I survived!

[wavelandscott]

Just a quick post to let everyone know I am still alive!

It has been a horrific two weeks for me and my family.

While I was in Japan for meetings my Father unexpectedly passed away...I headed back home as soon as possible to learn that Hurricane Sandy was headed toward our neck of he woods.

I helped my family get ready for the storm and then headed out to deal with my Father's affairs and funeral.

The storm was devastating to the New York Metro area and New Jersey...lots of damage and it will be a while before the area returns to normal. I attended an event on Wall Street on Thursday and it was erie...most of the electricity is being generated by local generators and there are thousands of folks trying to clean-up and get things moving again. It was like a third world area.

Our office, which is in Manhattan, lost power and most of our data lines which are just now coming back on line.

My wife and kids weathered the storm but lost power for nearly a week, it took nearly two weeks to get internet and tv back on line (last night).

To top i all off, on Wednesday we got our first taste of winter with an 8 inch (1 inch = 25 mm) dumping of snow...fortunately we had electricity by then. It is a little early for snow so in a few days it will melt away but it was still a headache.

I am happy to have survived and am ready for things to get back to normal.

One thing that does occur to me is that in reality civilization (modern civilization) is really just a thin veneer and illusion of comfort and safety...take away electricity and things get hard real fast. I do a lot of work in/on/around Africa and have seen first hand the very positive difference that abundant electricity can make toward productivity and "pogress" and the recent events reinforce my view! Do not take electricity for granted!

[Kunama]

Hello Scott, great to hear that you guys are OK and condolences on your father's passing. We watched the storm unleash its power on the US, most of the images we saw were from NJ area.

Here in Australia we are no strangers to storms, but yours was a monster.
It is going to take a while for things to get sorted infrastructure wise.

Cheers from Down Unda

[mozzie]

great to hear you and your family are safe and well after that massive storm..unbelievable pictures and damage...all that sand that has come ashore what a massive cleanup...have they done anything with that crane that was damaged and dangling?????

so sorry to hear of your father passing our thoughts are with you.

all the best and keep safe

[sheeny]

G'Day Scott.

Sorry to hear about your dad. My thoughts are with your and your family mate.

I have to agree with you. Our first world society is just a thin veneer... not much that's robust about it at all. Serious loss of services for an extended time is probably a bit easier to handle in the country, there's reasonable "old-fashioned" resources to fall back on. I imagine an extended period without power and services in the city could get pretty serious.

Glad you're OK!

Al.

[Rodstar]

Hey Scott, sounds like you have had a very difficult couple of weeks. My condolences on the passing of your father. Glad to hear things are returning to some semblance of normality.

[Suzy]

I'm so sorry to hear about your father Scott :sadeyes:, you've certainly had quite a bit to deal with it! Lots of pics showing the devastation being posted on facebook & one memorable pic that I won't forget in a hurry is an aerial view of New York city half in darkness & half in light. Very eerie.

I'm glad you & your family are safe & no damage.
I know what you mean with losing electricity- I lost power for nine days when the Queensland floods hit just under a couple of years ago- it was a nightmare! :sadeyes:

[Larryp]

Sorry for the loss of your dad, but glad you are all ok.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Condolences on your loss Scott, particularly at a time of upheaval. Also my thoughts goes out to all those effected by Hurricane Sandy.

[Astro_Bot]

My consolences. Good to hear you're OK and pulling things back together after Sandy.

And I agree with the "thin veneer" comment. Electricity and running water .... just imagine life without it!

[cometcatcher]

That's incredible getting a hurricane and then snow. Wouldn't have thought it could happen.

I'm starting to think maybe those doomsday preppers are on to something.

[wavelandscott]

Thanks all!

The one additional comment that I should have added was in the face of all of the adversity everyone in our area really pulled together. While I was not here each of our neighbors made a point to check on and help my wife and kids...Nearly everyday that the power was off all of our neighbors pooled their resources and made sure everyone nearby had access to food, water and a warm place to rest while pitching in to move brush and clean things up. It was good to be reminded of how kind people can be.

[barx1963]

Great to hear you and your family are OK and condolences on your loss.
It really doesn't surprise me that your neighbourhood would help each other out. We tend to have a slightly jaundiced view of Americans and the USA but when need arises they are almost unfailing generous people.
Certainly in my travels in the States, that was what I found, and in a crisis it would be even more so.

Malcolm