Frankenstorm Bites New York's Apple
By Joel Leyden
New York, NY --- October 30, 2012 ... Within a matter of hours the many vibrant red, yellow and green leaves of a New England Autumn were shredded from their trees in the worst winds and floods to hit the US Northeast.
We were given more than enough warning. The National Weather Service issued statements more than a week ago that a "Frankenstorm" monster would be formed out of Hurricane Sandy which was slowly moving up the East Coast. That Hurricane Sandy, which had created much havoc in the Caribbean, would integrate with a winter storm moving east across the US and was to be joined by a blast of frigid artic air coming from the north.
New Yorkers and Israelis have much in common.
We are aggressive, pushy and fear almost nothing. And so it went with the forecast of what was predicted to be the worst storm to slam the US. But as weather forecasts and maps born from computer software became more and more accurate with every passing hour many of us started to take heed.
Having been a victim of last year's October ice storm which crippled the US Northeast with early snow and ice, I began to prepare a checklist as if getting ready for miliuem service in the IDF.
First and foremost, to make sure that all communication would be operative. I reactivated a second mobile phone with Verizon, the only company which got many of us through last year's storms. For Internet I reactivated a "hot spot" mobile Internet router so that once the electricity dropped I could continue harassing my friends on Facebook and Twitter.
From digital to brick and mortars - left my computer screens for long lines at gas stations to fill several red canisters with gas for the electric generator which would feed our lights, refrigerator, oil burner and computers.
After having lived in Israel for over 25 years, getting and being prepared for emergencies becomes second nature.
After all, if we were not prepared, we simply would not survive.
As Hurricane Sandy slowly crept up towards the New York and New Jersey coast, we made sure that our refrigerator and food closets were well stocked. Local news reporters where telling us that most would lose electricity from a few days to a few weeks. Then the governors of Connecticut and New York warned that we would be facing the "most catastrophic storm to ever hit the US".
How does one respond to that?
Were we talking about high winds of more than 100 miles per hour, rain fall of over 8 inches, over two feet of snow, sea levels of more than 14 feet above normal and talking to Dorothy and Toto in the midst of swirling tornadoes?
As a journalist, I know how to find fact. To read between the lines. And in this case it became clear that all of the weather forecasters were basing their knowledge on projected weather models that were proving to be very real. But it was where they sincerely stated, just a few times, that they could not fully predict where and how much damage would be inflicted upon us by this massive, historic storm that provoked the most anxiety.
We were told to prepare. No different than getting ready for Katusha rockets and Scud missiles, I taped up all of the windows. Trimmed branches that were hanging over nearby power lines. Purchased the last hand cranked Red Cross weather radio from Radio Shack and made sure that the dog and cats had both food and toys.
Most important was the emergency food deliveries that I and friends make twice a week to homeless shelters in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut area. On Sunday night we picked up 6 boxes and plastic bags of freshly made bread, bagels and pastry from a Panera store.
We made our rounds just hours before Frankenstorm started to rain on us. We distributed to police stations, fire departments, the US National Guard (which has been called up for the storm) and two homeless shelters.
With our eyes glued to the TV and I scanning every local news site on the Net, we bunkered down expecting the worst.
High winds began to shake all around us. Winds were howling outside as we drank coffee late into the night and assured our friends that we would be OK.
Being about 100 miles north from New York and the center of the storm provided very little comfort.
The weather people were telling us that the path of the storm was not relevant. That what was once a hurricane was now a winter storm which would only increase in power over a massive area from Boston to Washington.
If New York had problems, Philadelphia and Baltimore could not provide backup as we were all in this together. Whatever logistical support we did receive came from electric companies which had sent their crews from the US Mid-West.
Watching the hurricane slam New York and Long Island was a heart breaking experience. The devastation that took place there reminded me of covering 9/11 at Ground Zero. One third of Manhattan was and is now without electricity. Lower Manhattan - the financial district is completely flooded with water pouring mercilessly down into the subway stations.
A construction crane standing high over New York on 57th Street had snapped and was threatening ten nearby buildings. NYU Hospital, whose back up electric generators gave way, was being evacuated with dozens of ambulances racing to and from.
Perhaps my very good friend Gary Vanderwalde who lives out on Long Island summed up the entire experience from his home in a SMS message.
"Joel, sorry, can't call you. No electricity. Saving battery. More than 5 feet of water in my basement. But we survived. We are New Yorkers. We will be OK."
Joel Leyden, a native of New York who lives in Ra'anana, is an international journalist, senior media and social media adviser who consults the IDF and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
