It would seem that the destruction caused by Sandy is going to generate a big boost for reconstruction. Lots of jobs for surveyors of various types on the horizon. How long will it take to find the billions to fund the reconstructions?
Getting food/clothing/shelter/fuel to the NE through the winter is the current big push, but resurveys should be in big demand as soon as people can all breath again normally with a return to freedom from want.
Lots of misery to go around.
The Jersey Shore and Long Island and Connecticut coastlines will take years to recover.
Many places still don't have power...this is coming up on two weeks now. The Long Island uitlity apparently has some arcane rules about when power can be turned on (preventing fires, other shorts, etc.) and the repair people are having trouble coordinating with the inspection people.
Of course, since there's no power, there's no gasoline, and long lines have been the rule here, with what appears to be less than 10% of stations operating. NYC and Long Island have finally instituted the "odd-even" rationing system, which NJ has had for over a week now. Lines in NJ seem to be easing (again, outside of the Shore areas) back to normal.
Even in the Five Boroughs, where nearly everyone (except the Rockaways and Staten Island's South Shore) has power, gasoline deliveries are not being made. Over my travels I've noted that it's the same several gas stations that always periodically get gas, and many that were closed on day one have remained closed the entire time. I'd estimate that about 20% of the gas stations in Queens have been open at one time or another, and all the rest have remained shut.
It's a silver lining for one nearby company. Power Flame produces huge furnace components. They have more orders coming in from the area impacted by Sandy than they can possibly handle without adding shift workers. Everything they had on hand is sold and being trucked to NY/NJ ASAP. The owner of Power Flame is Bill Weiner. That name and his big flame-producing equipment always make me think of weiner roasts.
Cowboy
It is curious why many tankers cannot come into the area and deliver gas? Why is that?
Keith
Cowboy
What I have heard is that there is only one terminal on Long Island, and it cannot keep up with deliveries, between damage, power outages and demand.
Also, I suspect that NJ terminals have been concentrating on NJ, and not coming over into the City.
But, all of that is conjecture on my part.
I have noticed that with the odd-even rationing, as well as the general recovery effort, NJ lines (outside of the Shore areas) have all but disappeared, and NYC and Long Island gas lines are somewhat shorter.
