Chapter 26 - PRESIDENT OBAMA - "THE BEST IS YET TO COME"

On November 15, 2012 President Obama landed in a helicopter at old Miller Field, New Dorp section of Staten Island to see devastation created by Sandy 's wrath and before meeting with those that have lost so much......

CHAPTER 26 ~ Part 1

Memory Lane --October 30, 2012

"Belly Button Hurricane/Storm" Named "SANDY"

*************************************************

Mean while back at the Ranch..........

From: Nick

To: Unknown receipients

Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2012 9:21 AM

Subject: Sandy - Sometimes referred to as the "Belly Button storm"

Hi guys ....I have been contacted by many family and friends concerning the recent devastation caused to Staten Island which has prompted me to put together a new (small) Chapter in my Life Story.......Below are some of the happenings as they were occurring during this Hurricane/Storm including several SI videos for viewing......Hope all went well for you guys....Liz and I are both OK ....Nick......11/4/2012

Nick said......We just noticed we have an active live tree branch hanging outside on our TV/Internet cable line......Should it get worse we may lose our communication via these devises....We still have our electricity, phone and water and the basement is still dry.....Rain has not been bad but wind is getting tough......Our basement sump-pump is ready and able, should it be needed......At least another 24 hours to go with this "Belly Button" Hurricane.......Got my fingers crossed and stay safe guys.......From Staten Island, NY........Nick and Liz ....October 29, 2012

You, Eric, Debra and Donna Marie like this.

Nick Said ......Just lost my computer connection from this windy Hurricane while I was typing this message.....Have to start over again as back room computer has been bought back on.....As I was saying, "winds are becoming increasingly stronger.....My concerns at the moment are the shaking and bending of the tree outside the window of our computer room....It has never before been under the severe pressure as this Hurricane has created for it...Two years ago we lost our 45 year old tree in the front of our house to another storm.....That tree fell onto the electrical lines up front and was bought down by some folks from North Carolina that the city hired for that storm...Just hate to lose another tree ...Stay strong my friends, as we while away the next 21 or so hours to go......Nick Monday 4:30 PM October 29 · Edited · like · 1

Angela said..... I was wondering how S.I. was doing, be safe, love u both October 30 at 8:17am · like · 1

Debra said.......hope you are safe. I havent been able to get in touch with my folks hoping you are all well xoxoxo October 30 at 8:50am · like · 1

Angela said..... I know Donna lives in NJ hope everything is fine with her. October 30 at 11:21am · like · 1

Nick said ......As of a few moments ago we got our lights and electric power back on.....At the moment furnance heat feels pretty good again.....Oh bye the way, Anyone interested in buying a grand old Tanker Ship that landed on the Staten Island shores.......We lost our big old tree by our computer back room window......Other wise all slowly getting back to normal......We had a bout with the devil these past few days........This "Belly Button" Hurricane is done for......As Charlie Sheen would say, "We're Winning"....... 5 minutes ago · Like Wednesday 6:09pm Nov. 7th · Edited · Unlike · 1

Nick said.....Hey Debra.......Hope you have been able to get in touch with your folks...Do they still live on Staten Island...?......I have not seen or bumped into them for many a year now......Last time I met your mom was in Pathmark and that was just after the Paduto's sold their house.....That must put it around 10 years ago......Funny thing as the saying goes, "A lot of water went under the bridge in that time period"......Hope all is well with you and your folks........Liz and I came out of this Hurricane OK except we lost another tree and our driveway path has been torn up from "Belly Button Sandy", but a many of places have done and felt a lot worst from her wrath as we all know by now.........Our Neighbor had to abandon her home from our dangerously precautious tree hanging just inches from her roof top......We bought our neighbor (during the middle of this "Sandy Thing" ) into our home......

We have been in touch with Donna and they are all hanging in there......Understand they too have lost many trees on their property..........Dina's keywest job has been put on hold as her Staten Island Home Office on Midland Beach was wiped out during the storm......I recently found out that the water in this office was up to the ceiling inside the building......Stay well..... Thursday at 2:53pm · Edited · Like Nov 8th · Edited · Like

Nick Said.......Last I heard Dina's Midland Beach Home Office will find another place to keep the fires burning.....(Jobs, jobs, jobs) Thursday at 2:56pm Nov 8th· Like

Nick said...... Got someone to take down our leaning 35 foot tree in our backyard driveway by this Sunday.......Hope they show up as should it rain I don't know if it will hold up as the ground gets softer when its wet......And the tree may just have a mind of its own and decide to come down on its own, causing extensive damage to my neighbors home and break our electrically power line......One other thing I have learned that some homeowners policies have a large deductible for severe Hurricanes such as my policy does but according to Governor Cuomo he is trying to over rule this Hurricane to becoming a Storm which will or may remove this large policy deductible causing the Insurance Company to chip in some or more funds to/for homeowners losses ......Wish me luck....... Yesterday at 2:36am · Edited · Like

Nick said......Tree Has been removed Sunday evening Nov 4th, so as danger to its falling down has been deminished to a point that my neighbor was able to SAFEFULLY move back into her home....Complete tree removal has been completed by Monday, Nov 5th.....Thank God....11/6/2012

Nick said....Starting this Tuesday on November 13th, Mayor Bloomberg will institude a new program called "Rapid Repair" where NYC home inspectors along with contractors from other states will do a block to block search in Staten Island and do repairs to homes so people will be able to move back into their homes rather than stay in shelters......Sunday November 11, 2012....3:10 AM

Last report on Hurricane Sandy's Staten Island Death rate is now 23 people......November 11, 2012

I have gone to Home Depot to buy a Saws-all saw, cement and other material and have cut out the roots to the tree that fell and destroyed my walkway and fence......I have also relaid my brick walkway that was destroyed by the storm......I have taken pictures of all damage before and after photos.....My next challenge is to put the fence back together....Slowly but surely this project will be completed.....Could not wait around for the Insurance Company and FEMA to come around and view the damage.....Hope the pictures I took will be suitable for their inspection......Also got to look good for tomorrows visit to Staten Island by President Obama....One never knows, he just may decide to stop on this street too....

...Nick.....Wednesday November 14, 2012

P.S. One final notation to this story that I neglected to mention was that when I originally built the brick walkway that leads into my back yard and past the tree that 'Sandy' destroyed, I had used wire coat hangers under the walk way that I built back in the late '60s in order to make a more sturdy cement/brick walk way...Now "Back to the Future" I found that when I was rebuilding this walk way it was these hangers that kept the tree roots from allowing the 35 foot tree to topple over into my neighbors home some 50 years later...Thank GOD for these hangers...I guess Joan Crawford does not realize just how important "Wire Hangers " can really be...?

...Nick.....Wednesday March 25, 2015