Yetta Kurland Thanks to transit workers

Dear Friend --

I want to send you an update on Hurricane Sandy and the recovery efforts in our area. First, some good news: If you are reading this email it means you are one of the lucky ones in the area that have electricity. There are still many without, including myself.

Perhaps the most exciting development today is that partial subway services have been restored. Click here for an up to date map: http://www.mta.info/sites/default/files/pdf/ HurricaneRecoveryMapOct312012.pdf. Special thanks to the incredible hard work of our City's transit workers to make this happen in less than 72 hours.

Unfortunately, because our area was so hard hit much of our community is still without subway access, so read carefully to see what is and isn't running. There are also bus services, although after dark buses are not traveling below 23rd Street because there are no street lights and it is too dangerous. Click here for an up to date map with routes: http://www.mta.info/status/1

Next, for those who can make it out to Union Square, Con Edison will be making deliveries of wet and dry ice to help keep your perishables. I believe the drop of time is noon. There are also fountain locations for water. Check out the specifics here: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/10/31/con-ed-distributing-dry-and-wet-ice-in-nyc-westchester/. Of course the challenge is that those who need these services are without power to get this email, so please spread by word of mouth to your neighbors.

President Obama has declared a state of emergency for most of the New York area. If you have sustained damage to your business or property, you can apply for disaster assistance by following this link: http://www.disasterassistance.gov. Don't forget though, all damage should be photographed or recorded and I highly recommend you keep strict records of related expenditures.

School is out all week and the big question on everyone's mind is, when will power be restored. The City is saying it will be days before the power is turned back on. We are all anxiously awaiting this.

Perhaps one of the most concerning developments with the loss of power, is that most of the hospitals in lower Manhattan, aside from Beth Israel (which is still open), have been evacuated. This includes, most recently, Bellevue Hospital. Click here for the story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57543176/bellevue-hospital-in-nyc-evacuating/
So please be careful and if you need hospital services make sure you know where you are going.

Obviously, there is a bigger issue here that will have to be addressed after the storm has passed, which has underscored the profound need for a hospital in our community, but for now our focus is on getting through the immediate challenges our community faces.

In specific, many are unable to get down from their apartments to get resources including food and there is an emerging problem with lack of access to water. Click here to read more:
http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/171645/fulton-houses-residents-spend-another-day-without-water-power.

I have been talking to people in our community and will continue to volunteer in an effort to help address these issues, but in the meantime, please pass this information along to neighbors and friends and let's keep helping each other out to get through this together.

If you have any other needs you should reach out to 311. Since the phones are very busy you can also visit http://www.nyc.gov/apps/311/ or text (311692). Remember to only dial 911 if it is a real emergency.

Stay well,
Yetta

http://www.yettakurland.com/

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Friends of Yetta · 130 Seventh Ave, #253, New York, NY 10011, United States