60 Hours - 2 nights, it's going to get ugly.

[MyUncle]

I've lived through many power outages, they suck.

It's impossible for this Sandy Mess to be cleaned up by anyone, anything, any super hero, under any circumstances. BUT, people are going to be cranky, pissed, complaining, mad, outraged and then casting blame within 60 hours of the landfall - 8 AM 10-29-12. You'll be able to time it.

All I can say is that the Presidential election won't be impacted because NY, NJ, CT, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island and MA are not swing states.

But get ready, because PEOPLE in those state are about to be royally pissed off. They are just not used to being in circumstances like this.

By Thursday morning the Atlantic States will be making a lot of noise that ain't pretty.

If this would have been a catastrophic storm for the upper Midwest.... I don't even want to think about it.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

1. "They are just not used to being in circumstances like this"

Don't really know what you are getting at, but we up here have to deal with blizzards and ice storms that can be just a debilitating as far as power loss, and that's when it's freezing with no electric heat....

I think you underestimate the will of this region....and I'll never underestimate NYC after 9/11.

By the way....those states may not be swing states, but they are still the fundamental foundation for Obama in the electoral college. So discounting their importance/impact is unwise. I hope everyone can get to their polling places by next week.

[MyUncle]

2. Obama will win EVERY ONE OF THESE STATES NO MATTER WHAT.

But, trust me, the "media outrage" because of the hardship on these states is going to be loud,Loud, LOUD. You don't have to trust me, but I'm just telling you, it's going to be ugly. Look at some of the threads already.

Blame is going to get HEAVY.

[LisaL]

3. And what is it that you think anyone can do about it?

[MyUncle]

8. Call the media on the coming BULLSHIT.

This is a mess, it is no one's fault, be patient it is going to take some time.

The RW Media is going to pound on this, they have been waiting since Katrina, a disaster like this does not get fixed in 4 days. Do not let them turn it in to an referendum on the repsponse of the Obama Administration.

It's coming folks, be prepared.

[LisaL]

11. And Romny wanted to cut FEMA.

So what do they have to look forward to under this supposed Romney administration?
Romney throwing a few canned goods at them?

[randome]

31. I think what MyUncle is saying is that logic won't work when people are impoverished and angry.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

12. You tell me what the angle will be?

The President has pretty much suspended his campaign to get down on the ground with this. The GOP governor of NJ is happy for the help.

If there's outrage, it generally first flows to the quasi-public utilities that seem to be slow to respond in certain cases. That's a state issue.

[winstars]

18. Today is the pivotal day, there HAS to some progress TODAY or the MSM is gonna is like:

Why is help taking so long??? Why, after all the warnings, was not the President and administration more prepared??? I think this is what the OP is saying. It won't matter if our President is reconnecting power on a frigging light pole himself with a hardhat on, they WILL GO THERE.

The OP is merely saying don't be surprised when this occurs and then I say lets not waste our time saying "stop saying that, its not true..." We will need to hit them back hard with everything we have. It will be the last weekend when this will go down. No time to let anything drift for a day or two...

I know its crazy to expect a miracle today or tomorrow, or even this week, but when one does not happen they will pretend its our Presidents fault one did not happen...

[gkhouston]

4. Long-term power outages suck, but I don't see why people in the Northeast would have

less patience/tolerance than people on the Gulf Coast. Even if they don't have crank radios, all they have to do is look around them and see the destruction to realize that the storm they were warned about was every bit as bad as expected. I don't remember any blame-casting after Ike. People who still didn't after power after 3 weeks were pissed, but in an area this large, somebody's going to be dead last.

[LisaL]

5. People understand it's a natural disaster.

Unfortunately because of climate change we seem to have more and more of those every year.

[gkhouston]

7. Sadly true. n/t

[reformist2]

25. Well, it is colder up here. A lot of people may have to temporarily move because of lack of heat.

Fortunately it's been warm, but it's going to get cold this weekend, and many won't be able to wait in their homes much longer.

[Impious]

6. At least the storm didn't happen in the middle of summer

I think you're underestimating people.

I've been through a seven day power outage in Baton Rouge... Hurricane Gustav a few years ago. Had another one this year that left some people without power for a few days. There wasn't a whole lot of widespread outrage... people understand that Mother Nature can wreak havoc, and most of them REALLY adopt a "we're all in this together" attitude.

[MyUncle]

9. This is the media capital of America.

The message is going to be different. Get ready, because it's coming.

[LisaL]

10. And WTF do you want to be done about it?

It's a freaking hurricane. A natural disaster.

[defacto7]

16. I'll take that under advisement.

Duly noted and recorded.

[Kurovski]

13. Welcome to DU, Impious!

i was in a small five day outage on the washington coast, but neighbors pulled together, sharing food, helping the elderly, cooking outside communally, many things to watch over and help each other. and it was about 60 degrees during the day, and 40s at night.

[Ellipsis]

14. Not ugly... complicated. n/t

[Chorophyll]

15. Thanks for schooling me about where I've lived for my entire life.

The northeast has suffered at least two massive, historic blackouts, innumerable blizzards, ice storms, and nor'easters, and the largest terrorist attack to ever take place on American soil.

What do you think we're going to do, secede from the union? Declare war on the rest of the country and steal your stuff?

If it's the MEDIA that bothers you, turn your TV off.

[leftynyc]

21. +1000

The only people that are under the gun are the power companies. Nobody blames the government here.

[Chorophyll]

24. Exactly. After all, we're a combination of Teh Liberal Elite and the Sopranos up in here.

Eight hours later I'm still scratching my head over this OP.

[MyUncle]

27. My point is that it is going to get really ugly.

This is a massive catastrophe. 20 million people in the NY metro area alone, and we are not even hearing from the MSM about other places that have been devastated. I'm not doubting or questioning that the vast majority of people will cope, do their best, help each other. But just by the shear numbers of people affected, where this happened (Gulf Coast south Atlantic people expect and are better prepared to deal with a hurricane) and the fact that this is the media capital of the world - the noise is going to get really, really loud.

Power outages are beyond frustrating, they shake people affected by them deeply. There are millions of people who be without power for 5 days or more - that is a long time for those who do not stockpile or prepare for something like this. There are going to be food shortages, gas lines, people not being able to get to work - all the things that happen in storm like this, the big difference is it happened in the north east.

You'll see what I mean in a day or so if you do not understand.

[Chorophyll]

32. I'm not an idiot, MyUncle. I'm surrounded by power outages right now.

This is not the first time that people have been without electricity for days or even weeks in NYC and environs. Why don't you come out and say PRECISELY what you're expecting? Otherwise your Nostradamus act is pointless.

You could maybe do something helpful instead.

[MyUncle]

58. I meant no disrespect to you or NY Metro area Chorophyll,

I grew up in Staten Island, lived in NY metro for 26 years then lived in Hawaii where we had constant power outages, but it was never cold and they were localized.

I just knew from seeing stuff happen that the situation post Sandy was going to get bad. I hope it is OK for you, your friends and family.

What we are seeing here out west is that there is a deterioration of conditions and patience is wearing out.

I'm sorry.

[Chorophyll]

59. I see the same news you do, MyUncle. I have internet and TV in my house.

I have friends all over the NY area, all over New York City, on Long Island, in New Jersey, and in Connecticut. Some are in worse shape than others, but everyone is communicating and making do the best they can.

I'm still waiting to see the unrest you predicted.

[MyUncle]

61. I grew up in Staten Island so I'm keeping up with the news from there

My best friend lives in Long Beach NY, and he and his wife chose to stay there. They lost both of their cars and their house is a sewage, fuel and seawater mess, I can't find out if they are ok.

The news I'm getting is via the main outlets, I've been checking mainly Huff Po, Twitter, NY Times, CNN and MSNBC for updates and they are talking about gas line fights, police at gas stations, food shortages, looting, etc.

I'm searching Staten Island stuff and it seems like it is really bad there, so my perspective might be skewed toward believing it is worse than it is.

My original post was meant to be a cautionary note that things are going to get bad and the media will wind up blaming a lot of people. Our President, so far, has done a great job of communicating and helping, but the longer this goes on (and it will) the worse the situation, the more the noise will grow.

[LynneSin]

35. I've lived in the Northeast Mid-Atlantic region all of my life

You make it sound like we've never had power outages before up here.

[texanwitch]

45. I was without power with Ike for 2 weeks, it was September but still hot.

After about 3 days we were told it might take a week or even two before the power came back.

If you don't have power you don't have it, you work around it.

We helped each other, had cookouts at night.

Neighbors who didn't know each other became friends.

It wasn't so bad, it was a time to slow down.

I stopped missing the internet and tv.

We set around and talked to each other, it was nice.

Houston is a spread out place, driving was fun.

All lights were treated like 4 way stops, it was a adventure.

Gas was hard to find, a lot of gas stations had no power.

I looked at it as a 2 week vaction, time just slowed down.

I lost two friend that lived next to our beach house, they didn't leave for some reason.

The lights will come back, things will get better.

I am just glad we have Presdient Obama in charge, it could be worse.

[Chorophyll]

57. Indeed!

[PATXgirl]

60. Texanwitch is right, you adapt and get by.

During Rita my family of 4 lived in a 1500 sq ft house and had at times, up to 18 family members and 4 extra dogs that evacuated to our house. Some were there for 3-4 days, most over a week. We had no power, no running water and the sewer system without electricity wouldn't work.

Tough times but we managed and made it a good time.

Except for one sister who complained about everything. But she ALWAYS complains about everything. Some people are just like that even when times are good. They need something/someone to blame.

[texanwitch]

62. My life was so busy when Ike came, then everything came to a stop.

Just make the best of what you got.

We played board games, and card games.

Looking back it wasn't that bad a time.

People came out of their houses and talked to their neighbors.

Everyone shared the meat that had to be cooked or would spoil.

It was fun.

Don't look at what you don't have, look at what you do have.

I still miss our beach house and the little beach community we had.

Ike just wipe beach houses away.

I miss my friends that died.

Sandy has bought back a lot of memories from Ike.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

17. I was 3.3 miles from the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

When Bush Sr. drove thru our small town in his limo people were
aggravated. Many of us were still out of our homes because of the
aftershocks and it just felt voyeuristic.He didn't get out and meet
the people that were lining the streets.

President Obama will be right out there with the people and his
concern will be authentic unlike what we saw from the shrub in
NOLA. I almost wish Michelle were with him. I know that's not
how it's done but she is just so wonderful with people. and they
are always at their best together.

[NutmegYankee]

19. CT had two outages of roughly 800,000 customers lasting a week or more last year.

This is nothing compared to Winter Storm Alfred (Oct 29, 2011) nor Irene.

[Throckmorton]

23. Alfred, huh? Channel 3 likes to name winter storms as a part of Weathertainment

Hurricane Irene, no, the damage in my area, Coastal New London County, is hands down worse than Irene.

[NutmegYankee]

40. I live in Northern New London.

The winds were worse than Irene but the power outages less.

[Throckmorton]

43. I Live in the Giants Neck Heights section of East lyme

The damage here is far worse than Irene. A lot of home damaged/destroyed and much beach erosion. A lot of trees were blown right over, unlike Irene where mostly branches snapped, but the trees mostly stayed up. CL&P did a major tree trimming operation here last summer, which no doubt prevented even more damage.

Given the size of the storm, I have no complaints. My house is undamaged, but many neighbors lost roof shingles and siding.

[NutmegYankee]

49. I live in the Oakdale portion of Montville.

The wind seemed far stronger this time around, but we lost no where near the number of trees as Irene. Perhaps it was the wind direction change? Neighbors did suffer shingle losses, sometimes down to wood, and gutters and siding were torn loose.

[Throckmorton]

52. My sister lives in Oakdale,

Dawn, is that you?

[NutmegYankee]

53. No.

[Throckmorton]

54. Didn't really think it was

Her power was back on this afternoon, my neice posted it on facebook.

[leftynyc]

20. We're getting very used to it

Twice last October (first Irene then the snow storm) knocked out power for both my mom and sister (both in Westchester county) for 5 and 7 days respectively. They're not mad at the government, they're mad at Con Edison but get what the problem is. Manhattan not used to power outages but the outer boroughs are very familiar. You don't give the tri state area enough credit, pretty tough crew up here.

[myshofer]

22. feeling depressed

hi, i am also feeling depressed about all of this situation. lets see what is going to happen...

[justiceischeap]

26. During the derecho this past summer

I and thousands in Maryland were without power. You know who we were pissed at? Not politicians, cause they were pissed too. We were pissed at the power companies for not having a plan. I think people will be pissed but I think their anger will be directed, not at the President of the United States but the guys on the poles and the companies that they work for.

And as the first commenter said, we have storms on the East Coast that cause us to lose power all the time. Blizzards, heck, even thunderstorms and we're not immune to Hurricanes. We get them, and tropical storms, more often than we used to but we get them.

[MineralMan]

28. I believe you are overstating this by a large margin.

The reality is that people there have gone through similar situations. They know that it will take time to get everything back up. It will be unpleasant, but they know why it happened and that it can't all get fixed immediately.

[MyUncle]

29. I hope you are right.

But check out Twitter - search "gas lines". The basic services are deteriorating quickly.

[Jennicut]

30. Allfred was worse for us in CT in terms of power outages. I lost my power for 2 days.

Sneaky snow storm in October last year. Some people went a week.

During Irene last year my brother lost his power for over a week.

We are sadly used to this in CT right now. Gov. Malloy said he is TOO used to this now.

And we are hearty folk that deal with blizzards and stuff. Snow comes every winter and sometimes it is a lot. Roofs collapsed two years ago from all the snow we had. Lots of people got generators because of the storms last year.

[lunatica]

33. I hope they turn their righteous anger into climate change activism

I doubt that this particular storm could have been averted, but neither will many, many more if we don't do something about global warming, including building dikes like the ones they have in Holland. They're considered one of the wonders of the modern world.

[LynneSin]

34. Um, don't forget Pennsylvania is in that mix and it IS a swing state

It could have huge impact if we can't get Philadelphians out to vote on Tuesday!

[FreeJoe]

36. 14 Days

My community went 14 days without power after hurricane Ike. People were fine. They weren't thrilled about it. Some left for other areas with power. Some got generators. For the most part, we had evening cookout parties with friends and neighbors and everyone worked together to repair storm damage. We sawed up down trees, repaired fences, and patched roofs. It wasn't a great time, but it wasn't terrible either.

[Chorophyll]

37. I expect people in the mid-Atlantic states will be no different.

Most people try to help each other out during times of duress. And New York has had plenty of duress.

[FreeJoe]

39. I agree

The overwhelming majority of people are good, decent people. They'll come together and get through this.

[MyUncle]

55. I do not want to pick a fight. I'm sorry, sincerely.

I know you live and work there. I wish you that things work out as well as possible for you, your neighbors, friends and families. The best Karma for you, sincerely.

I hope my negative Nostradamus attitude is wrong.

[lindysalsagal]

38. Point taken. I've been there. However, this is also a lesson in

why strong national government is needed. When you're getting rescued by FEMA, they are your heroes, and you stop hating the government as if it's a fire breathing dragon.

I think the realities of storms return us to sanity and we remember how much the practicalities in life matter more than ideology or hate.

This is the great leveler. It also gives Obama the free tv coverage to act like a strong, reassuring presence.

The people in total devastation are probably not voting for anyone.

[Ruby the Liberal]

41. If you are counting down, you need to adjust your clock.

Landfall was PM not AM on Monday.

[panader0]

42. When I bought my 40 acres 33 years ago,

I lived without electricity for two years. At first I lived in a tent and hauled water and shit in the trees.
After a while I could afford a well and a generator to pump water. Still shit in the trees.
Now I have a two story, four bedroom house, the place is paid off.
Camping out is not an impossible thing if you are young. To do so with kids would be a lot harder.

[renie408]

44. We went for two weeks without power after Hugo.

And people here pulled together, not apart.

Speak for yourself.

[llmart]

46. Yep. So did I.

Cold showers, cooked on he gas grill. Kids didn't have school for a week.

People pulled together. It's what most people do in situations like this. Everyone shared what they had and people in the neighborhood helped others take care of the fallen trees.

[LisaL]

50. Went without electricity for several weeks after Ike.

[Monk06]

47. A lovely fact free post. The NE is no stanger to disasters that impact power. Ice storms are a prime

example.

[HiPointDem]

48. bs

[Trekologer]

51. I live in New Jersey and I am pissed

Storms, etc. happen, it sucks but you just have to deal with it. What I am pissed off at is my power company, Jersey Central Power and Light decided to scrimp on preventative maintenance and tree pruning and allowed their lineman staff to shrink for the sale of profits. They cover about half of the state and 98% of homes and businesses in their service area are without power. The estimated restoration time is 7 days for some, 14 for others. I can only wonder if there would be fewer outages and shorter restoration times if they didn't cheapen out in the first place.

[NutmegYankee]

56. This sounds familiar. Ask CL&P about why they have a new President...