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Edison Electric Institute President Tom Kuhn and State Sen. Daniel Squadron on the challenging recovery from Hurricane Sandy.
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Residents and businesses below 34 street in lower Manhattan are facing.
And then it's obstacles in an area that is densely populated with financially viable real estate and without power for more on this Tom Kuhn.
President of Edison Electric Institute from our DC bureau welcome to the show great to have you here Tom.
Let's don't how many people are without power tonight.
-- -- -- we started out with a million people and the northeast from the mid Atlantic and northeast were down due.
Six million right now.
And in New York there's probably had the nerd who hold New York area is probably around that two man.
So it's a daunting challenges the biggest storm we've ever had and and speak and Johnson the great American story of people helping each other we brought in gruesome.
All over the country from California and everywhere across the country to come and help us get this.
You know we've talked a little bit about that last night some 53000 people coming in to assist with with with helping get the lights back on which is so critical.
We were just talking about lower Manhattan.
We've heard -- in the mayor said.
That lower Manhattan might get lights on as early as Saturday is is that it -- going to be able to make good on that.
While we're we're doing our best we can't put at any time France right now because it's.
Such a complicated job this is this is we've had everything hit us here the they the wind an extensive amount of rain surge in.
Floods so you basically hadn't hit it by everything but the locust I think.
Basically.
We the water is a major problem in lower Manhattan we've got to get that water pumped out of the underground systems.
We just got off a phone call was secretary Chu and people from the White House than and there are come -- to help but we have a we have a major major job.
To get into that underground equipment to.
Kind of clean it up to a drive up -- to to get -- back up so it's hard to make any actions right now but it's an expensive didn't sound.
Coming weeks I -- that sounds like weeks and weeks.
Well it did -- it could be a long time and we're trying to do everything we can to make it faster.
Our again on that you don't the other job as the overhead -- that there are outside the city and -- -- his job as well.
That's what's -- in my neighborhood.
I want to bring in now Daniel squadron he is a democratic New York State senator.
And his district lower Manhattan Carroll gardens Brooklyn he's joining me now by phone.
-- is so much for being with us tonight really appreciate your help.
Dana let's start with the state of play in in your district what are your constituents telling you.
Can -- get groceries -- that you know I know they don't have lights.
How are basic services.
Well what -- -- experience being.
Are coming in Q you know 48 hours.
For -- hundreds -- -- -- people about our large spots.
-- -- Our market goes you know large -- -- rise buildings senior buildings public housing building.
You know -- of this kind of long.
Black out our -- situation that -- you don't just all the expediency -- -- hot water electricity or water itself.
And accepts or any other added that it out of multiple population so sort of -- and there.
And doing their best but you know it's.
Serious -- Are people angry.
I'll let people of Russia great again and -- -- audited communication.
Are as -- a huge issue is that you don't have power -- you can't expect communications.
Are you a bit different issue which both Spain what -- Operative they weren't able easy and it's a great reporting -- -- break your arm -- special.
Yeah out I think you make a really good point that and some ways it's different here in New York Manhattan Brooklyn and the southern tip the New York.
Mr.
silly people concentrated here.
And and people are on top of each other if the services aren't there it's even more difficult.
Tell -- getting you spotty service frequent -- calls.
Is it is our other service problems hindering what you're doing.
Well I I again.
In the US electric system as the most through reliable electric system in the world but when you get a storm.
-- millennium.
That has never been seen before that knocks out power to over a million people -- and then brings in water and -- and everything else.
It's a very very difficult tough tough job and it does relate rely on that a lot of different people working together we're working obviously in New York with the mayor and the governor and others to bring in every resource we can to get water pumped out.
So we can get on with the job of trying to restore electricity but it's it's a huge job and I understand people's frustration everybody depends upon electricity.
It affects every part of our lives and we understand how important it is for.
Customers to have it.
-- Indian anger frustration goes beyond that you know we're sitting here we're looking at pictures of houses that are burning.
Some situations maybe not in your district that art Dyer really and truly dire.
You know.
Charity auction we're not used to -- this kind of thing this happens elsewhere this is a new experience for us.
A lot of this going on -- downtown near the New York Stock Exchange right at the crossroads.
Of capitalism really.
How are you coping.
And and do you think that -- New Yorkers are gonna hold up here.
Well certainly New Yorkers the -- We have a look at Norman actually held up -- expect stronger than ever after.
An unprecedented attack on our nation and we're gonna come back this do look at as someone who.
Represented as a big part of the community you to watch the waters body at the Brooklyn battery at all or.
-- -- been.
Going to consider residential building Blogspot dot -- It is -- and air.
And there's no question about that but it -- New York we know how to handle it and we stick together people have been its board narrowly supportive of each other -- the popular vote.
There at the eleventh -- -- in the that you carry water up and now say the one after government felt the wrath of 87 year old neighbor who has diabetes.
And what to do about.
That's -- -- was some at all.
And that's commendable -- people really are pulling together New Yorkers will make it through this.
I think it's more than we ever expected though Daniel and Tom thanks for coming on tonight thanks for the information for the inside.
We really appreciate your time my blood.
