Here’s the latest information we have gathered this morning concerning the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy:
- Unfortunately there’s not much new to report today regarding Con Ed’s efforts to restore steam to hundreds of buildings below 14th Street. Thousands of Lower East Side residents are still without heat and hot water four days after electric power was restored. Some building managers hoped to have the heat back on yesterday, but now it’s looking as though Con Ed’s target date of November 11 (Sunday) might be more realistic. Yesterday Governor Cuomo blasted Con Ed and other utilities for neglecting areas outside of Manhattan and for failing to communicate with its customers. In the past 24 hours, local elected officials and non-profits have been knocking on doors of impacted buildings and handing out blankets supplied by FEMA.
- A bit of semi-good news: forecasters are now saying a nor’easter expected to hit the region tomorrow night will likely not be as powerful as they originally feared. Some coastal flooding and high winds are still predicted, though. The temperature will hover in the 30’s and low 40’s today and tomorrow. The storm will bring rain that will turn to snow on Thursday.
- Help for residents with no heat: Click here to find a daytime warming center. Unfortunately, the city does not have an overnight warming center on the Lower East Side. As we have mentioned previously, University Settlement’s Houston Street Center (273 Bowery) is offering hot showers free of charge until 10 p.m.
- Yesterday officials with FEMA met with local elected representatives at the offices of State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to talk about assistance for local residents and businesses. There’s no news yet concerning a FEMA assistance center in this neighborhood. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, during an appearance on Staten Island, called on the federal agency to open more centers, including on the Lower East Side. Businesses can apply for a disaster loan through the Small Business Administration or apply for help through the city.
- Several local businesses and organizations are planning benefits to help the victims of the hurricane. We’ll have a separate post about those projects later today.
