Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Here & There Column 11-6-12


Sandy Humbled Everyone

  A week has passed since New York and the Northeast were blasted by Superstorm Sandy.
  The storm showed many things about New York. It exposed the city's vulnerabilities .....it also displayed its strengths.
  There is no doubt Sandy humbled everyone.
   On Wednesday last week it was very clear that restoring the region to a regular pace would take several days....rebuilding the hardest-hit areas and transportation networks will take considerably longer. Some without electricity could take weeks before power is restored. 
  It was rewarding to see folks standing together, shoulder to shoulder, ready to help a neighbor, comforting a stranger and doing the best one could do to get so many folks back on their feet.
  The damage and pain inflicted by Sandy still is unfolding even this week and new challenges keep popping up.
  Both federal, states and local community budgets, all suffering as a result of a weak economy will be hit up hard to cover the cost. New York is already facing a $1 billion deficit and local governments are so strapped that some mayors fear bankruptcy in coming years.
   Sandy has dealt a severe blow to the U.S. Economy that will reverberate for weeks and months ahead. 
  Mother nature has given us a firm reminder of who's  the boss but we also have received firm reminders that we have many who were out there before the storm, during the storm and after the storm keeping us safe and trying their best to get us all back up and running.
  Kudos go out to all police agencies, fire departments, ambulance corps, highway departments, utility workers and thousands upon thousands of volunteers who helped in relief and recovery efforts. 

                                                   

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