Staten Island Still Recovering From Superstorm Sandy

Hurricane Sandy combined with wind and snow from a nor'easter this week has left New York's Staten Island coastal residents in a soggy mess as New York City mayor declares odd-even day's gas rationing.

Published

6 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

United States

People

Michael Bloomberg

Places

United States of America, New York City, Staten Island

Transcript

For residents of New York's Staten Island, there seems to be no end in sight to their misery. After hurricane Sandy ripped homes inside out last week, a nor'easter followed on Thursday, turning the wreckage into a wet, cold mess. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT, CAROL DIAZ, SAYING: "You wake up every day and you know, you wake up and you're okay and then in a second it hits you that all this happened and you don't have a place of your own anymore. It's pretty devastating. And you always think it's never going to be you and then it is, so it puts me on the other side of the table." A local motorcycle group called Hallowed Sons has been helping bring food and supplies to residents who need assistance. But volunteers say that more needs to be done to help the people of Staten Island. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered the rationing of gasoline due to a severe shortage caused by the storm. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY MAYOR, MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, SAYING: "Only 25 percent of our gas stations, we estimate, are open. Drivers are still facing long lines, frustrations are only growing and it now appears that there will be shortages for possibly another couple weeks. The best way we think to cut down on the lines and help customers buy gas faster, to help gas stations stay open longer and to reduce the potential for disorder is to alternate the days that drivers can purchase gas." Emergency vehicles, buses, taxis and certain other vehicles are exempt from the rationing system.