America suffered a bout of internally displaced people after Hurricane Katrina hammered New Orleans and many thousands were forced to leave the city to take refuge in FEMA trailer camps.
Now the states of New Jersey and New York are faced with internal displacement challenges in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. It's estimated that 30,000 to 40,000 residents of New York City have lost their residences and need to be relocated. Even as the flood waters recede, a cold snap has set in to torment the homeless and create another nightmare for city and state officials.
"Temperatures throughout the region fell early Sunday into the 30s, and
the National Weather Service issued a freeze watch on Sunday for parts
of New Jersey, including the coast, where many residents remained
without heat. Officials have urged them to head to shelters.
"Mr. Bloomberg called the cold the “most pressing” challenge in the
recovery. The city has opened heating shelters and is passing out
blankets to New Yorkers without electricity.
“'You can die from being cold,” Mr. Bloomberg said Sunday. “You can die
from fires started from candles or stoves. Please go to the local
disaster site. If you don’t know where to go, stop a cop on the side of
the road and ask.”
"Adding to the concerns, forecasters now say that a northeaster could
move in by midweek, hitting the already battered coastal areas with
heavy winds and strong waves. Freezing temperatures are also expected.
"As of Sunday, more than 700,000 remained without power in New York State, including 404,000 on Long Island and 154,000 in New York City."
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