Waiting for Sandy – with Millions of Stoic New Yorkers

Monday a.m., October 29. – New York City.Today is the day the “monsterstorm” is supposed to hit the mainland, and with it, New York City. We live in Morningside Heights in Manhattan, not a threatened zone right now, as the elevation of Morningside Heights puts a nice cushion between the homes and the river. It helps to live on the ninth floor of the building as well.The news of the last few days has been alarming. Waking up to “Frankenstorm” headlines on Friday was bad enough, but if we paid attention to the television (in New York hardly anyone has time for that) we would be panicked by now. Headline upon headline shouts out how bad it will get.  The worst news comes from international websites, where New York is predicted to be in the center of a huge catastrophe in the next few days.Interestingly, no one here in New York seems to be panicking or stressed out– at least not outside the mandatory evacuation zones. There were no lines in any of the six neighborhood supermarkets I visited yesterday. The hardware store on Broadway was busy and most certainly had one of its peak business days selling tiny flashlights for $10, but it was fully stocked and the service was polite and efficient as ever. There were no lines at the only gas stations in a three mile radius. When I decided that the weather was nice enough to take my kids out for a burger and a walk on the Upper West Side, the most surprising thing was that everything seemed quite normal. The farmers market behind the Museum of Natural History was open and the flea market on 78th Street seemed well visited.So why is everyone continuing their lives in such a regular way? Is it because last year’s hurricane Irene had such a small impact in Manhattan and most parts of New York?I think it is because New Yorkers have a surprising way of dealing with unforeseeable situations: They stay calm and continue their lives. Yes, they do get angry when something doesn’t work – but they don’t complain about overcrowded subways, traffic, and extreme weather. They ignore rude behavior by fellow citizens  or tourists and remain an example of politeness.  Staying calm seems to make this city work; politeness, paired with the little jokes and conversations that continue amid the “chaos” make a difference.So yes, we are prepared: We’ve stocked up our fridge and freezer, bought extra candles, matches, and water and filled up our old car with gas. We hope that the news we’re reading will somehow not come true. With the subway system and the region’s commuter trains and buses shut down, it already feels awfully quiet on the streets. While the Broadway theaters canceled their shows and libraries are closed, today we are betting that our neighborhood stores on Broadway will remain open until the wind gets stronger and everyone needs to go home.And while we’re waiting for the storm news to continue, it helps to live in a city with many fellow citizens who stay reassuringly calm. Good luck New York!

Helpful Resources

Here are some helpful resources for tracking the storm updates and keeping up to date on official announcements. While not panicking and staying calm is key, it is always best to be wise and prepared at all times. If the power goes out, we encourage you to check on your neighbors, especially if they are elderly.Keep up to date with all of Mayor Bloomberg’s announcements via Twitter and the official New York City web site.For information or answers to questions call NYC’s info line at 311 (or text 311-692). Alternatively you can visit the NYC 311 website for already posted info.Find out if your home is in an evacuation zone here and if you are being evacuated, find your nearest Red Cross shelter.Should you be evacuated to a shelter, be sure to bring items such as bedding, important documents, medications, personal hygiene items and (if you have any dietary restrictions) food and snacks.TwitterLive feed of storm updates from The Weather ChannelPreparedness tips from FEMANJ news and updates from Jersey Shore Hurricane NewsFacebookNational Hurricane Center  Facebook page for official updates and storm tracking.For our readers in New Jersey, we’ve found the Facebook page Jersey Shore Hurricane News to be a very helpful resource with locals reporting live on conditions along the coast including which stores still carry  hurricane preparedness supplies.