Yeshiva World News

Hurricane Sandy: Updates For Far Rockaway / Bayswater / 5 Towns Communities [7:00PM EST Tuesday]

ELDERLY & HANDICAPPED Both the Achiezer and Hatzolah phone lines have been inundated with calls regarding the safety and well being of the elderly and handicapped population. We are strongly urging that anyone who can safely evacuate these relatives or friends out of the neighborhood, should do so. We are facing a prolonged period of time without heat, lights, or communications and it is simply unsafe for them to remain at home. Should you need help in moving them safely, we have ...

AT&T, Verizon, Others Work to Restore Wireless Service After Sandy

Power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy disrupted telecommunications services in Northeastern states on Tuesday, resulting in spotty coverage for cellphones, television, home telephones and Internet services. While all the region's telecom service providers were having problems, Verizon Communications, which serves many of the states in the hurricane's path, may have suffered some of the worst damage from the storm to its wireline network. About 25 percent of the region's ...

Storm's Cost may Hit $50B; Rebuilding To Ease Blow

Superstorm Sandy will end up causing about $20 billion in property damages and $10 billion to $30 billion more in lost business, according to IHS Global Insight, a forecasting firm. In the long run, the devastation the storm inflicted on New York City and other parts of the Northeast will barely nick the U.S. economy. That's the view of economists who say a slightly slower economy in coming weeks will likely be matched by reconstruction and repairs that will contribute to growth over ...

Sandy Knocks Out 90 NY State Power Lines, 13 Pct Of Generation

New York's electric grid operator said more than 90 transmission lines remained out of service on Tuesday afternoon, a day after Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast with 80 mph winds and record storm surge. Despite damage to the power grid and the loss of about 13 percent of in-state generation from high wind and flooding, the New York Independent System Operator (ISO) said the bulk electric system was in compliance with industry transmission and operating reserve requirements on ...

Q&A: Could Hurricane Sandy Postpone The Election?

One week before a close election, superstorm Sandy has confounded the presidential race, halted early voting in many areas and led some to ponder whether the election might even be postponed. It could take days to restore electricity more than 8 million homes and businesses that lost power when the storm pummeled the East Coast. That means it's possible power could still be out in parts of some states on Election Day next Tuesday — a major problem for precincts that rely on electronic ...

Con-Ed: Lower Manhattan Faces Up To Four Days Withour Power

Residents of lower Manhattan faced up to four days without power on Tuesday as Consolidated Edison, New York City's power provider, scrambled to repair the damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy. Almost every street below Times Square in the city's Midtown district was plunged into darkness on Monday night after an explosion at a Con Edison power station on 14th Street threw the electricity provider's plans for controlled shutdowns into disarray. The prolonged blackout in the most populous and ...

No Compensation for Israeli Travelers Stranded by Hurricane Sandy

For the thousands of Israelis whose flights to North America from Ben-Gurion International Airport were canceled due to Hurricane Sandy, there is no hope of cashing in for the Israeli law governing flight delays writes this up as an “act of G-d” and therefore they are not entitled to compensatory payment. That is not to say they cannot receive a refund or schedule another flight. They will not lose their payment but they cannot seek compensatory payment for the delay. YWN-ISRAEL reported ...

Greenfield's Office is Open as He Works Around the Clock to Help Residents After Hurricane Sandy

As is his practice during every major storm or emergency, Councilman David G. Greenfield opened his district office yesterday and today to help his constituents as Hurricane Sandy reached New York City on Monday. Greenfield’s office opened at 8:30 a.m. this morning and is prepared to help residents deal with the aftermath of last night’s storm. Anyone who needs help reporting issues such as downed power lines, fallen trees, power outages or flooding is urged to first call 311 to submit the ...

Misaskim Assists During Hurricane Sandy

Misaskim representatives began preparing for Hurricane Sandy early in the weekend. Misaskim ensured that all its resources and emergency equipment were in good working order. Then, on Sunday Misaskim launched its School Notification System by continuously notifying school administrators and other school personnel in Brooklyn South with information they need as the storm progressed. The notification system was also adapted during the storm to dispense important safety information to tens of ...

Sandy's Death Toll Climbs; Millions Without Power

Millions of people from Maine to the Carolinas awoke Tuesday without electricity, and an eerily quiet New York City was all but closed off by car, train and air as superstorm Sandy steamed inland, still delivering punishing wind and rain. The U.S. death toll climbed to 38, many of the victims killed by falling trees. The full extent of the damage in New Jersey, where the storm roared ashore Monday night with hurricane-force winds of 80 mph, was unclear. Police and fire officials, some with ...

Hurricane Sandy: Mayor Bloomberg Updates New Yorkers On Storm [1:30PM EST Tuesday]

The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s remarks as delivered this morning at the Office of Emergency Management in Downtown Brooklyn: “Once again, Lydia Callis is signing for us, and thank you. We’re joined by Senator Chuck Schumer and Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and we’re here to update you on Hurricane Sandy which has now officially left the New York City area. But I think it’s fair to say the path of destruction that she left in her wake is going to be felt for quite ...

Flatbush: Two Killed by Falling Tree On Ditmas Ave

Two people were struck and killed by a falling tree Monday night in Ditmas Park, according to the NYPD. They were apparently out walking their dog when the powerful winds of Hurricane Sandy blew the tree onto them, police said. The bodies of the pair, who have not been identified pending notification of their families, were still under the tree on Ditmas Ave. between East 18th and Est 19th Streets as of Tuesday morning. Misaaskim was not needed in this tragic incident. (YWN Desk - ...

Hurricane Sandy: Updates For Far Rockaway / Bayswater / 5 Towns Communities [10:37AM EST Tuesday]

The following was sent to YWN by the Achiezer Organization: Please read this entire message carefully. Many in our community are enduring some very difficult hours. Most are in the dark without power, and many have fallen trees and debris on their houses, cars, and other property. We have been working throughout the night as hard as possible to ensure that every call for help is received and properly dealt with. Our number 1 priority is the safety of the elderly, handicapped, and ...

LIVE BLOG: Hurricane Sandy Breaking Updates [1:45PM EST]

This story will be updated small breaking news items of interest in regard to Hurricane Sandy. The newer stories will be on the top, with the older items pushed down. 1:45PM EST (Tuesday): The New York Stock Exchange is reopening Wednesday after being shut down for two days because of Sandy. 12:33PM EST (Tuesday): Gov. Andrew Cuomo says MTA bus service will resume on a limited schedule Tuesday and fares will be waived. 11:19AM EST (Tuesday): Con Edison customers out of service, as of ...

NYU Hospital Loses Power; Hundreds Of Patients Evacuated

A backup generator failed at a New York City hospital Monday night, forcing it to move out more than 200 patients, including 20 babies from neonatal intensive care. Dozens of ambulances lined up around the block outside New York University Tisch Hospital as doctors and nurses began the slow process of evacuation. They started with the sickest and youngest. Some were on respirators operating on battery power. “It’s a challenging situation,” NYU Medical Dean Robert Grossman told ...

DISASTER: Obama Declares Major Disaster in NYC, Long Island Which Bore Brunt of Storm Surge

President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in New York City and Long Island, which bore the brunt of the sea surge from the deadly superstorm that lashed the East Coast on Monday and left millions in the dark. The declaration makes federal funding available to people in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and Nassau and Suffolk counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and ...

Nuclear Plant Shuts Down Unit As Storm Hits Coast

Part of a nuclear power plant was shut down late Monday while another plant — the nation's oldest — was put on alert after waters from superstorm Sandy rose 6 feet above sea level. One of the units at Indian Point, a plant about 45 miles north of New York City, was shut down around 10:45 p.m. because of external electrical grid issues, said Entergy Corp., which operates the plant. The company said there was no risk to employees or the public. Another unit at the plant was still operating ...