Freezing cold in NYC raises risk for people
Source: Agencies |
November 5, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FALLING temperatures on the US East Coast yesterday put more people at risk in a region already battling gasoline shortages, stubborn power outages and spasms of lawlessness in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
With temperatures near freezing and more than 700,000 people still without power in the area, some who were planning to run in the canceled New York City Marathon instead headed to the hard-hit borough of Staten Island yesterday to volunteer to help storm victims.
Other disappointed runners staged impromptu races of their own. Thousands poured into Central Park shortly after dawn including teams of runners from Italy, Germany and Spain who began running their own personal marathons. A little more than four laps around the park will do it.
It's a throwback to the beginning of New York's marathon, which was run inside the park.
"A lot of people just want to finish what they've started," said Lance Svendsen, the organizer of a group called Run Anyway.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was reluctant to plunge back into a controversy over the last-minute cancellation. He put off questions about the marathon at a Saturday briefing and focused on what he said were more pressing matters.
Warming shelters
"I spoke with many people who were worried and frustrated and cold," Bloomberg said. "There is no power there and temperatures are dropping. Even those who have generators are having a hard time getting fuel."
The city opened warming shelters in areas without power and Bloomberg was urging older residents without heat to move to them. The city also was handing out 25,000 blankets to residents who insist on staying in powerless homes.
"So please, I know sometimes people are reticent to take advantage of services. The cold really is something that is dangerous," he said after a visit to the Rockaways section of Queens, a waterfront area that was slammed by storm surge. Federal officials were to tour parts of the region yesterday.
Though New York and New Jersey bore the brunt of the destruction, at its peak, the storm reached 1,600 kilometers across, killed over 100 people in 10 states, knocked out power to 8.5 million and canceled nearly 20,000 flights. Economic damage was estimated at US$50 billion, putting the storm among the most costly US disasters.
With temperatures near freezing and more than 700,000 people still without power in the area, some who were planning to run in the canceled New York City Marathon instead headed to the hard-hit borough of Staten Island yesterday to volunteer to help storm victims.
Other disappointed runners staged impromptu races of their own. Thousands poured into Central Park shortly after dawn including teams of runners from Italy, Germany and Spain who began running their own personal marathons. A little more than four laps around the park will do it.
It's a throwback to the beginning of New York's marathon, which was run inside the park.
"A lot of people just want to finish what they've started," said Lance Svendsen, the organizer of a group called Run Anyway.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was reluctant to plunge back into a controversy over the last-minute cancellation. He put off questions about the marathon at a Saturday briefing and focused on what he said were more pressing matters.
Warming shelters
"I spoke with many people who were worried and frustrated and cold," Bloomberg said. "There is no power there and temperatures are dropping. Even those who have generators are having a hard time getting fuel."
The city opened warming shelters in areas without power and Bloomberg was urging older residents without heat to move to them. The city also was handing out 25,000 blankets to residents who insist on staying in powerless homes.
"So please, I know sometimes people are reticent to take advantage of services. The cold really is something that is dangerous," he said after a visit to the Rockaways section of Queens, a waterfront area that was slammed by storm surge. Federal officials were to tour parts of the region yesterday.
Though New York and New Jersey bore the brunt of the destruction, at its peak, the storm reached 1,600 kilometers across, killed over 100 people in 10 states, knocked out power to 8.5 million and canceled nearly 20,000 flights. Economic damage was estimated at US$50 billion, putting the storm among the most costly US disasters.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
