NEW YORK: Tens of thousands of people whose homes were destroyed or damaged by superstorm Sandy faced a new crisis in New York on Sunday as temperatures plunged, raising the specter of people freezing to death.
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg estimated that 30,000-40,000 homes in the city alone had been left unusable by the October 29 storm as the cold intensifies.
Sandy pummeled 15 states with fierce winds and a huge tidal surge that killed at least 109 people in the United States and Canada and a damage bill running to tens of billions of dollars.
More than two million homes in seven states are still without power and a new storm predicted to hit on Wednesday is bringing more heavy rain and winds.
"It is starting to get cold, people are in homes that are uninhabitable," New York state governor Andrew Cuomo told a press conference. "We are going to have tens of thousands of people who need housing solutions right away."
"This is going to be a massive, massive housing problem," the governor said.
Bloomberg compared the crisis to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. "I don't know that anybody has ever taken this number of people and found housing overnight," the under-pressure New York mayor said.
Tens of thousands fled New Orleans because of the storm. "In this case people are staying in New York City and it's a challenge for us," Bloomberg said.
Cuomo said that some people may have to wait two weeks to get power back, and reaffirmed a vow to make sure utility companies are held "accountable."
More than 200,000 meals are already being handed out each day to the elderly and others in need in New York. The city is again laying on special buses and urging homeless people to go to emergency evacuation centers that remain open.
Poorer parts of the city, including the Rockaway and Staten Island districts were worst hit by the storm, and Bloomberg was the target of expletive-laden rants by inhabitants when he went there Saturday.
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg estimated that 30,000-40,000 homes in the city alone had been left unusable by the October 29 storm as the cold intensifies.
Sandy pummeled 15 states with fierce winds and a huge tidal surge that killed at least 109 people in the United States and Canada and a damage bill running to tens of billions of dollars.
More than two million homes in seven states are still without power and a new storm predicted to hit on Wednesday is bringing more heavy rain and winds.
"It is starting to get cold, people are in homes that are uninhabitable," New York state governor Andrew Cuomo told a press conference. "We are going to have tens of thousands of people who need housing solutions right away."
"This is going to be a massive, massive housing problem," the governor said.
Bloomberg compared the crisis to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. "I don't know that anybody has ever taken this number of people and found housing overnight," the under-pressure New York mayor said.
Tens of thousands fled New Orleans because of the storm. "In this case people are staying in New York City and it's a challenge for us," Bloomberg said.
Cuomo said that some people may have to wait two weeks to get power back, and reaffirmed a vow to make sure utility companies are held "accountable."
More than 200,000 meals are already being handed out each day to the elderly and others in need in New York. The city is again laying on special buses and urging homeless people to go to emergency evacuation centers that remain open.
Poorer parts of the city, including the Rockaway and Staten Island districts were worst hit by the storm, and Bloomberg was the target of expletive-laden rants by inhabitants when he went there Saturday.
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