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| Patience Wears Thin as Region Cleans Up, With Toll Rising | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Patience wore thin over gas shortages, power failures and long lines for everything from buses to food handouts on Friday, as many parts of the New York City region struggled to recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy. | Patience wore thin over gas shortages, power failures and long lines for everything from buses to food handouts on Friday, as many parts of the New York City region struggled to recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy. |
| But even as people cleaned up the debris from wrecked homes, there were still painful reminders of the toll in lives lost that the storm took. | But even as people cleaned up the debris from wrecked homes, there were still painful reminders of the toll in lives lost that the storm took. |
| On Staten Island, the borough that bore the brunt of the city’s casualties, rescuers pulled two bodies from a house in the hard-hit Midland Beach neighborhood on Friday afternoon. Neighbors who had been carrying ruined furniture and trash to the street watched as two body bags were carried out of a house on Olympia Boulevard, about two miles from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. | On Staten Island, the borough that bore the brunt of the city’s casualties, rescuers pulled two bodies from a house in the hard-hit Midland Beach neighborhood on Friday afternoon. Neighbors who had been carrying ruined furniture and trash to the street watched as two body bags were carried out of a house on Olympia Boulevard, about two miles from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. |
| The two victims, who were not immediately identified, brought to five the number of bodies found in Midland Beach, a low-lying area of bungalows and newer two-story houses that was hit hard by the surge that accompanied the storm. | The two victims, who were not immediately identified, brought to five the number of bodies found in Midland Beach, a low-lying area of bungalows and newer two-story houses that was hit hard by the surge that accompanied the storm. |
| The borough has become the epicenter of the devastation wrought in New York by the hurricane, which swept through the area after making landfall on Monday, as most of the more than 40 fatalities have occurred there. | The borough has become the epicenter of the devastation wrought in New York by the hurricane, which swept through the area after making landfall on Monday, as most of the more than 40 fatalities have occurred there. |
| As more than one million New Yorkers continued to cope with power failures, even the planned New York City Marathon became a source of bitter derision when news emerged that generators being used by organizers could have served hundreds of residences on Staten Island. City officials and the event’s organizers decided Friday afternoon that the race would not be held Sunday, according to a person familiar with the decision. | |
| Government officials continued to emphasize their round-the-clock efforts, many by volunteers or employees whose own homes had been damaged, to restore normal life. | Government officials continued to emphasize their round-the-clock efforts, many by volunteers or employees whose own homes had been damaged, to restore normal life. |
| But people were becoming exasperated. At a housing project in Coney Island, residents who stayed behind expressed mounting frustration at the absence of electricity, services and, in some cases, security. Some said they were so frightened that they locked themselves in their apartments at night and refused to open the doors to anyone. | But people were becoming exasperated. At a housing project in Coney Island, residents who stayed behind expressed mounting frustration at the absence of electricity, services and, in some cases, security. Some said they were so frightened that they locked themselves in their apartments at night and refused to open the doors to anyone. |
| “It’s terrible,” said Marilyn Smalls, 48, who lives at the housing project in Coney Island. “Totally black. It’s dangerous.” | “It’s terrible,” said Marilyn Smalls, 48, who lives at the housing project in Coney Island. “Totally black. It’s dangerous.” |
| Government officials have asked for patience. City departments tried to stave off the anger by opening help lines, handing out free meals, updating citizens with progress in restoring services and monitoring Twitter feeds, where they answered residents directly about their individual commutes. Fees were waived for bus and subway travel. | Government officials have asked for patience. City departments tried to stave off the anger by opening help lines, handing out free meals, updating citizens with progress in restoring services and monitoring Twitter feeds, where they answered residents directly about their individual commutes. Fees were waived for bus and subway travel. |
| Amid the continuing grief and hardship, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Friday that the death toll in the city had risen to at least 41. | Amid the continuing grief and hardship, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Friday that the death toll in the city had risen to at least 41. |
| But there were some positive signs: parts of Lower Manhattan might have power by the end of Friday, New Jersey Transit started running partial rail service, more of the Metro-North Railroad system was back and the Staten Island Ferry started up again. | But there were some positive signs: parts of Lower Manhattan might have power by the end of Friday, New Jersey Transit started running partial rail service, more of the Metro-North Railroad system was back and the Staten Island Ferry started up again. |
| Mr. Bloomberg also said that a rule that required cars traveling into Manhattan on all tunnels and bridges, except the George Washington Bridge, to have at least three people would be lifted at 5 p.m. on Friday. | Mr. Bloomberg also said that a rule that required cars traveling into Manhattan on all tunnels and bridges, except the George Washington Bridge, to have at least three people would be lifted at 5 p.m. on Friday. |
| Consolidated Edison, he said, hoped to have power restored to “most” of Manhattan by midnight Friday, although residents who live in boroughs served by overhead lines will have to wait “a lot longer” for power to return. The East Village had its power restored Saturday afternoon. | |
| But perhaps mindful of the realities of disaster recovery, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s briefing was filled with encouraging updates along with expressions of caution. He said the city had made “great progress,” with service restored to about half of the two million customers who lost electricity during the storm. | But perhaps mindful of the realities of disaster recovery, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s briefing was filled with encouraging updates along with expressions of caution. He said the city had made “great progress,” with service restored to about half of the two million customers who lost electricity during the storm. |
| Noting that progress in restoring power to Manhattan’s downtown area in particular would be a “big step forward” for transportation serving the area, he also hedged his remarks, noting it “did not mean that every light” would work. | Noting that progress in restoring power to Manhattan’s downtown area in particular would be a “big step forward” for transportation serving the area, he also hedged his remarks, noting it “did not mean that every light” would work. |
| Speaking about the shortages, including of gas, he said: “It is going to require some patience, it is not going to get better overnight, it is not going to be a one- or two- or three-day situation. A little patience, a little compassion, a little understanding will make it better for everyone.” | Speaking about the shortages, including of gas, he said: “It is going to require some patience, it is not going to get better overnight, it is not going to be a one- or two- or three-day situation. A little patience, a little compassion, a little understanding will make it better for everyone.” |
| “It has been a long week for everyone,” Mr. Cuomo added. “It is not over. There are still inconveniences but it could have been a lot, lot worse.” | “It has been a long week for everyone,” Mr. Cuomo added. “It is not over. There are still inconveniences but it could have been a lot, lot worse.” |
| The financial losses, too, continue to pile up, approaching $50 billion, according to an early estimate from economists at Moody’s Analytics — about $30 billion in property damage, the rest in lost economic activity such as meals and canceled flights. | The financial losses, too, continue to pile up, approaching $50 billion, according to an early estimate from economists at Moody’s Analytics — about $30 billion in property damage, the rest in lost economic activity such as meals and canceled flights. |
| But increments of progress, including a second day of limited subway and bus lines, have been made in the aftermath of the hurricane, which made landfall on Monday night as what officials now describe as the worst storm to hit New York. Its punishing floods, rains and wind left millions of people with overwhelming problems they too had likely never faced. | But increments of progress, including a second day of limited subway and bus lines, have been made in the aftermath of the hurricane, which made landfall on Monday night as what officials now describe as the worst storm to hit New York. Its punishing floods, rains and wind left millions of people with overwhelming problems they too had likely never faced. |
| Gina Braddish, 27, had four feet of water flood her home in Long Beach, on Long Island, leaving a slick of oil, gasoline and raw sewage across her floors. | Gina Braddish, 27, had four feet of water flood her home in Long Beach, on Long Island, leaving a slick of oil, gasoline and raw sewage across her floors. |
| “I have oil slicked on my floors, and they tell me it’s not an emergency,” she said. “When the house blows up, then it’s an emergency. I just want someone to come down here and help.” | “I have oil slicked on my floors, and they tell me it’s not an emergency,” she said. “When the house blows up, then it’s an emergency. I just want someone to come down here and help.” |
| As the week drew to a close, the widespread shortages disrupted some rescue and emergency services. The effort to secure enough gas for the region moved to the forefront of recovery work. | As the week drew to a close, the widespread shortages disrupted some rescue and emergency services. The effort to secure enough gas for the region moved to the forefront of recovery work. |
| Mr. Cuomo said that as ports were reopened, the gas shortages should start to ease. | Mr. Cuomo said that as ports were reopened, the gas shortages should start to ease. |
| But local officials sprang into action in the meantime. The town of Belleville, in Northern New Jersey, passed an ordinance rationing gas Thursday night that was reminiscent of the 1970s oil embargo. Starting Monday, and until the governor lifts the state of emergency, people whose license plates end in odd numbers can buy gas only on odd numbered dates, and those with even numbers on even numbered dates. The mayor of nearby Montclair suggested to the town council that it consider a similar plan. | But local officials sprang into action in the meantime. The town of Belleville, in Northern New Jersey, passed an ordinance rationing gas Thursday night that was reminiscent of the 1970s oil embargo. Starting Monday, and until the governor lifts the state of emergency, people whose license plates end in odd numbers can buy gas only on odd numbered dates, and those with even numbers on even numbered dates. The mayor of nearby Montclair suggested to the town council that it consider a similar plan. |
| In New Jersey, drivers had been waiting in lines that ran hundreds of vehicles deep, requiring state troopers and local police officers to protect against exploding tempers. Some ran out of gas waiting. | In New Jersey, drivers had been waiting in lines that ran hundreds of vehicles deep, requiring state troopers and local police officers to protect against exploding tempers. Some ran out of gas waiting. |
| At stations that were open, nerves frayed. Fights broke out Thursday at the block-long Hess station on 10th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, forcing the Police Department to send three officers to keep the peace, a police official said. By evening, the police had to close two lanes of the broad thoroughfare to accommodate a line of customers stretching eight blocks, to 37th Street. | At stations that were open, nerves frayed. Fights broke out Thursday at the block-long Hess station on 10th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, forcing the Police Department to send three officers to keep the peace, a police official said. By evening, the police had to close two lanes of the broad thoroughfare to accommodate a line of customers stretching eight blocks, to 37th Street. |
| Abhishek Soni, the owner of an Exxon in Montclair, N.J., called the police and turned off pumps for 45 minutes to cool nerves when disputes in the line Wednesday night became heated. “My nose, my mouth is bleeding from the fumes,” he said. “The fighting just makes it worse.” | Abhishek Soni, the owner of an Exxon in Montclair, N.J., called the police and turned off pumps for 45 minutes to cool nerves when disputes in the line Wednesday night became heated. “My nose, my mouth is bleeding from the fumes,” he said. “The fighting just makes it worse.” |
| On Friday, the Queens district attorney’s office said a St. Albans man had been arrested after he pointed a pistol at a motorist who complained when he tried to cut a line at a Queens gas station. The man, Sean M. Bailey, 35, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing. | On Friday, the Queens district attorney’s office said a St. Albans man had been arrested after he pointed a pistol at a motorist who complained when he tried to cut a line at a Queens gas station. The man, Sean M. Bailey, 35, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing. |
| Some had questioned whether the volunteers for the annual marathon, originally scheduled for Sunday, could be better deployed to assist with disaster relief. The New York Post cover questioned its use of generators. Mr. Bloomberg, before the decision Friday not to hold the race this weekend, had previously said that it should go on, defending the response of his predecessor, Rudolph W. Giuliani, in the months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. | |
| Commuters have had to adapt to new rules to get to work with ingenuity and patience. On Friday in New York City, subway trains, which pressed back onto the rails on Thursday, continued with limited service, with downtown trains in Manhattan going as far as 34th Street before stopping because of power problems there. | Commuters have had to adapt to new rules to get to work with ingenuity and patience. On Friday in New York City, subway trains, which pressed back onto the rails on Thursday, continued with limited service, with downtown trains in Manhattan going as far as 34th Street before stopping because of power problems there. |
| Leslie Watson, 43, a supervisor for AM New York, said that he took the M train over the F line but that he would normally take the E. | Leslie Watson, 43, a supervisor for AM New York, said that he took the M train over the F line but that he would normally take the E. |
| “Yesterday, there were a couple of people from M.T.A. giving out information, but otherwise, like today, you’re on your own,” Mr. Watson said. “Not bad, but not good. My commute was 12 minutes late.” Traveling between Staten Island and Manhattan became a little easier on Friday with the resumption of ferry service. | “Yesterday, there were a couple of people from M.T.A. giving out information, but otherwise, like today, you’re on your own,” Mr. Watson said. “Not bad, but not good. My commute was 12 minutes late.” Traveling between Staten Island and Manhattan became a little easier on Friday with the resumption of ferry service. |
| By midmorning on Friday, long lines grew for the Williamsburg ferry service and they snaked around the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where people boarded shuttle buses to Manhattan to connect with other stops in the transit system. Many adapted, eating breakfast where they stood. | By midmorning on Friday, long lines grew for the Williamsburg ferry service and they snaked around the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where people boarded shuttle buses to Manhattan to connect with other stops in the transit system. Many adapted, eating breakfast where they stood. |
| “I am rereading ‘Game of Thrones,’ ” Colin Wiggins, 30, who works in student affairs for CUNY in the northwest Bronx, said as she waited. “I chose this book because I knew I wanted something long and interesting for the next days.” | “I am rereading ‘Game of Thrones,’ ” Colin Wiggins, 30, who works in student affairs for CUNY in the northwest Bronx, said as she waited. “I chose this book because I knew I wanted something long and interesting for the next days.” |
| For Friday’s commute, East River crossings by private passenger car were reportedly slightly more fluid as drivers apparently realized the authorities meant business when they required cars to carry three passengers or more in order to cross into Manhattan. When those rules went into effect on Thursday, cars were turned back if they failed to gather up the required passenger loads, creating the unintended effect of more traffic jams. | For Friday’s commute, East River crossings by private passenger car were reportedly slightly more fluid as drivers apparently realized the authorities meant business when they required cars to carry three passengers or more in order to cross into Manhattan. When those rules went into effect on Thursday, cars were turned back if they failed to gather up the required passenger loads, creating the unintended effect of more traffic jams. |
Reporting on the storm was contributed by Russ Buettner, Annie Correal, Alison Leigh Cowan, Sheri Fink, Joseph Goldstein, J. David Goodman, Denise Grady, Michael M. Grynbaum, Christine Hauser, Winnie Hu, Randy Leonard, William K. Rashbaum, Ray Rivera, Liz Robbins, Nate Schweber, Michael Schwirtz, Kirk Semple, Stacey Stowe, Rebecca White, Michael Wilson and Vivian Yee. | Reporting on the storm was contributed by Russ Buettner, Annie Correal, Alison Leigh Cowan, Sheri Fink, Joseph Goldstein, J. David Goodman, Denise Grady, Michael M. Grynbaum, Christine Hauser, Winnie Hu, Randy Leonard, William K. Rashbaum, Ray Rivera, Liz Robbins, Nate Schweber, Michael Schwirtz, Kirk Semple, Stacey Stowe, Rebecca White, Michael Wilson and Vivian Yee. |