<p>CNN said that it just made landfall along the coast of southern NJ</p>
<p>George Washington Bridge was officially closed at 7PM, as is nearly every other access point in/out of Manhattan. Winds clocked at nearly 70mph, some as high as 100mph at the R.F. Kennedy Bridge between Bronx and Queens.</p>
<p>Besides the little brawl over parenting vs. babysitting, a small controversy is percolating over NJ Governor Christie’s angry criticism of people who didn’t evacuate. I just heard one PBS radio caller say that she was stunned and disappointed by Christie’s words because she did have to work today, she had to attended to storm related preparations, and she tried but could not leave in time, so she had to “hunker down” at home. I too, thought Christie was a bit too harsh. “In good conscience, I’m not going to send in anyone to rescue you.”</p>
<p>The NWS is now reporting that if the storm continues on it’s expected path that Chicago could see 20 foot waves off Lake Michigan :eek:</p>
<p>My parents in central Jersey just lost power. Our lights are flicking in NYC. D1 has lost VPN to work downtown.</p>
<p>I think Bloomberg said something along the same lines - he wasn’t going to risk the lives of responders when people were simply being irresponsible (I think this was in relation to some surfers, so it’s a more extreme case of “irresponsibility”) - but he was not quite as straight-forward as Christie. I do understand the sentiment.</p>
<p>Would you expect more from Christie–isn’t he known for being blunt? Saw him on the news and thought that it looked like he had gained weight.</p>
<p>I have to agree with the governors about sending rescue personnel into the storm to rescue people that refused to listen to evacuation notices. For the woman that “had” to go to work today, why didn’t she do it yesterday? This storm has been on this path for over a week now…</p>
<p>Just saw photos of cars floating in the street in lower Manhattan, with people – not wisely, I think – trying to push them. That can’t be a good idea.</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t think it’s harsh for rescue personnel to refuse to put themselves in danger, when people had plenty of opportunity to leave ahead of time. We are a free country. People are allowed to make decisions that endanger themselves (and possibly their innocent families). But others are not obligated to bail them out.</p>
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<p>From the NWS…</p>
<p>Steve-
She’s an engineer who’s been called in to help deal with the dangling crane emergency.</p>
<p>Understand the sentiment but I think he was needlessly punitive. He singled out the Mayor of Atlantic City for blame, apparently the Mayor told people to stay home and not head to shelters. Well, Atlantic City is now flooded. Ocean water over the Boardwalk.</p>
<p>But like you say, we shouldn’t be too surprised by Christie. And yes, he looked terrible was was clearly leaning all over the podium like he was too tired to stand up straight.</p>
<p>Sue–I was responding to the news story LakeWashington posted…not getting messed up in that other topic thanks :D.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong. I get upset when officials send out helicopters to rescue skiers and snow hikers who bull-headedly ignore or fail to check storm warnings. About 3 years ago a rescue helicopter in Washington State crashed in the Cascades during a rescue attempt. Tragic.</p>
<p>I read that the mayor of Atlantic City told residents not to evacuate… he sounds like a real idiot. Sad that his actions may have cost lives.</p>
<p>I just talked to my dad in stuyvesant town about an hour and a half ago - he was very cavalier - no worries about evacuation - not in zone A - are you sure they are evacuating donnaL? (I noted you are in washington heights from your earlier post - funny coincidence, my sister is a long time resident of the area, long before it gentrified though she isn’t in the city right now)</p>
<p>Around here, the winds seem to be dying down a bit but the power failures are increasing rapidly. Our town has 32% without power but every town around us is over 90% without power.</p>
<p>I read that Christie has a cold or Flu. Must be something going around. Mayor Menino is in the hospital for a virus.</p>
<p>Oops, sorry Steve.</p>
<p>I have to admit I have little patience for people who decide to disregard multiple warnings. As I watched local newscasters reporting from beaches with huge waves and 70 MPH winds-and the idiots climbing on the rocks to take storm photos behind them-I thought of how frustrating it must be to be a public safety official doing one’s best to keep people safe and knowing that no matter how dangerous the conditions a bunch of yahoos will think the rules don’t apply to them. That is, until they realize they’re, in some cases quite literally, in over their heads, and call for emergency worker to put themselves in danger to rescue them.</p>
<p>Yes Donna, WNYC AM radio reported that Stuyvesant Town was evacuated. Another caller says her street just below 14th Street is flooded. Brooklyn Battery Tunnel flooded and closed. Manhattan officially sealed off from rest of America. Forgive my hyperbole.</p>