The People of New York....

...my heart goes out to you today and my thoughts are with you after seeing the devastation Sandy has caused. I know Andrea (Maple Tree) lives there and, as she hasn't signed in today...I'm hoping she has just lost power and nothing more serious. I'm sure there are other members from this part of the world and I just don't know you but....my thoughts are with you all.

Hope you are well, Andrea.

My sister was caught in the midst of Sandy. I haven't heard from her either.

Have you tried her cell phone Jane?

My thoughts go out to everyone caught in the hurricane...and my best wishes for your sister Jane and of course Andrea...I'm trying not to watch the news here for it worries me much more than already does

Best wishes to all...

Jane, she is probably safe, just cut off from power, cell and internet for now (everything below 39th Street is without power), but try the E-mail and perhaps she would go somewhere and respond back. I had the same issue with my brother and visiting parents in NJ, no landline, cells were not working until a few minutes ago, but just reached them on cell. Glad Andrea and family are safe and connected.

17 deaths reported so far, mostly from falling trees...a small number given the magnitude of the people affected, 7 million are without power. Lower Manhatten flooding filled up 7 subway tunnels. Water pumps won't work to empty them without power for now. 80-100 homes in Breezy point (Queens) destroyed in a fire this morning. 12000 flights cancelled, can't imagine the mess people are in right now.

Storm damage is projected to be at $10 billion to $20 billion US, meaning it could prove to be one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

Oh Jane I hope you hear back soon!!

Andrea is fine. She actually just sent a video clip to me of the sky, which is still dark, still windy but she's alive and at work because her work had power. Which pisses me off they should just close the city down.

I'm glad Andrea is alright. I hope your sister is alright too, Jane. I hope everyone is.

33 deaths in US per CNN. Amazingly low. The city prepared well, closing subways & tunnels. Could have been much worse. I'm sure everyone will turn up well and enduring. If it were me I would rather go to work than putter around without power.

Larry the news may fluctuate and nobody knows the actual number 17 or 33 or maybe some other number. I hope that the authorities can include the situation asap. I'm glad that Andrea and others are safe.

It's good to hear that most people are coming through this really well. Hurricanes are scary - not even so much for the actual storm - but for their ability to have far-reaching consequences for a whole region. Huge, expensive infrastructure re-building and hurt businesses, not to mention the months and years that individuals will be working with insurance companies and trying to rebuild their lives, with varying success. Some people are just one tree-branch-through-the-roof or one flooded car away from poverty and homelessness. I wish everyone luck: both now and in the months and years to come.

Hello everyone... I live near Albany... and about 4 hours from New York City... My heart goes out to them.... a coworker of mine, her daughter was struck in the head by a tree limb, running into her house... but she will be ok, few stitches...

We had major power outages, minor house damages around our area... Jim and I's home received minor window damage... so we fared out well considering what our folks in the City endured... :-(

The weather is now a tropical storm, and the winds are still bad.... but power is on in our area..

Jane my thoughts are with you and your sister, please let us know...

I received so many kind emails and support during this terrible storm and I really appreciate it :-)

Very happy you & James made it through OK. Tell James we all miss him here.

Thank you larry :-) and He wants me to tell you thank you as well...

Good to have you back, Andrea.

My sister is fine. Thanks all for the concern. She's in Manhattan and the city is blacked out up to 40th street.

Good to hear about your sister, Jane. During Ike we were without power for 13 weeks. Tell your sister to get a generator. FEMA pays you back after a while.

I am shipping one tomorrow to my brother in NJ. Sent you a pm with a few qns.

Andrea good to see you back safe and sound.

Pictures and TV coverage of Sandy's devastation continue to move many of us. Horrific natural disaster, for the US. Staten Island (NY borough) seems to be under a siege, like Hoboken NJ...houses submerged and/or surrounded by lakes of seawater everywhere. NJ Barrier island houses just "blown away".

Death toll now reported to be 157 from Sandy, 88 alone in the US. 1 million still without electricity, and temperatures at night predicted to fall below freezing at night in the next few days for many parts of NJ, and coastal NY and the predictions of a Noreaster (a winter storm) early next week...hard hit people, waiting like sitting ducks, for a second round of nature's fury. Sad, my heart goes out to them.

Edit: Just heard, that by Saturday, most of NY city will have power restored...hurray for the hardworking crews!
And generator recd. and installed, up and running...thank God!

Many of those crews are from outside
During Ike's aftermath we had power crews from as far away as North Carolina. This time Houston sent her crews to the NE to help out.

I live in Connecticut, but at the time of the storm I was in New Jersey (Jersey Shore). Got hit extremely hard, lost power, flooded, trees and power lines down, fires, etc. I was just able to get out of there and come home, but many people (including family members of mine) are still without power, flooded, and unable to do anything till crews come and fix the problems. My heart goes out to all who are still without power, flooded, lost a house, etc.

I just hope those people still without power, flooded or without a home, have somewhere to go or get their power back before the Nor'easter hits on the foretasted Wed. or Thurs.