Tag Archives: Hurricane Sandy

April 22, 2013 · 12:20 PM

Federal disaster aid for me, not for thee

In my opinion, GOP politicians see themselves as a privileged class separate from the common people.  They believe they are smarter, stronger and wiser than their counterparts in both Houses of Congress.  Most “outsiders” see them as manipulative, bullying, stupid, selfish oafs.  I, for one, see them that way.

Could that be why they’ve only won one out of the last six elections (including mid-terms.)

The Rachel Maddow Blog

The same Texas lawmakers who voted against relief money after Hurricane Sandy are looking for “all available resources” after the fertilizer plant disaster in Texas. Aid for me, not for thee? (Rachel on Facebook)

Officials are still coming to terms with the scope of the disaster in West, Texas, where a fertilizer plant exploded last week, leaving at least 14 dead. And while investigators still search for clues as to what caused the disaster, Texan lawmakers in Washington are looking for disaster aid to bolster the devastated community.

Had these same officials not opposed post-Sandy relief, their position might not seem so jarring.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz lambasted the Sandy Aid package, voting against the measure in January…. However, in Washington Thursday, Cruz said that he was “working to ensure that all available resources are marshaled to deal with the horrific loss of life and suffering that we’ve seen” after an explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas leveled the plant and nearby houses and business. [...]

Rep. Bill Flores, who represents West, also voted against the Sandy relief package but is now requesting federal aid for the disaster in his home district. Flores said Thursday that members of Congress with whom he has been in touch have pledged assistance.

After Flores voted against the Sandy aid package, he justified his vote by saying the package was “too large” and did “more than meet the immediate needs of Sandy victims.”

In fairness, Cruz didn’t explicitly say he wants federal emergency assistance, but the right-wing senator said he’s working to get “all available resources,” which would presumably include federal aid.

I will, of course, look forward to Cruz and Flores explaining why federal emergency aid in New Jersey and New York was unwarranted, while federal emergency aid in West, Texas, is fair.

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January 8, 2013 · 3:25 AM

Disaster relief for me, not for thee

Shamefully, political partisanship is at an all time high…

The Maddow Blog – Steve Benen

Though it took far longer than it should have, Congress approved $9.7 billion on Friday for the National Flood Insurance Program, giving a boost to victims of Hurricane Sandy. In all, only 67 lawmakers opposed the relief, and in this case, all 67 were Republicans, who opposed the spending under pressure from far-right lobbying groups like the Club for Growth.

Of the 67 opponents of the bill, failed vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was easily the highest-profile member of the bunch, but TPM flagged another lawmaker whose vote against the emergency aid was even more striking.

Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS), whose Mississippi district is situated on the Gulf Coast, was one of 67 Republicans on Friday to vote against a $9.7 billion relief package to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Mississippi’s Fourth Congressional District, which Palazzo has represented since 2011, includes the city of Biloxi, one of the most heavily damaged communities in the region by Hurricane Katrina. Congress quickly passed an initial $10.5 billion relief package in the immediate aftermath of Katrina in September of 2005.

Making matters slightly worse, Palazzo, about four months ago, stressed the importance of federal disaster relief for his district in the wake of Hurricane Isaac.

“Some of the counties in the fourth congressional district have been the hardest hit by Isaac,” Palazzo said in late August. “This determination comes as good news to our local communities who are dealing with the effects of the storm. We cannot thank the governor’s office and FEMA enough for their continued support.”

Hmm. It sounds an awful lot like the Mississippi congressman loves federal disaster relief, but only if it directly benefits Mississippi.

Asked for an explanation, the Republican’s office issued a statement.

“Congressman Palazzo fully supports a Sandy relief package that includes spending offsets. On the heels of a fiscal cliff deal that added $4 trillion to our existing $16 trillion national debt, we must ensure that disaster relief is paid for. He also hopes we will be able to have a much-needed national discussion on disaster relief reform in the coming days.”

First, mandating “offsets” in the wake of a natural disaster is a new development, that didn’t apply when it was Palazzo’s district that was slammed. Second, the bipartisan fiscal agreement does not ”add $4 trillion” to the debt.

And third, it’s interesting how “disaster relief reform” is needed when New Jersey is hit, but not when it was Mississippi that needed a hand.

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October 30, 2012 · 12:44 AM

Blog Round Up 10-30-2012

Superstorm Sandy

Superstorm Sandy causes rising water to flood into a subterranian parking garage on October 29, 2012, in the Financial District of New York, United States.

Latest images of Hurricane Sandy

The Real Real Story Behind Benghazi

Manhattan goes dark, and so might Daily Kos

The 2012 Election in Numbers: Monday, Oct. 29

Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Election Is Uncertain

Right-Wing Media Attempt To Politicize Hurricane Sandy

Romney, Ryan use hurricane for campaign event while NYC drowns

Early Voters, and a Hurricane, Change the Rhythm of the Campaigns

Hurricane Sandy: Obama Pivots From Candidate To Commander In Chief

A Reminder To You On The East Coast That Mitt Romney Finds Your Travails Hilarious

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October 29, 2012 · 11:47 AM

The Storm

I have children who reside all along the eastern border of the United States: FL, MD and NYC, so my concern about Sandy’s path, size and strength gives me cause to worry, as any mother would.   I’ll be in touch with everyone for the next few days.  

From the reports on TV and in the news, this storm or super-cell is no joke.

Here’s the very latest from Huffington Post:

Hurricane Sandy bore down on the Eastern Seaboard’s largest cities Monday, forcing the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds, soaking rain and a surging wall of water up to 11 feet tall.

Sandy strengthened before dawn and stayed on a predicted path toward Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York – putting it on a collision course with two other weather systems that would create a superstorm with the potential for havoc over 800 miles from the East Coast to the Great Lakes. About 2 to 3 feet of snow were even forecast for mountainous parts of West Virginia.

Continue reading here…

Ed Note:  Below are live updates on Huffington Post  as of 11:37 am today.   

 

Hudson River overflowing into Manhattan already at Hudson River Greenway. iWitness: David Kaiser pic.twitter.com/QnngmTbZ

11:36 AM – Today

new york city flooding

From HuffPost New York:

Even before the superstorm fueled by Hurricane Sandy has hit New York City in earnest Monday, parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn have experienced flooding.

At a press conference Monday morning, Governor Cuomo said the storm surge in New York is already at Hurricane Irene levels.

According to The New York Times, “Forecasters are expecting a 6-to-11-foot surge to hit the city at high tide around 8 p.m. [Monday] – the highest surge of the entire storm cycle.”

11:35 AM – Today

Water Levels Rise In New Jersey

Woah indeed!! RT @Jennasakwa: Woah! RT @nowthisnews: How high is the water in Brigantine, NJ? This high: pic.twitter.com/24OpUCYR

 11:34 AM – Today

The super storm has left between 20 and 30 percent of Cuba’s coffee crop scattered, a potentially devastating loss for the country’s economy. Reuters estimates coffee production dropping to its lowest point in a century despite President Raul Castro’s efforts to improve Cuban food production and to decrease reliance on imports. More here.

President Obama will deliver a statement after his Situation Room briefing on Hurricane Sandy, at 12:45pm.

11:30 AM – Today

Hurricane Sandy Information

Check in here for all of our information on how to stay safe during Hurricane Sandy.

NHgov @ NHgov : News and Events : Governor Lynch Declares State of Emergency Urges Citizens to Avoid Afternoon Travel : http://t.co/3vM2f73h
11:26 AM – Today

PHOTO: Irene vs. Sandy

Here is a side-by-side comparison of satellite images of Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Irene, courtesy of NASA.

sandy irene/> 

11:23 AM – Today

Vern Gillmore, 80, isn’t just sending money or supplies to help those affected by the Hurricane Sandy megastorm — he’s delivering himself. The Utah man was deployed Monday as part of the Red Cross’ nationwide initiative to help a small portion of some 50 million people who could be affected by the storm.

Read the full story here.

11:14 AM – Today
Accu_Jesse @ Accu_Jesse : Rec’s here: http://t.co/X1qVr7mU MT ‏@LeeGoldbergABC7 Pressure of 943mb #Sandy now lowest ever N of Cape Hatteras 

 

Far Rockaway, New York — The southernmost of the two bridges linking this thin peninsula to the rest of New York City remains open, but high winds and flooding are making crossing the bridge an increasingly hazardous undertaking.

For now, the wind is coming in short bursts, rattling cars but not pushing them. The real threat is the water spilling over from an angry and roiling Jamaica Bay. This reporter watched as a New York City Department of Transportation car briefly hydroplaned on the main north/south thoroughfare, Beach Channel Drive. The car drifted like a canoe into another lane before its wheels found purchase again.

This reporter, also driving on the road, then followed the city car as it retreated back over the bridge to the relative safety of Brooklyn.

Ben Hallman, HuffPost

11:03 AM – Today

Tornadoes Possible?

wunderground @ wunderground : @CharlesSimmins It is possible we will see some tornadoes. 

 

10:59 AM – Today
WSJweather @ WSJweather : NHC 11am #Sandy update: Sustained winds up to 90mph, pressure down to 943mb. Still 260mi from NYC. 

 

WSJweather @ WSJweather : Folks, just to summarize what we’re seeing here, #Sandy is in the process of intensifying — perhaps more than earlier forecasts showed. 

Portions of AC boardwalk destroyed, debris floating “uptown.”

Photo: Instagram/hoeboma

10:38 AM – Today

Most Of Atlantic City Underwater

eyewitnessnyc @ eyewitnessnyc : Atlantic City’s public safety director says most of the city under water #SandyABC7 #Sandy 

 

NYTMetro @ NYTMetro : Breaking: Holland and Brooklyn Battery Tunnels to close at 2 pm, Gov Cuomo announces. #Sandy 

 

10:35 AM – Today

Red Hook, Brooklyn Flooded

greenpainting @ greenpainting : @StartingPtCNN Thank you for your amazing coverage Soledad! Here we are marooned in Red Hook, Brooklyn!! #Sandy http://t.co/VAHFiLXX 

 

10:31 AM – Today

PHOTO: Storm In Ocean City, NJ

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