5:50 p.m.: So, the wind is still whipping out there, and I’ve got some more pics from today. These are stolen from Ken and Julianna’s Facebook pages (See, Bloomberg? There was some looting during the storm). This is from their neighborhood in Peter Cooper Village on the East Side of Manhattan:
Meanwhile, I was just making dinner and noticed that the giant banner on the apartment complex across the Turnpike ramp is torn apart. Here’s what it used to look like:
And now:
Also, here’s video someone took from earlier of the bulkhead that gave way next to the street I grew up on in Middletown, NJ. My parents just went down and took another look and my Mom’s convinced the whole street is going to buckle at some point:
Meanwhile, I’m trying to not bust a blood vessel over the people (read: cityfolk who don’t live near trees, nor water) who are complaining that this storm was “overhyped”. Obviously they do not have a television or else they’d see the wide-spread damage in the ‘burbs and on the coast. Or they have no imagination beyond the isle of Manhattan. I mean…
1:15 p.m.: Some pics from the park near me. All the big, old trees still standing, but the little ones got pushed over. But there’s something to be said for cities with their lack of trees. It certainly stemmed a lot of damage:
1:03 p.m.: The rain has dissipated, but now the wind is the worst it’s been. Oh, hurricane, you so crazy. Seems like Hoboken got the brunt of it, flooding wise (but they knew that was coming). I took a walk around the block and noticed everyone pumping out their basements – one had a water level up to the street. Made me glad I’m not a home owner. Also, found out that in my hometown, the lake which my street is named after washed away half of the dam/bulkhead keeping it in. I don’t know what this means for the lake itself (like, will it drain into the Navesink and not exist anymore or what?), but this is what it looked like (via my parents):
8:57 a.m.: They threatened to turn the electricity off an hour ago due to flooding at the power station, and if it’s happened, my neighborhood wasn’t part of it. Apparently, a tree is down near my old apartment in Hoboken, and the mayor was just on TV yelling at people to stay away from it because there are power lines down. Also: watching the Long Beach lifeguard building slam into the boardwalk may have been the craziest image I’ve seen thus far. As was the woman practically chasing Al Roker up and down the boardwalk to get his picture, like a stalkerazi.
Sunday, 7:05 a.m.: So far, so good in Jersey City. It’s been a driving rain with intermittent wind, but good LORD I’ve never seen ocean waves in NJ like I have on the news coverage. Wondering how long I’ll have power, since the electricity-less numbers keep rising.
10:03 p.m.: Steady rain and the wind’s now kicking up. Just closed the kitchen windows – here’s hoping the roof-top dishes stay where they are and the tornado watches remain watches. Also: the networks trying to fill every minute with coverage is beginning to show its seams. I don’t need reporters driving around NYC commenting on how there are people walking around the Upper West Side! With umbrellas!
2:40 p.m. Hurricane-related passive-aggression has started already on social media, y’all. Also, I took the opportunity to take a walk in between rain bands, and my local park was totally deserted, except for people passing through. A few people have taped up their windows, so I’m not alone in my need for an art project.
11:54 a.m. PS – If I have to see the clip of Chris Christie telling people to “get the hell off the beach” one more time, I’m going to…do something productive.
11:51 a.m.: First eye roll of the morning. A reporter practically wringing her hands that a family is taking pictures from the relatively calm Sea Bright seawall, and she’s hoping that they’ll “get out of dodge” soon. Chances are they live nearby, above sea level and can be home in ten minutes, a good EIGHT HOURS before things are supposed to get nasty. I swear, these things are NOTHING to sneeze at, but the media is just a tad dramatic sometimes.
11:20 a.m.: The Yankee Chicken is quick to help, though he was soon distracted by all the dry packaged goods on the counter.
10:25 a.m.: The rain is starting. Tried to tape up one of my windows (you can tell by amateurish form), the one I fear will be hit in projectile fashion by my neighbor’s DirecTv dish, even though FEMA says the tape won’t do jack. But hey, it was fun doing it!
9:10 a.m.: Downloaded an app for my iPhone that checks you’re elevation. I’m roughly 10 feet above sea level. Not sure if that’s my apartment or my block, but it sounds promising.
Saturday, 8:40 a.m.: The first news report sighting of Sea Bright! Oh, you poor town, you are so going to be underwater. Sigh. Also, in Jersey City, the air is ridiculously thick.
