Modern Vespa

I usually take a very large grain of salt with me when I watch TV. Can I get a real update on New York for today and tomorrow? My wife has been ordered in for Hurricane relief, (on an Incident Command Team) and we are trying to sort fact from fiction. Is gasoline available on I-95? from Virginia to Staten Island? How about electricity? If she can get there, then I can rest easy. What will she need to bring that is missing because of the storm? Thanks for any updates. It is very much appreciated. People from all over the country are coming to help. Hang in there....

Thank you.

I can't speak with authority, but I have heard constant updates on the news about the scarcity of gasoline in the NY metropolitan area, and the stations that are open have waits of at least an hour. I don't know what the situation is further south.

Brendan

I just saw a piece on the national news that showed gas stations in area running out of fuel. Unfortunately, I don't know if it was only one or two stations or if it's widespread.

It's lack of power for pumps (so many stations are closed) and the rest not having delivery often enough to accommodate their three-times normal numbers of customers. Or so I'm led to believe.

Gasoline is in short supply. Lines are very long in the stations that do have gas. Many don't, even in neighborhoods such as mine that have had power. We're being told that the shortage is due to supply issues caused by inability to barge gas across New York harbor until recently as well as New Jersey refineries and storage facilities without power. It reminds me of 1979.
Have her keep the tank as full as possible as she drives north.

The situation in the city depends entirely on where you are. Some neighborhoods, like mine in eastern Queens, are normal except for the traffic jamb caused by the line at the open gas station. There are other neighborhoods in the city that are really hurting. No power often means no water or toilets. Food has all been spoiled and the poor can't access benefits with no working ATMs in blacked out neighborhoods but the stores have no food which hasn't spoiled. It really is a tale of two cities. Those with power are fairly normal, those without are pretty rough. The devastation is a few low lying neighborhoods is profound. one beachfront community lost 110 houses to fire right to the ground. Other similar communities in Queens,
Staten Island, and Brooklyn have been heavily damaged by flooding. Many cars flooded and totaled by seawater.

It's an absolute disgrace, IMO, that the mayor is permitting the marathon to be run on Sunday, taking resources away from more important tasks and
adding greatly to an already horrendous traffic problem. The 38 folks killed by the storm in the City alone have not yet been buried yet we're inviting 50,000 folks to run around the city in their underwear.

Amen

http://www.facebook.com/CancelThe2012NycMarathon

What part of NY is she going to?

She might be redirected in the morning, but the plan is now for Staten Island...I'm thinking she'd do better on Ellis Island. Assateague is also a possibility.

Gleaned from TV so not actually being there. Gas is in short supply all over NYC. Tankers can't get in to refuel the gas stations as well. Makes the problems worse. Staten Island got really slammed. You normally can get gas on 95. Can she bring some big Jerry cans and fill them, so she'd have some extra? Also what would she do on Ellis or Assateague? I'd bring everything she'd need for her stay. The chances of her getting things are slim. If she can bring extras that would be great. I'm sure people would appreciate it. Also make sure she's up to date on her vaccinations. All the water laying around isn't good. Some pos karma sent her way for doing this and be safe.