After the storm

Sandy has left and in it's wake we are facing now the secondary effects. Although rebuilding is slowly beginning,

Waiting for gasoline in Westchester County, NY

people are getting used to different ways of life and long lines everywhere are faced mostly with patience at places to eat and particularly at gasoline stations. The only gasoline station, still open around here with gasoline left, has waiting lines from the time they open until late at night of up to three miles, slowly sneaking forward around the blocks. Which effects traffic everywhere, these are mostly smaller streets around here. Additionally there are still roads blocked with broken down power lines and fallen trees. The traffic is horrendous, people from as far as New Jersey come to Westchester for food, gasoline and shelter. We slowly feel the tremendous measure of the damage around us.

Winter wood is piling up on our front lawn. We are making progress.

But people are so friendly and very industrious, we are getting help from friends and we all keep the spirits up. There might be still some time until we are restored to normal, but on the other hand we can only be grateful for the relative minor problems we are dealing with, compared to the awful news we receive still daily from our neighbors in Manhattan, Queens and the shore at New Jersey! 

Aerial view of Breezy Point, Queens, a largely burned down neighborhood after Sandy hit...

The Army and National Guard forces from neighboring States like Vermont and even equipment from California are flown in to help ease the disaster. We are hopeful and in the spirit of community everywhere:

WE CAN DO IT, TOGETHER, AGAIN!

Images via google image and private.