What Hurricane Sandy Did to the Rockaways, and What Occupy Is Doing to Help (Photos)
So much of the Rockaways looks like this.
Today is Day 8 of Sandy in New York City, and residents in the hardest hit areas along with volunteers, workers and officials from all over the boroughs are scrambling to clean up and fix as much infrastructure as possible before the coming Nor’easter hits on Wednesday. Forecasters predict wind gusts of up to 55 miles per hour, which will only compound the already insane levels of damage in places like Far Rockaway, Queens, which still has no lights, heat or hot water.
Residents there are overwhelmed and have received little help so far, with the exception of what the Occupy movement and other community members have been able to provide. Occupy Sandy is an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street and is a “coordinated relief effort to help distribute resources & volunteers to help neighborhoods and people affected by Hurricane Sandy.” My friend and fellow comedian Ted Alexandro is an outspoken and visible member of the Occupy movement, and one of the founding members of Occupy Astoria LIC. He spent the weekend — along with other Queens residents and Occupiers — shuttling supplies to and helping out in the Rockaways. Here are some incredible photos he took yesterday of the devastation there, along with photos by Flickr user dakine kane that show the extent of the damage:
-
The Gift is Love
God Bless the Rockaways.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Repair
Chaos.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Nationwide Insurance
Under water, burned out.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Last Meter Standing
The Rockaways were hit by terrible electrical fires.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
No Standing
Anytime.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Broad Channel
The forgotten town.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Beach 91st Street
Lone person walking with supplies.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Under Water
Beach 91st Street.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Beach 91st Street & Holland Ave.
Smashed.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Alternate View
Smashed cars and torn up boardwalk on Beach 91st Street & Holland Ave.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Mini
...with boardwalk.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Alternate View
Smashed Mini on Beach 92nd Street.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Skate Park
Crushed.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Alternate View
Skate Park.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Boardwalk
Ruined.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Beach 92nd Street
Between Shorefront Parkway & Holland Ave.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Light
There's still no power in The Rockaways.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Cash for Old Comic Books
Beach 92nd Street.
Photo credit: Flickr user dakine kane -
Sanitation
There's tons of debris to be picked up.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Occupy Relief Station
No tacos and smoothies today.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
FDNY Special Operations
Locals trying to power up.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Emergency Response
Generator.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
NYPD Pitches In
To sort donations.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Red Cross
Ted says, "This Red Cross truck drove all the way from Minnesota."
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro -
Donations
No more clothing is needed. Send cleaning supplies, batteries, flashlights.
Photo credit: Ted Alexandro
For ways to help victims of Sandy in New York City, click here. You can also buy supplies for Sandy victims via Amazon that will be distributed or used by Occupy Sandy. For more on the devastation in the Rockaways in particular, watch this video report by The New York Times. Also check out Astoria Recovers.
Related:
What Hurricane Sandy Did to Kensington, Coney Island and Brighton Beach (Photos)
What Hurricane Sandy Did to Staten Island (Photos)
Seven Days After Sandy Stormed In by Strollerderby’s Danielle Sullivan
***
Learn more about Carolyn at her blog.
Newsletter