Hurricane IRENE delivered a significant amount of flooding to City Island. Many residents decided to ride out the storm. Despite being surrounded by water, City Islanders were somewhat skeptic questioning the knowledge of weather forecasters, while others believed there was way too much hype. However, most boat owners secured their vessels and stocked up on supplies, just in case.
Now that the worst of this crisis is behind us, I would like to thank Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo, the City’s Office of Emergency Management and all City agencies for their hard work keeping my staff and all Bronxites informed about this storm, its effects and how to stay safe. This administration clearly learned from this past winter’s blizzard, and we are grateful to them for their strong response to Hurricane Irene. During the coming days my office will work with OEM and other agencies, as well as Con Edison, to help Bronxites clean up in the aftermath of this storm.
Many City Islanders, including Barbara Durham and Donna McGowan rushed to see the water level under the CI Bridge. These two local ladies pointed towards the water level, which they say at high tide had reached very close to the level of the City Island bridge.
Some shoppers at IGA on City Island avenue laughed when this reporter asked: "Do you have any batteries left?" At nearby Buddy's hardware, Mary, aka Sandy had been saying "No" for hours. The EverReady, Duracell, as well as all the other brands, which fuel the flashlights which most folks own, had suddenly vanished from our local store shelves.
IRENE has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, but beware...Hurricane season does not end today, in fact Jose is on the way. The season in the Atlantic begins June 1st and ends November 30th. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15th and also ends November 30th. It ain't over yet, folks... New hurricanes may come our way!
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the New York City area until noon, 8/28. Most flood injuries occur in automobiles. If you must drive, please exercise caution: never drive your vehicle into areas where water covers the entire roadway.
For updated weather information visit:
KILLER HURRICANE IRENE. 8 Death Toll Continues To Rise.
ONE MILLION LOSE POWER. 2.3 Million Told To Evacuate.
EYE OF IRENE. It's Here - May It Soon Be Gone.
HIGH TIDE COMING. Tall Waves Expected.
WE'VE FELT AND SEEN TOO MUCH IRENE. Go Away.
New York City has the largest concentration of residents without drivers licenses anywhere in the country. Since the Metropolitan Transit Authority closed down operations at midday, New Yorkers are now stranded until sometime next week. We are also told that air traffic will also stop.
Most New York City residents do not own their own vehicles and many have never even bothered to take the test for a NY driver's license. In fact, in New York City's five counties, or boroughs, most live close to mass transit and have decided that life is much easier without a car than with one.
Some of the congregants of the fledgling Trinity United Methodist Church in our New York City seaside community of City Island were surprised when their new pastor arrived – and they see that he is a Korean.
Though worlds apart, this new pastor and the congregants are slowly discovering common ground in matters of friendship and devotion. Through their camaraderie, and with laughter, they will find solace and healing in each other.
The Jewish High Holidays in some cases can be considered to be kind of a ratings book. Synagogues are packed with audiences — many of them tune a couple of times a year — expecting to be entertained, informed and perhaps even impressed by the sermons they hear. This year, some rabbis are getting help from another powerful American force - Holy Wood.