After the Storms: Local Stories of Frustration, Loss and Recovery

Mom With Two Kids On Ventilators Blasts LIPA

There is no fear more terrifying for a mother than the thought of her children being in a medical crisis - and without power.

For St. James resident Lori Burke, who has two children, Mary Ellen, 25, and Kevin, 24, both with micro syndrome, a rare genetic disorder and neuromuscular disease that requires that they be on ventilators at all times, that nightmare became reality after Hurricane Sandy.

Chase Bank Manager Vows Main Street Branch Will Return

Of the many businesses on Port Jeff's Main Street still cleaning up from the storm, Chase Bank is one of them, but branch manager Meredith Festa says they will be coming back soon.

“The Chase branch in the village has extensive flood damage,” Festa told Patch by email. "They are repairing everything, and will be reopened as soon as possible."

Locals Seeing Shorter Lines First Morning of Odd-Even Rationing

Lines for gas appeared noticeably shorter in Smithtown Friday morning as the first day of temporary mandatory gas rationing went into effect.

A drive along 25A from St. James into Kings Park showed lines with no more than 6-8 cars and wait times at 10 minutes or less. Customers were happy with the change, but station owners said it was a little too late.

What Sandy Taught Me

I type this from the warmth and relative luxury of my Kings Park brother-in-law’s powered house. My home is still out of power, like the seemingly-forever-stuck-on-just-under-5,000 other Commack homes.

Having no power -- and feeling like a first-world refugee -- for a week and counting has made me do something I don’t like to do: think about things. 

Man Killed Trimming Trees Behind Hauppauge Diner

A man was killed while trimming trees behind a Hauppauge diner on Tuesday morning. 

Nicholas Lourikas, 66, of Centereach, was killed when a tree branch struck him on the head behind the Hauppauge Palace Diner on Route 347 in Hauppauge. 

What Sandy Taught Me

I type this from the warmth and relative luxury of my Kings Park brother-in-law’s powered house. My home is still out of power, like the seemingly-forever-stuck-on-just-under-5,000 other Commack homes.

Having no power -- and feeling like a first-world refugee -- for a week and counting has made me do something I don’t like to do: think about things. 

In an effort to provide a warm place for out-of-state power restoration crews brought in to help the Long Island Power Authority with the Hurricane Sandy restoration effort, the Hampton Bays Fire Department has opened their doors.

Looking Forward: The Power of the People of the East End 

Slowly and with some pain we are all getting back to our pre-Sandy routines, as we take aim at Thanksgiving and the bigger holiday season beyond.

Our wallets and savings have taken an immediate hit whether it was for items like generators, heaters, or repair costs not covered by insurance. Some of our neighbors still are suffering the inconvenience of still being without power, water, heat, gas, Internet, cable and telephone coverage