Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times
Woodhaven Gets Whacked
Inland communities lose power, downed trees pose threats
Photos Courtesy Janet Forte
The pictures shown here are from 92nd Street between 89th and 91st Avenues in Woodhaven. We can’t compare our area to Howard Beach or Breezy Point, but to us, our block was in need of emergency help as well. A large tree fell directly onto my car, crushing it, and settled lying across the street from curb to curb, pulling down several utility poles and leaving live power lines strewn all over the street. This dangerous condition lasted for nearly two weeks, with city agencies arguing over who had the jurisdiction to remove the tree and poles and neutralize the live power lines. Con Ed wouldn’t touch the lines because they said the tree needed to be removed first. Parks Dept. refused to touch the tree until the power lines were removed–typical bureaucracy in NYC. Finally, we got Con Ed to station security personnel at each end of the street to prevent people, especially school children from walking among the wires. All this time, the lines were “hot”.
One side of the block was without power and heat for the entire 12 days time. Our “heroes” were not from our own city. They were those who came from Texas, North Dakota, Minnesota and Oklahoma to help and show Con Ed, and the city of New York how to get the job done (as seen in photo 3). No red tape, just hard work and dedication. The nor’easter storm that came a week later (as seen in photo 2), didn’t help matters, but was a catalyst for getting the power lines neutralized. With streets wet, they became giant conductors. Anyone stepping in a puddle was in peril of electrocution. Lines in the street were sparking constantly. We on 92nd street got through this disaster but, to this very day, the wires are still loosely hanging from the new poles that were installed. Several old poles are still leaning and in danger of falling if they are not corrected soon. We remain thankful to all those who helped us out of this disaster, including our friends from the Western states, and our Assemblyman Mike Miller and staff who ceaselessly tried brokering a solution for us between the various agencies. Finally, through it all, our mail carrier made sure we got our mail, even though our block was a wreck. –Janet R. Forte
Photos Courtesy Jose Silva
Driving winds tore trees from their sidewalk foundations and sent them crashing into homes. Despite the fact that they were nowhere near the coastline, many communities, like Woodhaven, were devastated by loss of power and services.
National Guard vehicles replaced the usual cast of cars parked along busy strips throughout Southern Queens. Before the second week in November of 2012, almost 4,000 troops, operating more than 1,300 trucks and Humvees, had delivered 2.5 million emergency meals and 150,000 blankets to storm victims, and fueled more than 13,000 city vehicles, while visiting more than 12,000 homes and apartments to check on residents.
SANDY - LOOKING BACK | October 2013