STATEN ISLAND UPDATE

Hi GG1GUYY Ben lives close to me in Staten Island, he is ok.

Alex

Wow, Staten Island is really in bad condition. I feel really sorry for you people there. Well, atleast Bloomberg canceled the Marathon. He did something right.

Keeping the train focus.  Since Alex and Ben are OK, How's the SIRT, any damage?  Is it running?

Lionel Bill,

It just started running again as of 5pm tonight, They were testing the tracks all day today. I caught a picture of a diesel going by checking out the tracks.SIRT is 75 feet behind my house

There might be many, many reasons why someone in the effected Sandy area might be off line now. In this era of wretched verbal excess, sufficed it to say: this storm took out 1826 records. We ourselves just got our power back but 5 hrs ago. Here's hoping that all our friends in the area had an angel watching over & have fared as well as us.

Ben posted some pretty impressive pics on FaceBook yesterday. He seems to be ok, put his neighborhood has an infestation of boats laying around on their lawns

Called Ben left message, ... John, glad to see you're in FLA. No power in my neighborhood, gas lines like the 70's!

SAM

Hi guys Got power and internet back last night.  That really isn't my neighborhood Chris   I went to help a friend clean up after his house got demolished   South side of Staten Island is demolished  My area had a million trees down but that is trivial compared to what some are going through  My son-in-laws food store donated thousands worth of food to families that were displaced   My grandchildren got a new outlook on life when they help deliver the food to a shelter where 400 homeless family members were. 

That is a real shame, glad Ben and John are ok.

Here are some train pics   The benchwall this guy is standing on is 4 feet high.  This is in the Cranberry street tunnel

 This train is loaded with pump equipment going to the tunnel

 Same spot two days later

This is a special pump car  The MTA has three of these in the inventory

Ben WOW Just hard to look at all the damage. Hang in their it will be a while before things turn the corner. We are all thinking about you guys and your fam's. Good thoughts and prayers for all the there in NY & NJ

What about the rest of the NJ HighRailers: http://www.njhirailers.com/club_members_members.html ? How about Principal Sponsors Bernie, Marty & Family?

For that matter what about the http://www.metca.org/ crew and other clubs in the region?

It would be really nice if the title of this thread be changed to something other than "STATEN ISLAND" and a concern for more than simply one single individual  (likeable as he is).

NJ Transit damage . . . from Jack Bartman

http://www.flickr.com/photos/n...s/72157631895879101/

That is absolutely correct.  Those living in the affected area--and it is a very large area encompassing several states and many miles--have far more important matters to attend to than posting to a toy train forum.  I'm confident that, as time permits, we'll receive reports from these folks and/or their friends.  Give them time, and plenty of it, to get their lives back together.

All of us in the OGR family extend our thoughts, prayers, and best wishes to all those affected by this deadly and disastrous storm.

I never met him but am greatful for his service and saddened by his death in this storm. Service is today. http://blog.ctnews.com/sandy/2...-of-duty-identified/ 

The NJ Hi-Railer family faired well and only had to deal with downed trees ( That did not do serious damage) and power outages.  Bernie is still without power as is Marty.  I am sure the original poster was not only concerned with one person.

 Of all the forum members I know on Staten Island the one that lost the most is Greg Orlando who frequents the subway section here and lives in South Beach. The water destroyed the first two floors of his house  He lost all his trains, heating systems, a/c systems, pool, deck and most clothes.    His 8x14 layout was lifted and pinned to the basement ceiling and eventually was submersed.  When I asked if he needs anything he said all he needed was garbage bags to throw stuff out.  Feel bad for him.

NJ Transit has a few pics here

http://www.njtransit.com/var/v...ion=HurricaneSandyTo

We may want to consider starting a holiday season fundraising effort on behalf of Greg.  If a coordinator will step forward and if a good number of more fortunate forum participants kick in with monetary contributions, it may help to brighten the holiday season for Greg and his family, and even get him started on a new layout.

Of course, as we learn more, it may be that other of or members have also suffered significantly, so it may be premature to focus too closely, aside from giving the idea some serious thought.

Alan please slow it down a tad, no one knows the extent of damages & losses yet and who we know that may be severely impacted. There are many reasons to believe the situation may be far worse than is being reported in the pre-election, financial markets sensitive, mainstream pop media ...

Has any heard from Mike ( hotpressmugs) he also lives on Staten Island. I do hope that he and his family are ok.

Hi Ralph, I called him this morning and there was no answer. I'll let you know if he calls me.

Thanks, Alex

Please be careful about tree's and falling limbs!

In both TX and here in VA where I lived, we had more deaths caused by fallen trees and limbs than anything else (Inland).

Last year during Irene, we had houses and cars crushed, some folks were injured.

Thanks Alex. I thought about calling him, but with all thats going on I am sure he is busy.  If you do here from him tell him Ralph and Laura from Michigan said hi and that we are thinking about him and his family and hope everyone is safe.

Ralph

I think it would be better to collect for an organization that is supplying food and shelter to many than to any one specific individual. I would believe anyone who suffered a loss in this tragedy would rather see their neighbors clothed than their toys replaced

MY WIFE AND I ARE GOING OUT AROUND THE STATEN ISLAND NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEE IF WE CAN HELP. WE WILL ALSO DONATE FOOD GLOVES CLOTHS AND TOYS TO THOSE IN NEED. I WILL REPORT BACK LATER AND GIVE ALL OF YOU UPDATES.

ALEX

Alex...I am on the board of directors for our regional Salvation Army.  We have sent teams into your area and are trying to help.  Folks, if there is anything that you can do to help our brothers and sisters in any of the stricken areas, please do so....they need us!!

Alan

Hi thanks ALEX, I feel really bad for the folks on STATEN ISLAND.

Will be glad to donate to a relief fund.

GG1GUYY

SAL GAMBINO LCCA

HI EVERYONE, I JUST CAME BACK FROM THE TOWN RIGHT NEXT TO US WHICH IS ABOUT A MILE AWAY TOWARDS THE WATER. WHEN WE PULLED UP WITH THE CAR, THE ONLY THING MY WIFE AND I DID WAS START TO CRY. WE HAVE 3 FAMILY'S OF FRIENDS THAT PRETTY MUCH LOST EVERYTHING. PICTURES DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY, ITS TOTAL DESTRUCTION, THE OCEAN CAME IN AS HIGH AS A STORY AND A HALF AND JUST TOOK ANYTHING IN ITS PATH AND WIPED IT OUT. WE STOPPED IN AT A GOOD FRIENDS HOUSE WHATS LEFT OF IT, AND THEY ARE JUST IN A STATE OF SHOCK, THEY WERE USING PART OF THE HOUSE TO HELP SOME HURT WORKERS. MY WIFE AND I BROUGHT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE COULD TO THEM. I MUST SAY STATEN ISLAND RESIDENCE ARE TOTALLY AWESOME FOOD CLOTHS WATER HOT MEALS JUST KEEP POURING IN TO HELP. WE ACTUALLY SAW SOME HOME JUST FLOATING IN THE OCEAN. THERE'S HUGH BULLDOZERS

AND DUMP TRUCKS JUST HAULING EVERYTHING AWAY. WHAT REALLY GETS TO YOU IS SEEING KIDS TOYS ALL OVER THE STREET AND PEOPLE BELONGINGS JUST SCATTERED EVERYWHERE. TO TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO BE THERE.

HERE'S SOME PHOTOS, IF YOU SEE CEMENT ON THE FLOOR THAT'S WHERE A HOUSE USED TO BE.PHOTOS TAKEN FROM WHATS LEFT OF OUR FRIENDS HOUSE WE WHERE STANDING ON THERE FRONT AND BACK PORCH

LETS JUST SAY A PRAY FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE, BECAUSE ANOTHER STORM IS COMING IN. LORD PLEASE HELP THEM.

ALEX & DINA

Allan, great idea. Wonder if we can start a Pay-Pal account somehow. Don

Guys this post has been updated with photos.

GG1GUYY 

As always Allan you are think in the right direction. I do like what Alex is doing and Don's Paypal idea may be the way to go because it ties into Chris's point about directing donations to a proven organization.

All that is well and good but, Greg is part of the OGR group and I would like to help him in some way.

In short I paln on making a donation to support our neighbors in Staten Island and do not mind giving to Greg at all. But, if Ben could let us know that shelters name and address our monies may better serve peoples needs.

Like I said, I don't mind giving to Greg at all, but money may not be what he needs right now. He may have all the insurance in the world, from what I read and hear food, water and fuel may better serve his short term needs.

So I guess what I'm saying is that we have to depend on our members in the effected area to let us know where the funds are needed and what we can do to help.

Oh yea Ben, it is good that you are OK.

God Bless to all!

Hello Everyone, for those of you that have been asking  how you can help the victims in my neighborhood who suffered tremendous loss from Hurricane Sandy, my wife and I are collecting and distributing gift cards directly to the victims.  We are friends with many of them and have been helping out in the neighborhood.  If anyone is interested in contributing, email me and I will give you my address.  We want the donations to get directly to the people who need it as quickly as possible.  As you can see from the pictures I posted, they need help desperately.  Those photos were taken today, after 3 full days of clean up and it still looks like this. 

I will also deliver donations to Greg Orlando if anyone wants me to.  I am sure Ben can get an address for him and I will personally deliver them.

Thanks to all very much for your support

Alex & Dina

A little out of date but on Sunday I went driving around and I came upon this sight.  168ft tanker beached on Staten Island

Also.  Item for Sale for Ben & Alex's Sandy relief fund.

https://ogrforum.com/c...dProcessOid/90503015