Here are a couple of videos that show how bad the storm damage was in Princeton. The first one shows Witherspoon Street, which is one of the main streets in Princeton. The second shows the area around Princeton, including some of the roads I drive on. This was pretty typical of the damage around my town as well. There are many downed trees blocking the road, and many downed power lines. Roads through the Princeton area were detoured for a couple of weeks and as of last week, there were still traffic signals that weren’t working in parts of Princeton and Lawrenceville.
First video: Witherspoon Street, Princeton
Second video: Roads around Princeton.
Now, I know that many people are playing the world’s smallest violin for Princeton and somehow, we’re supposed to feel collective guilt for all the suffering that happened in New Orleans after Katrina because… because… fuck if I know. I guess I should just forget all of the collection stations in the local shopping center parking lots to send stuff to NOLA. Yeah, we’re just insensitive jerks with no sense of responsibility or empathy. {{rolling eyes}} And because we didn’t all drown, we should not ask for any money from the Feds, not even the 40 cents for every tax dollar we send to Washington that we don’t get back.
No, we didn’t all drown, but about 100 people in NY and NJ did in the shore areas and there were enough people hit by falling trees. This was not just a severe thunderstorm. NOLA was suffering on a personal scale as well as a property scale. On the other hand, it’s not like the gulf coast isn’t used to hurricanes. There’s even a famous NOLA drink named after them. What these videos are showing is the unprecedented nature of this disaster on places that were not on the shore. We live about 40 miles inland. And while our area isn’t going to suffer the devastating economic losses associated with the shore, it’s not nothing here. Pay attention to the second video, especially to the tree canopy overhead. That’s what I’m worried about. They’ve cleared the obstructions and repaired the power lines but some of those trees up there are still dangerous, just like some of the trees in Central Park are dangerous. They’re compromised. We’re going to find out just how compromised they are in the coming months.
This final video is pretty good. It’s from a guy who has a house on Ortley Beach at the shore. Note that these houses are not super swank millionaire “cottages”. They’re pretty typical of well-established shore towns. Some of the houses have been there for almost 100 years.
Filed under: General | Tagged: central new jersey, fallen trees, Federal disaster relief, Hurricane Sandy, Ortley Beach, Princeton, witherspoon street |
The Confluence 
Sing it, sister. This ‘my pain was greater than your pain’ schtick is pointless. People suffered in NOLA. People suffered and continue to suffer in New Jersey and New York. Some lost their lives, many lost their homes and livelihoods.
When we fight one another, we’re only serving the Masters of the Universe. Real live people with kids and grannies live in Princeton. Working stiffs live in Princeton and many of those ruined beach bungalows along the coast as well as seasonal businesses belonged to ordinary people, not the hoity-toity.
As I mentioned in my last post [which btw I’m always tossed into moderation], Chris Christie did the right thing. And I’m no Christie fan.
I fully appreciate the disgrace of Katrina. I’d wager the vast majority of Americans were appalled and disgusted by the Bush/Cheney response [or lack there of]. Many Americans sent what they could in donations and supplies. Was it enough? Probably not. But that’s what we have a Federal government for–to respond to the needs of its citizenry, to provide the kind of money that only the Feds can provide. Anyone wants a whipping boy, grab the stingy, self-righteous DC Republicans. If I had my way, we’d tar and feather the entire Bush Administration.
Some of these pols are willing to drown not only government but ordinary people for the sake of ideology. For those that follow that philosophy [except when it applies to their own kith and kin], may their souls rot in Hell!
The residents of the MIdAtlantic need help to recover. They certainly don’t need preaching or history lessons.
It’s as if that trend that started when workers were forced to give up pensions for 401k plans (and those with pensions are greedy bastards) is spreading. I guess since NOLA didn’t get what they needed for repairs (and they didn’t and they should have) — then other locations should get even less of what they need (and to imply — ask otherwise makes them greedy bastards.)
We can’t compromise fast enough on social and infrastructure expenditures. And it’s pretty obvious what will happen if the regular people who own shore or near-shore property can’t afford to rebuild…. they’ll have to sell the property. And I can’t help wondering just who would be able to afford THAT.