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Friday, November 2, 2012

Hurricane Sandy: People Dumpster Diving In NY‏



Dear Ferfal,
 People are dumpster diving in NY already - after only four days without
power.  You can watch the video here:


 I cannot say I am surprised, however.  I think most people in that city
are simply accustomed to convenience at their fingertips.  On top of that,
many living quarters are cramped, so I doubt many people even consider
having a few extra cans in the cupboard.  And, if I may add, my experience
is that New Yorkers are very arrogant and very naive.  They believe that
their "lifestyle" or whatever is the most important thing in the world.
But what if the structure holding up their lifestyle were to fail?  The
thought does not cross their minds.
Best,
Curtis
Hi Curtis,
Yes, not much of a big surprise. Its sad that three days later people are already dumpster diving. I’m sure many of those people have already been dumpster diving for some time given the crisis.
There’s also reports of looting in NY and NJ, no surprise there either. What are people looting? Anything from diapers to food, but as always liquor and big screen TV are among the favorite picks. A “Looters will be shot” sign generally fixes the problem, especially with someone around willing to make that promise good, but its hard to do that in anti-gun places like NY. Looters and people behaving like animals, that ok, but God forbid people having a scary gun.
When I wrote down a few tips for getting ready for Sandy I recommended having 7 days worth of food and water. For a disaster of this type I think its more realistic than just 3 days as recommended by several authorities. Of course from an economic collapse and other long term disaster perspective, food supplies are measured in months, not days, but I always assume there´s new readers around, maybe some looking for information on the event of the moment such as Sandy.
FerFAL

7 comments:

Greek Caste System said...

One thing is a socio-economic collapse (this site is mainly for this) and another thing is a natural disaster. The second kind of diasaster is more abrupt (it can take place in few days for a hurricane or minutes for an earthquake)
A socieconomic collapse takes place in 1-20 years but it is more dreadful concerning the demoralization of the people, the injustice and hate that accompanies it and a sense that there is no future.

Blog Author said...

There is nothing shameful in dumpster diving. Why just last night I found 4 nice 10 ft cedar boards in a dumpster, right on top, and took them home so I can either line my closet, make a closet door and/or make a little chest out of them.

I've found wool blankets, new cast iron skillets, oriental rugs, plant pots, a bo staff, a working TV, nice wood furniture, and perfectly good silk shirts in the trash. My whole house practically is outfitted with other people's castoffs, including the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and countertops, and the bathroom sink.

I would never want to live so hand to mouth as to need the dumpster for food - been keeping at least a couple extra months of beans and rice in the house for years. (not the same old food! Eat and replace it!)

I was told it is a voodoo tradition to keep an extra measure of cornmeal and beans etc. in the back of the cupboard - I imagine it's for such emergencies even if they say it's for the loa. God provides for those who are willing to provide for themselves.

FerFAL said...

Hi Penny Pincher. Yes, I know there's sometimes great finds, I meant dumpster diving for food.
FerFAL

Anonymous said...

Senor Fiesta here;

If the dumpster divers weren't dumpster divers before the storm hit, then they are boneheads for having to dumpster dive now.

I mean, COME ON PEOPLE, you knew the storm was coming for you AT LEAST two days in advance.

You are going on day four. Even the worst hit/neglected areas should see some aid within the next 48 hours. If you can't hold tight for one week without water or power, then you are your own biggest enemy. It's not that hard (or crazy) to have what you need to make it for one week on hand. It doesn't take up much space either (half a coat closet at most) and whatever space it does take up, it's space well used.

Don Williams said...

1) If you look at the homicide rate, parts of New York City are not as "anti-gun" as the media would lead you to believe. heh heh Something to remember if you travel there.

2) From today's news:
"New York City authorities say a motorist was arrested after he tried to cut in line at a gas station in Queens early Thursday and pointed a pistol at another motorist who complained. ...
...Drivers in parts of New York and New Jersey lined up Thursday for hours at gas stations that were struggling to stay supplied. The power outages and flooding caused by Superstorm Sandy have forced many gas stations to close and disrupted the flow of fuel from refineries to those stations that are open.


On Thursday, New Jersey State Police deployed troopers at all gas stations located on the rest stops of two major highways, CBS New York station WCBS-TV reports."

Ref: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544187/new-yorker-sean-bailey-accused-of-pulling-gun-in-gas-line/

Karla said...

My cousin, who lives in Lower Manhattan (one of the worst hit areas), tweeted her hurricane supplies before the storm: one 12 oz. bottle of water, a few packs of ramen noodles, and a box of crackers. I wanted to throttle her through my computer. You were given five days of increasingly dire warnings to prepare for power outages and THIS is what you buy? WTF? It breaks my head.

Anonymous said...

These reports are all exaggerated. Many of the looting reports were GNAA troll-fodder and the media gravitates to the most insane blowhard they can find. If anything, during this disaster I learned that the media does not depict a realistic depiction of reality.