned, however.
Hi, I’m from the Phillippines and I have a boyfriend living in 2650 East 13th Street, he told me it’s near Sheepheads Bay.. I’m really worried i keep on contacting him since Monday, but it’s hard getting through him, I keep on hoping he is safe.. I just want to know if his area still flooding & has no power? Thanks & God bless!
I wasn’t sure what the answer was here so I researched it and wrote an article about how to find someone in an evacuation shelter. It won’t be easy from a distance.
Here’s how you access 311 from afar. http://brooklyn.about.com/od/government/a/New-York-City-S-311-Line-An-Information-Butler-To-Help-You-Navigate-Nyc.htm
Click here: http://brooklyn.about.com/od/Hurricanes-Storms-Earthquakes/a/4-Steps-To-Finding-Someone-In-A-Brooklyn-Emergency-Evacuation-Shelter.htm
It seems like many people in zone A chose to stay and made it through the storm, albeit with flooded basements and floating cars. Warbasse housing, however, has its own water boiler and electricity, and those did not fair so well. It may take up to a month to get those up and running, and additionally there has been a gas leak in the buildings, causing a second round of evacuations of Warbasse tenants.
Any change in warbasse? I heard they were waiting for a new generator to be ship or flown over from another state
I was told that notices were posted yesterday stating that the power would not be restored for at least 2 weeks. People were told to leave the buildings and go to shelters.
I was also told that the National Guard was going to go door-to-door today. That apparently did not happen.
Ambulances have been appearing in front of buildings 3 and 4 throughout the day, according to folks watching from Trump. Our thoughts and prayers are with affected by the aftermath of Sandy.
Living in So CA, we worry about fires and earthquakes. Never would have guessed a hurricane could do so much damage in so many places.
For those who have been asking about Warbasse, I recommend you visit three sites:
SheepsheadBites.com — local news blog
facebook.com/cleaningSheepshead
https://www.facebook.com/Help.Brooklyn.Sandy.Victims
They all have updates on Warbasse and have been involved in door-to-door efforts this week.
Some have reported about water being back on in buildling three but not confirmed. Latest story about an hour ago was about the police asking people to leave and hopefully helping them.
Someone on another board asked someone to specifically check on a relative and they did.
My family recently left Warbasse after 48 years so I’ve been following very closely as many friends are still there.
Wishing everyone a dry, safe place to be with their loved ones.