Power returns to lower Manhattan, but many waiting
Updated: 2012-11-04 13:13
(Agencies)
|
||||||||
Tested patience
Gasoline rationing has tested the patience of drivers - fist fights have broken out in mile-long lines of cars - and the National Guard has been called out to prevent looting.
"Hurricanes can be the stress equivalent of cancer," said David Yusko, assistant clinical director at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania.
Musician Christina Aguilera performs during Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together, a Red Cross telethon on NBC to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy, the storm that killed more than 100 and devastated parts of the US Northeast, in New York, Nov 2, 2012. [Photo/Agencies] |
Music stars offered a diversion from the disaster with a televised benefit concert on Friday night featuring New Jersey natives Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi and Staten Island-born Christina Aguilera.
"We will not leave anyone behind," said Aguilera, whose native borough accounted for 22 of New York City's 40 deaths from the storm.
US President Barack Obama won early praise for the federal response to Sandy, but continued television and newspaper images of upset storm victims could hurt the Democrats, who is locked in a virtual draw with Republican challenger Mitt Romney going into Tuesday's election.
US President Barack Obama sits beneath a weather map as he talks to reporters after a briefing about operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, at FEMA headquarters in Washington, Nov 3, 2012. [Photo/Agencies] |
"There's nothing more important than getting this right," the president said at the beginning of a briefing with officials from FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and state and local governments.
Power restoration
Power utility Consolidated Edison, battling what it called the worst natural disaster in the company's 180-year history, restored electricity to Manhattan neighborhoods such as Wall Street, Chinatown and Greenwich Village in the pre-dawn hours, leaving 11,000 customers in Manhattan without service.
Con Ed said it had restored power to 70 percent of the 916,000 customers in the New York City area who were cut off.
"There's enough light and activity to get a lot of people on the street and get rid of that movie set look as if were in some kind of ghost town or horror movie," Con Ed spokesman Bob McGee told NY1 television.
In New Jersey, the utility PSE&G said 607,000 customers were still without lights after power to one million had been restored.
The US Coast Guard reopened New York Harbor on Friday, allowing tankers in and out.
Moving to ease fuel shortages, the Obama administration directed the purchase of up to 12 million gallons (45 million liters) of unleaded fuel and 10 million gallons (38 million liters) of diesel, to be trucked to New York and New Jersey for distribution.
The government announced it would tap strategic reserves for diesel for emergency responders and waived rules that barred foreign-flagged ships from taking gasoline, diesel and other products from the Gulf of Mexico to Northeast ports.
A cold snap in the New York City area was forecast early next week with daily low temperatures expected to drop into the upper 30s Fahrenheit (2-4 degrees Celsius).
"There's no heating oil around," said Vincent Savino, the president Statewide Oil and Heating, which usually supplies some 2,000 buildings across New York City. "I don't know how much fuel we have left: maybe a day or two."
- Superstorm Sandy floods NYC streets, causes blackouts
- US economy may skirt direct hit from Hurricane Sandy
- Hurricane Sandy upends global travel
- US nuclear plant declares 'alert' after Sandy
- Sandy forces 10,000 flight cancellations in US northeast coast
- Stock exchange shuts down ahead of Sandy
- Hurricane affects early presidential voting
- Relief reaches isolated village
- Rainfall poses new threats to quake-hit region
- Funerals begin for Boston bombing victims
- Quake takeaway from China's Air Force
- Obama celebrates young inventors at science fair
- Earth Day marked around the world
- Volunteer team helping students find sense of normalcy
- Ethnic groups quick to join rescue efforts
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Supplies pour into isolated villages |
All-out efforts to save lives |
American abroad |
Industry savior: Big boys' toys |
New commissioner
|
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Today's Top News
Health new priority for quake zone
Xi meets US top military officer
Japan's boats driven out of Diaoyu
China mulls online shopping legislation
Bird flu death toll rises to 22
Putin appoints new ambassador to China
Japanese ships blocked from Diaoyu Islands
Inspired by Guan, more Chinese pick up golf
US Weekly
Beyond Yao
|
Money power |