Notes from the Storm Zone 2

New York City just cancelled the marathon. Hallelujah! The plan to go ahead with the marathon had to be the stupidest idea ever by the city government. Imagine, there are millions without power and the city was going to use huge generators to provide power for the event. To hell with those in need. There are people whose possessions are being looted but the city was going to assign thousands of police to handle the marathon. To hell with those in need. There are hundreds of thousands who need food and water, but the city was going to set up supplies for the runners. To hell with those in need.

As I write this there are millions without basic human necessities in the New York City area. It has been four days since the storm. Where is FEMA? President Obama came to the Jersey shore and took a few photos. Then he promised to cut through the red tape. Then he left to go back to campaigning. The truth is that he seems not to care – I guess these are not battleground states. How hard would it be to send in MRE’s for those who have nothing? How hard would it be to get truck loads of bottled water that could be distributed to those who have none? I realize that getting power restored is a difficult job that will take time. But how about getting those who cannot deal with the current cold temperatures some place to go to get warm? Let me give you an example. My wife’s 96 year old aunt lives in a senior development in northern New Jersey. There are about 500 folks over 80 who live in small apartments there. Others live in assisted living or a nursing home that are connected to the place. There is no power. The halls and the apartments are dark. Much worse, however, is that there is no heat. They have a generator that could let them have heat in central rooms, but it is out of fuel. 500 elderly people are living in 40 degree temperatures. The problem is that there is no one to call, nothing that one can do. The roads in the area are finally clear. I know because we drove to New Jersey to bring my wife’s aunt to our home which now has heat and power. But she was just one of 500. Where is FEMA.
During Katrina, George Bush was blasted for telling the head of FEMA that he was doing a good job. We heard over and over how Bush did not care. Well it’s happening all over again here. This time it is Obama who does not care. Couldn’t he just this once actually do his job and let the campaign wait. Must people starve or die of the cold just so he can attend another campaign rally?