Scope of Sandy's Devastation Widens, Death Toll Spirals (98)

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

By Edith Honan

NEW YORK | Fri Nov 2, 2012 1:04am EDT

(Reuters) - From New York City's Staten Island to the popular beach towns of the Jersey Shore, rescuers and officials on Friday faced growing evidence of widespread destruction wrought by superstorm Sandy, mounting anger over delayed relief and a rising death toll.

The total killed in one of the biggest storms to hit the United States jumped by a third on Thursday alone, to 98. In New York City, 40 people have been found dead, half of them in Staten Island, which was overrun by a wall of water on Monday.

Among the dead in Staten Island were two brothers, aged 2 and 4, who were swept from their mother's arms after her car stalled in rising flood waters. Their bodies were found near each other in a marshy area on Thursday.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Administrator Richard Serino planned to visit Staten Island on Friday amid angry claims by some survivors that the borough had been ignored.

Scenes of angry storm victims could complicate matters for politicians, from President Barack Obama just four days before the general election, to governors and mayors in the most heavily populated region in the United States. Obama visited New Jersey on Wednesday and has received praise for his handling of Sandy.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/02/us-storm-sandy-hurricane-idUSBRE89N16J20121102

[hollysmom]

1. I never understand what is so important people have to go out during a storm

I remember one grandmother calling me to talk to her daughter to not go back to her apartment. I tried, so much, I did convince her to leave her 5 year old son at grandma's though and good thing,. she drove off a bridge that she forgot ws there, the road was so flooded. She was lucky the police were right there, and got her. She lost her purse, and id and her car. because she did not have a change in clothes. seriously, I always have clean clothes and extra tooth brushes for unexpected guests. People should wait until the waters go down.

[NutmegYankee]

4. Lots of people believe it's Hype.

Sadly they discover otherwise.

[shireen]

2. Was there an evacuation order for Staten Is?

I was studying the NY coastal map earlier. A surge of ocean water racing towards Staten Is would be "magnified" as the water tried to squeeze into the narrower bay.

[KT2000]

3. this post says yes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021690519

[dipsydoodle]

5. The subject of Staten Island had previously come up here on Tuesday

Stuck Staten Island residents ask local leaders for rescue http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014284838

As I'm UK I don't know the exact geography there but is it in fact likely that only part of Staten Island would have received an evacuation order ? Just by looking at its location on google maps I would not have thought that to be the case given its exposure to the ocean and surrounding land acting as a funnel.

On the subject in general, despite the tragic number of deaths and dislocation, the US has seemingly dealt extremely well with a really substantial adverse situation. In the absense of prior arrangements the death toll would undoubtedly have been far higher.