At about noon yesterday, Mike and I were going a bit stir crazy having been hunkering in our tiny (yet resilient!) apartment for close to 48 hours. We put on our rain jackets and boots, then ventured outdoors to assess the damage in our neighborhood. We were not alone: throngs of people were walking the sidewalks, squinting at just a hint of sunshine peeking through the rain clouds.
The Upper East Side of Manhattan fared incredibly well - somehow the raging winds spared almost every tree and our block did not experience any flooding. We slowly walked east, towards the FDR and East River, which we knew was underwater the day before. It was eerie to see this thoroughfare completely empty, except for the occasional police vehicle that appeared to discourage people from hopping into the middle of the street to take photos.
We know how lucky we are to have power and no damage. Most people we know in other neighborhoods have no power. Our subways and trains remain at a standstill. Residents of Hoboken are trying to evacuate, as their food and water supplies are dwindling. But I woke this morning to the loud sound of sirens and honking cars, a sure sign that our city is beginning the long road to recovery.