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| Blizzard piles snow on top of sorrow for New York's Rockaways neighbourhood | Blizzard piles snow on top of sorrow for New York's Rockaways neighbourhood |
| (4 months later) | |
| Most residents of the Rockaways woke up at home Saturday morning surrounded by snow. Brett Scudder, however, began his day miles away, in the Bronx. | Most residents of the Rockaways woke up at home Saturday morning surrounded by snow. Brett Scudder, however, began his day miles away, in the Bronx. |
| The 39-year-old is one of thousands of New York City residents still displaced by superstorm Sandy, the last major storm to batter the east coast. For Sandy survivors like him, Friday night's blizzard brought fresh challenges to a winter that has been defined by struggle. | The 39-year-old is one of thousands of New York City residents still displaced by superstorm Sandy, the last major storm to batter the east coast. For Sandy survivors like him, Friday night's blizzard brought fresh challenges to a winter that has been defined by struggle. |
| "We don't need this right now," Scudder told The Guardian on Friday night, as a vicious storm smashed into the east coast with high winds and driving snow. | "We don't need this right now," Scudder told The Guardian on Friday night, as a vicious storm smashed into the east coast with high winds and driving snow. |
| The blizzard, dubbed "Nemo" by the Weather Channel, knocked out power in over 600,000 homes across the north-east region and dropped as much as 3ft of snow in New England. In the Rockaways, pick-up trucks fitted with plows joined residents in pushing snow off the sidewalks in front of public housing buildings Saturday morning. On the beach, over a dozen young surfers braved the cold water. A handful of them had stayed the night in a van by the coast. | The blizzard, dubbed "Nemo" by the Weather Channel, knocked out power in over 600,000 homes across the north-east region and dropped as much as 3ft of snow in New England. In the Rockaways, pick-up trucks fitted with plows joined residents in pushing snow off the sidewalks in front of public housing buildings Saturday morning. On the beach, over a dozen young surfers braved the cold water. A handful of them had stayed the night in a van by the coast. |
| "It's fun," said Brooklyn resident Reid Olmstead, noting that the waves were cresting as high as 8ft. | "It's fun," said Brooklyn resident Reid Olmstead, noting that the waves were cresting as high as 8ft. |
| For displaced Rockaway residents like Brett Scudder, the obstacles presented by Friday's storm were not visible to the naked eye. Like many others in the city, Scudder has been without a home since the storm in October. | For displaced Rockaway residents like Brett Scudder, the obstacles presented by Friday's storm were not visible to the naked eye. Like many others in the city, Scudder has been without a home since the storm in October. |
| The Rockaway peninsula where he normally resides is less than a mile wide in some areas and divided largely along economic and racial lines. The slender strip of land was devastated by Sandy. Eleven people were killed. Massive fires burned entire neighborhoods to the ground. In total, two-thirds of the Rockaway Boardwalk, a popular summer attraction, was destroyed. And with much of the focus of the cleanup initially centering on lower Manhattan, residents said they felt abandoned by the city. | The Rockaway peninsula where he normally resides is less than a mile wide in some areas and divided largely along economic and racial lines. The slender strip of land was devastated by Sandy. Eleven people were killed. Massive fires burned entire neighborhoods to the ground. In total, two-thirds of the Rockaway Boardwalk, a popular summer attraction, was destroyed. And with much of the focus of the cleanup initially centering on lower Manhattan, residents said they felt abandoned by the city. |
| The severe damage his building sustained during the storm has made it too dangerous to ever return for good, Scudder says. | The severe damage his building sustained during the storm has made it too dangerous to ever return for good, Scudder says. |
| "We cannot live in that house again," he said. "It's not condemned. It's just not in a liveable condition, especially when you have young children." | "We cannot live in that house again," he said. "It's not condemned. It's just not in a liveable condition, especially when you have young children." |
| Scudder's children – ages nine, 11, 13 and 15 – live with their mother. They have not been able to return to their home in the Rockaways either. When the city issued its mandatory evacuation order on 29 October they moved to a school in Queens that had been set up as a shelter. They spent the next four weeks showering in locker rooms and sleeping on cots. The family was then transferred to motel through a Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance system. | Scudder's children – ages nine, 11, 13 and 15 – live with their mother. They have not been able to return to their home in the Rockaways either. When the city issued its mandatory evacuation order on 29 October they moved to a school in Queens that had been set up as a shelter. They spent the next four weeks showering in locker rooms and sleeping on cots. The family was then transferred to motel through a Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance system. |
| As of late January, at least 3,500 New Yorkers were living under similar circumstances. For many families, the last few months in the Rockaways have been particularly dire. Scudder believes the blizzard will create more problems. | As of late January, at least 3,500 New Yorkers were living under similar circumstances. For many families, the last few months in the Rockaways have been particularly dire. Scudder believes the blizzard will create more problems. |
| "You're looking at single digit temperatures right now, and people are living in homes where they have no power or they're not able to heat themselves properly," he said. "A lot of people don't have furniture in their homes. They're sleeping on the floor." | "You're looking at single digit temperatures right now, and people are living in homes where they have no power or they're not able to heat themselves properly," he said. "A lot of people don't have furniture in their homes. They're sleeping on the floor." |
| In October, as soon as Sandy subsided and it was safe to go outside, Scudder began going door to door in the Rockaways, checking on residents and making lists of their needs. Teaming up with a hedge fund manager in Manhattan for financial support, Scudder arranged convoys of trucks to deliver supplies based on his visits. He estimates it will take four to five years for the Rockaways to fully recover. | In October, as soon as Sandy subsided and it was safe to go outside, Scudder began going door to door in the Rockaways, checking on residents and making lists of their needs. Teaming up with a hedge fund manager in Manhattan for financial support, Scudder arranged convoys of trucks to deliver supplies based on his visits. He estimates it will take four to five years for the Rockaways to fully recover. |
| He believes improved co-operation, particularly on the part of government agencies with community activists on the ground, will help make that happen. | He believes improved co-operation, particularly on the part of government agencies with community activists on the ground, will help make that happen. |
| "My goal is getting the community up and running again," Scudder said. His efforts to achieve that goal, however, have taken their toll. After weeks of volunteering, Scudder said his body "pretty much crashed on me". | "My goal is getting the community up and running again," Scudder said. His efforts to achieve that goal, however, have taken their toll. After weeks of volunteering, Scudder said his body "pretty much crashed on me". |
| In addition to the physical strain, Scudder has struggled to find consistent work. The hotel where his children are staying is located in a high-price area of Manhattan. With no refrigerator or kitchen in their room, they are forced to eat out in an expensive neighborhood. Dinner, Scudder says, has too often meant dollar slice pizza. | In addition to the physical strain, Scudder has struggled to find consistent work. The hotel where his children are staying is located in a high-price area of Manhattan. With no refrigerator or kitchen in their room, they are forced to eat out in an expensive neighborhood. Dinner, Scudder says, has too often meant dollar slice pizza. |
| "It's very expensive to feed a family of six," he said. "We can't afford to live like this." | "It's very expensive to feed a family of six," he said. "We can't afford to live like this." |
| Even for those who have homes on the Rockaways to return to every night, there are still ongoing concerns. By some estimates, as many as 2,000 residents are making due without a functional boiler. There are persistent complaints of exposure to mold-covered walls. Lists of repairs to be done and repairs that were botched continue to mount. | Even for those who have homes on the Rockaways to return to every night, there are still ongoing concerns. By some estimates, as many as 2,000 residents are making due without a functional boiler. There are persistent complaints of exposure to mold-covered walls. Lists of repairs to be done and repairs that were botched continue to mount. |
| On Friday afternoon, these ongoing concerns were coupled with the challenges of weathering yet another storm. | On Friday afternoon, these ongoing concerns were coupled with the challenges of weathering yet another storm. |
| Lasheem Thompson, an employee at Rockaway's one and only Stop & Shop supermarket, was hoisting cases of bottled water onto a picked-over shelf when governor Andrew Cuomo's state of emergency went into effect. | Lasheem Thompson, an employee at Rockaway's one and only Stop & Shop supermarket, was hoisting cases of bottled water onto a picked-over shelf when governor Andrew Cuomo's state of emergency went into effect. |
| "It's been crazy," he said, "all the water flying off the shelf." | "It's been crazy," he said, "all the water flying off the shelf." |
| Thomspon was skeptical about the blizzard's potential but, he added: "You never know." He said he would be bringing a couple of cases of water home after his shift, just in case. | Thomspon was skeptical about the blizzard's potential but, he added: "You never know." He said he would be bringing a couple of cases of water home after his shift, just in case. |
| The 21-year-old grew up on the Rockaways. His home lost heat, power and running water when Sandy hit. The amenities did not return for a month, he said. When asked how long he expected it would be before his hometown would return to normal, he shook his head and said: "It's going to take time." | The 21-year-old grew up on the Rockaways. His home lost heat, power and running water when Sandy hit. The amenities did not return for a month, he said. When asked how long he expected it would be before his hometown would return to normal, he shook his head and said: "It's going to take time." |
| Down the aisle from Thompson, Dee Rowland stood behind her shopping cart in the middle of a long, slow line of customers waiting to check out. | Down the aisle from Thompson, Dee Rowland stood behind her shopping cart in the middle of a long, slow line of customers waiting to check out. |
| Recently married, Rowland moved to the Rockaways over the summer. The adjustment has been hard, she said. The hurricane flooded the newlyweds' home with chest-high water. They then went without heat or power for nearly a month. While both have been restored, Rowland said things are not the same. | Recently married, Rowland moved to the Rockaways over the summer. The adjustment has been hard, she said. The hurricane flooded the newlyweds' home with chest-high water. They then went without heat or power for nearly a month. While both have been restored, Rowland said things are not the same. |
| "Our home," she said. "It's not like it used to be." | "Our home," she said. "It's not like it used to be." |
| Even with the heat on the house remains frigid, Rowland added. "It's cold all the time." | Even with the heat on the house remains frigid, Rowland added. "It's cold all the time." |
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