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John Makely / NBC News
Billy Hague takes a break from cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy at his mother's house in the Ocean Breeze neighborhood of Staten Island, N.Y. on Monday.
By John Makely, NBC News
I've covered a fair number of disasters, but standing next to destroyed buildings with debris piled high, I've never asked anyone, "Are you going to vote in tomorrow's election?" Even with vastly different viewpoints of the two leading presidential candidates and the important issues that they represent, the question almost seems absurd standing in the mud, talking to people who have lost almost everything due to Hurricane Sandy.
Billy Hague took a break from cleaning up his mother's house on Quincy Ave. in the Ocean Breeze neighborhood of Staten Island, where the water reached almost ten feet. "You wander around aimlessly because you don't know what to do next,” he said.
In storm-hit areas, some polling places changed on Election Day
Hague, a contractor, said all of his tools were submerged in salt water, so they are now virtually useless. After police chased away looters a couple days ago, he made a big sign warning trespassers, though he adds, "Not that there is anything left to take." Asked about the election, Hague does not care. "People need basics right now, give me a break. It doesn't matter anyway because [New York] is a blue state."
John Makely / NBC News
A sign in front of Billy Hague's home reads 'No Trespass-will be shot.' in the Ocean Breeze neighborhood of Staten Island, New York on Nov. 5.
Around the corner from Hague lives Peter Emelock. A proud resident of the block for thirty-five years, though Emelock says he's a newcomer. "There are people who have been here for eighty years," says Emelock, as he takes a minute from cleaning his modest home. "What are you going to do? You have to rebuild. I'm learning this as I go. I gotta move on."
John Makely / NBC News
Peter Emelock takes a minute from cleaning his modest home in the Ocean Breeze neighborhood of Staten Island, N.Y. on Nov. 5.
He wonders if it might have been better if the house was completely gone. Emelock, his wife and their dogs barely escaped the storm surge as the water rushed in from the beach over Father Capodanno Blvd. "A neighbor called and said, 'You gotta get out' so we had a go bag and barely made it out in time. Next time when they say 'evacuate' we're gone."
Full election coverage from NBC Politics
"I am voting tomorrow. I feel like I should. My polling place is still open but my problem is the gas," says Emelock, as he wonders how much gasoline it will take to drive to the polling station, and if the state could do something more. "This is a Katrina for Staten Island and the East Coast. It took too long for [FEMA] to bite into this."
John Makely / NBC News
Marines work alongside members of the New York Sanitation department to clear debris from the Midland Beach neighborhood in Staten Island, N.Y. on Nov. 5
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Mel Evans / AP
Residents across the Northeast pick up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy killed more than 100 people in 10 states and left a trail of destruction.
Reuters, Getty Images
Campaigning with Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, voting and election results.
Leave a Comment:
John, if you know even one person who is undecided on how to vote, or whether to vote, then please share this with them now:
500 reasons to vote against Mitt Romney and for Barack Obama.
Every vote counts,
Chris Bowers
Campaign Director, Daily Kos
CD....kinda of lop sided ... HUH? Then on the other side, there 501 reasons not to vote for obozo. ONE is he is a communist, socialist looking to take us to the dark side.
O'bama's flyby and magic wand didn't fix this? I thought everything was handled...
Make that 5 million and one reasons NOT to vote for Barry.
Everything the wand didn't fix, blaming others will..
"The buck stops anywhere but here" - Barrack O'bama
I assume you are speaking with the author of this article. Media bias is a good enough reason to vote against O'bama by itself.
@jeff wambolt 6969, its just great how idiots love to thorw around the communist, socialist BS. Sorry dummy two different political philosophies!! ya can't be both.......idiot
nbdeb59
Ahhh the usual lib civility on display.
Think FEMA is slow now?! Check Romney's record on FEMA from the Republican Primaries...
lynseypug
FEMA seems to be impotent now. Too bad we cant get the real story from our media...
nbdeb59........ GFY!
This block has already been taken down...bad start on the thread I guess
I will cast my vote TODAY for OBAMA suck on that one you cry babies ..... LMAO
Sam627556
I will be casting my vote for Romney in the swing state of Virginia! Winning!
Sam...
I already cast my vote...for the next POTUS, Mitt Romney! LMAO!
I'm with you, Kornfed...listen to the libbies call the names...cry babies, idiots...
When ya got nuthin'...call 'em names. It comes from the top down, I tell ya. Heck, Obama himself threw out some good ones. Seems a little "Bush league" (not the presidents) for a POTUS to lower himself to that but just look who is in the WH now...Romnesia?? Good grief...Obama acts like a spoiled little child...
We need a real leader, not divider. Obama has, from the beginning, proven himself as a divider...remember the "beer summit" anyone?
Romney/Ryan 2012! Vote against the community-organizer-n-chief like your life depends on it!
Bush sold our country to China,
Obama is trying to get it back,
Romney will loan it out again..
Funny, Obama came here to NYC a few days after the hurricane, then fled and continued campaigning. What is curious is that the mainstream media has not been covering what a disaster NY is. No power, no water, no gas--yet Obama gets a pass.
If this were George Bush, he would be getting grilled in the media, but since it's the chocolate messiah you don't hear a peep about the inept handling of this crisis by Obama, Cuomo and Bloomberg. What a disgrace.
Wow!! Romney isn't even President yet and and the radical lib's are already blaming fema's lack of help for the east coast That is Rich!! Where is the President!! Why isn't he helping? Oh thats right he is playing BB with his friend's while people in NY/NJ are freezing. Thanks for nothing.
If Romney wins, 10 minutes after the Obama's leave D.C. I pray a dirty nuke goes off in D.C. so Romney can be the biggest failure ever!!!! I could see the headlines now, Romney fails to keep America safe for 10 minutes!!!!
I suggest you do some research. Risky, subprime mortgage derivatives happened under DUBYA. That's the problem with cons: ignorance.
Wow, Frank, evil much? Seriously, you want a dirty nuke to kill millions in DC so that President Romney will appear to be a failure. Wow... I mean really, wow.
The law allowing credit default swaps, unfettered by regulation was signed by Clinton. Ignorance really is a problem isn't it, but it's pretty equally distributed. The blindness caused by partisan politics continues to astound me.
Back at you. Those risky subprime mortgage derivatives were nothing more than securities collateralized by those zero down loans made to unqualified borrowers who had no chance of repaying them that the lenders were coerced into making because of the Community Reinvestment Act initiated under Carter and made more ominous under Clinton. The problem was never the security; it was the collateral that was backing the security. In this case the bad mortgage loans, which when the borrowers defaulted on the mortgages, the properties securing the mortgages could not be sold for the loan balances and the holders of the securities incurred the losses.
socialcapitalist. -
Less than 10% of the loans involved in the sub-prime mortgage debacle were CRA properties.
Frank 512516,If your comments come to fruition the CIA will be at your front door.What you type on the internet never goes away.I find your murderous attitude towards another human being outrageous.
I'll probably get ripped a new one for this, but I think holding the election now was a little too soon.
These poor people...The Gov't and big new improved FEMA...not any better than Katrina...Red Cross brings hot chocolate and donuts?...
Where are the tent kitchens with hot food? The dry clothes and coats, shoes and blankets?...Propane heaters and Coleman stoves? Lanterns and flashlights?...
And these are the same people that want to handle your healthcare?....NO THANKS!
but wait I thought peeps could take care of themselves and NOT rely on Gov't handouts....make up ur minds.....u cannot have it both ways....besides if Mutt gets in we need 2 get used to NO federal assistance anyway.....
I think the National Guard would be better suited to help these people with basic needs. FEMA is just another over bloated government agency. Time to gut this fat hog we call a government
Awesome, thanks for sharing.
If they can make it to a gas line, they can make it to the polls.
Has the blame over the election results started yet? Romney to win. Obama to show. Michelle went on ahead. Something about R & R.
alim-2810059..................good one, LMAO! She is in Hawaii Again!!
Hague "wanders around aimlessly" but can't vote? And it doesn't "matter" because N. Y. is a blue state? There are other people running for offices other then president. And those offices are important too.
Hague doesn't deserve to call himself an American.
and you should not be calling yourself Human. How much have you lost due to no fault of your own? How many loved ones have died because of the wind and the rain? I too am sick of the GOP, but I choose not to take it out on those who are in a lot worse shapoe than I am, you should be ashamed of yourself. Try on a little compassion, the people hurt by hurricane Sandy were of both political parties.
I voted early. I know no one I voted for has a chance of winning in my state or county. In many places, people know either everyone they vote for is going to win or no one they vote for is going to win. If my house was destroyed I'm not sure I would bother going to make a symbolic vote but I am sure not voting would not make me less of an American.
That probably means he was going to vote republican. I am a democrat voting in Texas so I know exactly how he feels and if it was ever terribly inconvenient, I probably wouldn't bother. My vote doesn't count anyways in this state, it will all go red anyways. That is one of the many reasons the electoral college system is no good.
Hague is correct, if he is voting for Romney it will not matter in NY and and that is the big ticket vote so he is well and truly within his rights to skip it. His state will likely go the wrong way anyway and he has much bigger problems. He will have to count on the rest of us to do our part to make sure the government does not screw him even worse after Sandy is done.
And who gets to stand in judgement of all wrong. Too bad that life is getting in the way. Go VOTE!
SERIOUSLY.....there are more items on the ballot besides the PRESIDENCY of the US....this guy is un-american and I'm an INDY.....so tired of hearing these peeps cry....u have a life be grateful for THAT and yes the next time u are advised to GET OUT please do so....maybe the peeps who where dumb enough to hang around are too stupid to be allowed to vote anyway......SMDH!!!
"This video is the character of a man, who has no character!" It does not lie!! No excuses!
Romney Cheating At Debate
What about the Obama lies regarding Benghazi? That's okay I suppose.
What is Benghazi? Never heard of it, must be too important. Demar, it take two to lie one to tell it and one to believe it, so if you don't believe it then I guess it is not a lie. I didn't believe Obama so he did not lie to me. I believed Romney whole heartedly and that bastard has done nothing but lie to me....
I don't remember any lies about Benghazi.
I absolutely have sympathy for those trying to pick up their lives and start anew as a result of the hurricane. I must say that if the voters there are thinking about not going to the polls and voting for Obama, they need not worry. There's plenty of deceased people, illegals and multiple voters in Democratic districts that will cover for them.
"There's plenty of deceased people, illegals and multiple voters in Democratic districts that will cover for them." -- Why, some of the Dems have taken a page from Karl Rove's playbook? If anything, they haven't done enough of that.
And you know what. You will cringe, but this is still Bush's fault. He didn't believe in human's effect on global warming and subsequently in green technologies, even after Katrina. And you screamed for smaller government, but when Sandy came, you blamed the government for not doing enough.
Nice Candy, just like a democrate to blame Bush even though he's been out of office for years. While there is voter fraud on both sides of the aisle, anyone who is educated enough to know the facts knows that the Democratic party has a long, rich history of extensive voter fraud.
Don't believe it? It's already begun today in Colorado.
Actually look at the number of voter fraud cases.... REALLY LOOK AT THEM.....
voter fraud is a nonexistent problem in the U.S.
They are soulless yet it is you wishing those that do not agree with you to be "washed away". Typical Obama supporter.
Hope all of you haters remember to vote today. LOL so high school, bunch of cry babies.
joe from Santa Rosa Ca. banned, flameout. Don't deathwish people you disagree with.
Because a small percentage of people MAY have a difficult time voting postpone the whole thing? Lame. It takes minutes to vote from any of several areas in several ways.
Besides, popular vote does not win an election. Our votes are quite inconsequential. Electoral college is what counts and it does not have to and in three cases in history has not counted popular vote.
Very misleading to people that do not understand the system, giving them the illusion that they hold even the smallest amount of power. Local government sure (city officials, bills, etc), votes matter but any higher than that... not so much.
Guess you don't watch the NEWS down in FL. people were in line for 5 hours, are you that stupid really.
Well I could see if you are affected by the hurricane or republicans trying to make it harder to vote you get an extra week to go out and vote. If needed to flip the reults to make your state a blue state. I actually like that idea. Maybe nationwide, if your state goes republican on election night, reopen the polls in your state for the following night with specail Democrat only ballots to see if ther is enough interest to undo the injustice, and emberrassment of letting your state vote douchebag (Republican). I see people with Romney signs and Romney bumper stickers, I ask them how they weren't embarrassed to be a republican, they party of douchebags and just out of touch uncool morons. How we let such "people" run for office is a pure disgrace to this country. Nothing more embarrassing than W. on the world stage, well maybe Romney... We'll have to wait and see. Romney if elected will never be my president, I will hope he fails at everything.
People in Florida were waiting five hours because they need the extra time to figure out how to vote... Look what happened at the last election...
@sam62... Is it just because the folks in Fla. are old and that slow. LOL Go VOTE!
it takes five hours in florida for the guy in front of you to turn off his left turn signal.
Mittens Romney absolutely does NOT deserve to be the POTUS of America! A video reminder...!
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/secret-video-romney-private-fundraiser
Vote for Barak Obama/Joe Biden on Nov 6, 2012! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
What is sad is that we got a president that feels being re-elected is more important then making sure the recovery is going along quick, and as smooth as possible. ROMNEY/RYAN 2012-2020
Um hello....he is a politician....and like any other pres would be doing anything differently....ha ha ha!!!!
I think people will be smart enough to vote for Romney. Obama's little photo op in N.J. will not be enough to trick most people. They will look at the state of our economy welcome a change.
Let the blame begin!
But it is soo hard to wait until after 8:00 pm west coast time, they want to blame now!
If anything New Jersey and New York voters will make an even more determined voter turnout, more so if they don't see some kind of disaster relief starting to take shape in the next 24 hours. If Obama wanted to throw votes his way all is he'd need to do is send immediate overwhelming federal assistance to these familes. Once they see they are being taken care of by the current administration even those that were planning on voting for Romney might change their vote to Obama..
Why should Obama do anything for NY and NJ? He's already counted their votes. Now, if the storm had destroyed Ohio or Colorado, he might have been inspired to do something besides campagning.
Sorry, but it just takes a few minutes to cast a vote. I can understand the catstrophe that these people face, I live in southern CT and suffered the wrath of Sandy, but there is no excuse. Anyone who fails to cast a vote has no right to criticize who is elected, or the state of the country, and there is alot of that around here. Besides, anyone who excuses themsleves from voting probably would not have voted anyway, regardless of the current situation.
Obviously your house is still standing, you are intact and you have not lost any loved ones to the storm. I shall nominate you for the sensitivigty award of 2012.
Everyone needs to make the effort to vote. As to the comment that Fema didn't act soon enough - a friend on Long Island says they were there Tuesday right after the storm. Maybe they are not giving you enough money to rebuild. My niece was severely affected by Ilene last year and Fema covered about 70% of their loss. Her husband is a contractor so fortunately he provided the labor. This is when people need to work together. Last time we had a problem in my city in Michigan due to an extremely high amount of snow fall over a winter then flooding when the snow melted (and that is not covered under Fema), everyone pitched in to remove the debris so we didn't have that cost to cover. For the gentleman who didn't know about getting to his polling place - what about walking or carpooling? I am spending part of today driving elderly neighbors to vote.
thank u for this post:)
Stay strong East Coast, but note this: the mainstream media is providing no coverage of your plight so they can re-elect Obama. You're on your own, and take solace in knowing that while you suffer, your President is playing basketball in Chicago this morning.
one ~~~~~~~~~~~~ were you dropped on your head as a baby? Here in AZ there is constant non stop coverage of teh plight of those affected. CNN is available everywhere. Oh I get it you are just providing yet another Romney lie?
I think the GOP hero Christie strongly disagrees with you.
Sometimes the bigger minds come through at the neediest moment. Case in point, Justice Roberts with upholding Obamacare, Colin Powell and Bloomberg with their endorsements, and Christie with his rave praise of Obama's support on Sandy's relieve work. They know a real "disaster" (Romney) when they see one.
All i see on Illinois TV are election adds - non stop. All with the nuance of the Cubs bleachers chant .... LF - "Right Field Sucks!". RF - "Left Field Sucks!" Yea Yea Yea.... I get the point. They both suck
"Next time when they say 'evacuate' we're gone."
I guess there WAS a reason that the public safety officials said to leave the low areas. When a hurricane approaches, it makes sense to always assume there will be a 20-foot surge with 10-foot waves on top - at high tide. Then assume it will be two weeks before you will be allowed back, and another two weeks for power, water, and sewer service to be restored to undamaged buildings.
It won't happen everywhere, every time - but it makes sense to get your family to a place on higher ground, where you can live for a month if required.
Too bad most folks think it is like a TV show, and it should all be fixed by the next morning. Right time frame for "reality" to get things up and semi-fixed. VOTE today.
Romney will not win his home state, MA. Ryan will not be able to garner a victory for Romney in his home state, WI. Romney will not win his birth state, MI.(let Detroit go bankrupt).....I wonder what the people of these states know.......oh yea a loser when they see one!!!!
I can only imagine the pain and the deep seeded loss these people must feel. To lose it all to nature is a terrible blow indeed. To the man that said it has taken FEMA to long 'to bite into this'? This incident has provoke a quicker FEMA action than any other disaster. If you don't believe me just check the stats on Katrina and Rita.
For those in New York, Cuomo has opened every single voting place for you. If you are lucky enough to be staying with friends or family you can vote where they go, you will not be turned away. If you had to leave your homes without your ID, they will provide you with a provisionl ballot. YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED!
Frances some peeps are just NEVER satisfied no matter what....FEMA could have shown up on his doorstep with hot coffee and donuts the next morning and he'd still be crying because they didn't bring him tea and crumpets.....WTF!!!!
This is just not right. National officials, should have just changed the date to maybe a month later. The results for NY and NJ, will not be accurate. Too many voters will not be able to vote for obvious reasons. Many people don't even have IDs, because it was lost with their homes! Just like the marathon was postponed, so should the elections have been! These two cities have an enormous amount of citizens and eligible voters and those votes will be lost.
My daughter voted yesterday in NJ for the first time. They did not even ask her for ID. That's not what's stopping people from voting. NJ and NY being blue states, people know their votes for Romney won't change anything, and people for Obama know their votes aren't needed, so why bother when there's much more important work to be done to provide heat and food to their families, and to prepare for the next storm due to hit tomorrow.
I just can't handle another month of this, get it over with!
Sounds good in theory, reality gets in the way though.
20 trillion in debt....here we come...nbdeb59....the ny times made the let Detroit go bankrupt headline....not Romney...I wonder if you we're a gm bond holder who lost everything in violation of law you might have a different opinion
What amazes me the most about the storm in New York and New Jersey is that when Katrina hit, Bush took all kinds of verbal abuse for not having FEMA and the National Guard in New Orleans quick enough.
Seems the same thing is happening with Sandy up North yet not once has anything derogratory been said about Obama's response with FEMA and the National Guard???????????
Here comes 20 trillion in debt...Romney didn't write let Detroit go bankrupt....the paper put that title on it...perhaps if you we're a gm bond holder who lost everything of your savings ...against bankruptcy law you would feel differently nbdeb59...
If those affected by the storm can get somewhere to vote, I believe most will. Two things really bothered me about this article. The first being looters. These buzzards need to be shot on sight. When you stoop so low as to take items from someone who has lost virtually everything, then you are not worth the air it takes to sustain your life. The second is the statement about the next time he is told to evacuate .... well, duh. The houses may not stand a chance, but you and your family does, so why risk it?
I live in New Jersey, and everyone who is saying that Obama does not care what is happening here is straight out WRONG. Our gov'ner, who is NOT an Obama fan has stated in one of his addresses last Tuesday (I believe it was) that the president called him personally. It wasn't a conference call or stunt, and they had a heart to heart about the storm damage and any assistance that would be needed. The gov'ner went on to say the president wanted to be kept up to date especially if FEMA was not doing their part. Obama left a number where he could directly be reached if Christie needed to speak with him.
If Christie had not mentioned that call and conversation; I don't believe it would have been known. And yet that won't be good enough for some people. Although some short-minded people do and will; FACTS cannot be rejected. It is a fact that this was the president's response to what was happening and has happened in New Jersey.
If you honestly believe enough is being done Michelle then good, I will not worry.
Now a president must AT LEAST make a show of checking in in the immediate aftermath of such a tragedy. At a bare minimum a president should 'feel your pain' and see the situation for themselves but, the real test is what is done on the ground. yes a phone call and visit is swell, i guess, I would rather have the rebuilding and utility help. So the nice words are well and good but, have you seen enough assistance insofar as food, fuel, and boots on the ground assistance Michelle?
Appearing presidential is not enough for a sitting president, actions matter more.