Carroll Gardens After Hurricane Sandy

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 Oh, no! Not the harlequin lamp on Carroll Street...
These photos of Carroll Gardens in the aftermath of hurricane Sandy were taken by my daughter Celina Kelly today. Hard to believe the destruction.
It certainly is the worst storm the City has ever seen.
Hope you are all fine and that you are getting power back.

Just received the photo below of an up-ended tree on 4th Place taken by Mike Carnahan.  That's an amazing photo. Thanks, Mike.

Jill Zuccardy sent in the two pictures of trees downed in Carroll Park. Is that a bouquet of flowers
 in honor of the fallen tree?
And here are a few my  friend Mary P.  sent over.  Can't thank you enough, Mary!

  

Disgusting Sight On 2nd Place: Raw Sewage Flowing Onto Sidewalk

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Just got these rather discussing photos from a reader who reports: "Massive amounts of raw sewage being dumped onto the street from the building on the corner of Smith and 2nd Place. Kids and parents are walking through it. Totally disgusting. And a mystery."
Pretty horrific, for sure.
Usually, we see sewage being dumped into the Gowanus Canal. But on 2nd Place?

Another eyewitness reports that the sewage seems to be coming out of the big garage door at 360 Smith Street, the brand new rental building.
I wonder if this little sewer problem is related to Hurricane Sandy, or just your run-of-the-mill plumbing problem.

If that is not enough of a yuck factor, CORD has some additional photos here.

A Bit Of Normalcy: Carroll Gardens Greenmarket Returns This Sunday

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A bit of normalcy will return to Carroll Gardens this Sunday with the return of the  Greenmarket.The hours will be as usual, but there will be NO food scrap collection.Below is a notice from GROW NYC:As residents around the city work together to recover from Hurricane Sandy, regional farmers are happy to return to neighborhood Greenmarkets, bringing with them a bountiful supply of fresh food! Whether you're re-stocking your own refrigerator, or cooking food for a fellow New Yorker in need, we look forward to seeing the community out in force at markets through the weekend.

For further post-Sandy updates on all Greenmarkets around the city, click here.

Hurricane Sandy's Aftermath: Gowanus Business Owners Concerned About Toxic Sludge Left Behind After Canal Flood Waters Receded

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(credit: google maps)
Due to their location on the banks of the Gownus Canal several businesses, most of them film production companies, have endured severe flooding during Hurricane Sandy.   Though the three and a half feet of water have now receded from the Douglas Street block were they are housed, the owners of Canal Creatures, CW Films, Eastern Effects, Camera Farm, Scrap Paper Productions, Alex Sullivan Audio, Papa, and PMC Digital are very concerned about the toxic compounds and raw sewage that were mixed in the water and are now coating everything.  Since the Gowanus Canal was declared a Superfund site by the Unites States Environmental Protection Agency, these concerns are understandable.
Here is a link to a video showing the damage and sludge left behind after the storm.
Kevin Howard, Production Manager and Co-owner of Canal Creatures Production writes:

"It is a horror show, with smells that we have never encountered before, even after years of living and working along the banks of the canal. NO ONE understands what the long-term effects will be of a SuperFund site having been stirred up and spread all over the Gowanus neighborhood. The many contaminants of this site have been resuspended in the flood water and are now in everything that has been soaked by the flood!

 Mark Bracamonte, Production Creature at Canal Creatures described the situation facing these businesses:

Our building has been sealed shut, and multiple film production business have been displaced and are now out of business. The EPA came down, only after many harassing calls from us. They came and took samples saying they would have results in 8 hours. That was 3 days ago. We still have no word.
There is ZERO neighborhood awareness about the potential health risks the area is facing. People are digging through contaminated trash, and debris with NO GLOVES and proper gear. IT IS SHOCKING THAT THE C TOWN GROCERY SUPERMARKET ON BOND AND DOUGLASS IS OPEN AND SELLING FOOD when we know they had the same toxic flood water as we did."

Some of the businesses have fund temporary quarters at Film Biz Recycling, the Gowanus recycling/prop rental center, where they "will figure out [their] strategy for dealing with this immediate situation."
They have also shared their neighborhood story online on a Tumblr blog here: canalcreatures.tumblr.com

In an interview on the blog, Chris Hayes, principal partner at Eastern Effects states:

"We had a devastating flood like everyone else in the community. We have gotten no help from any government agency as of yet. No information that has been coherent as to what steps we should take, no one is telling us if the area is safe to inhabit, what we are being exposed to. No one has any answers. You kind of get the run around when we call anybody, I kind of feel like we have been left for dead out here, I mean, I have millions of dollars in inventory that’s sitting rotting now because we cant figure out what to do about it, if I’m even supposed to be in the building or not. There’s little snippets of information that are conflicting, so I feel like it’s every man for himself around here in this area. ….We built our business in this area, built up the community, and every one has abandoned us. It’s heart breaking, there’s no words that can express my sorrow that has happened to me and my partners here. It’s just a bad situation."

In the meantime, Councilman Brad Lander released this statement:

"Many of you have contacted me with concerns about the Gowanus Canal, a highly polluted waterway, which flooded neighboring streets. I have communicated with EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck and NYC Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland. Thanks to both of them for making the time, and communicating quickly (with each other, and with me) about our concerns at the canal.If you live near the canal, do not touch standing water in the area, or any sediment or debris left by Gowanus flood-waters."

At a press conference after Hurricane Sandy, Mayor Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor for Operations Cas Holloway seemed flippant about the dangers associated with the health risks from Gowanus flood waters. When asked about the health risks related to the toxic water, Cas Holloway, who is more familiar to the Gowanus community as the former head of NYC's Department Of Environmental Protection (DEP) and, along with Mayor Bloomberg, a vocal opponent of the Superfund designation for the canal stated: "We’ll make sure that–we don’t think there’s any immediate danger to anybody and we don’t think there’s any issue.”
However, I just received an email from David Green, a science teacher, who raises the alarm on the dangers associated with the toxins. He writes:

"I am a science teacher with a background in Chemistry and Physics living in Brooklyn Heights.I saw your post on the flooding from the Gowanus canal.
The situation you describe is quite serious concerning the toxicological hazard from that particular flood. All the flooding in NY produced some hazard because of the sewage mixed with the flood water (particularly bad in red hook), but the Gowanus waters are leaden with Lead and Mercury, and dangerous volatiles too.
Sewage can be cleaned and sterilized with detergent and chlorine bleach, but if toxic water and sludge gets into a basement (or first floor) there is no way to clean it out completely. Wooden floors and even concrete absorb it and leave residues that cannot be removed.

Note: In areas that have been contaminated with lead and mercury compounds Chlorine bleach (such as Chlorox) could have the unintended consequence of turning non soluble compounds into more soluble ones making exposure risks greater, so bleach should not be used in Gowanus flooded areas.

The long term dangers of these toxins are so great that I would recommend to all people who lived in a dwelling that got flooded by the Gowanus (basements and first floor apartments that got filled with this water), to notmove back in to their apartments.
This is even more the case for people who have children. The younger the child the more damage is done by heavy metal poisoning, and the damage is essentially permanent. This damage can take years to accumulate in the nervous system but once done cannot be remedied. It does not take much to cause damage- the amount a child ingests by putting their hands in their mouth is more than enough. Some of these chemicals produce continuous vapors which makes it impossible to avoid exposure.

I would strongly advise people with children especially babies and toddlers to not move back in, until the apartment is cleaned and then tested for these chemicals. If levels are above those set for safe exposure they should find someplace else to live.
I know that this could cause utter disruption of peoples lives, but disruption of living plans is better than permanent neurological damage."

This is probably the best advice. The Gowanus Canal is a toxic brew on a good day. Hurricane Sandy's flood waters certainly deposited hazardous substances and sewage in businesses and homes on the banks of the Gowanus. I am frankly surprised that we don't have people in Hazmat suits controlling the situation.
   

Comment Of The Day: Still Under Mandatory Evacuation

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Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "Gowanus Housing Gets Some Much Needed Help After Sandy":

The Zone A Gowanus building I live in is still under mandatory evacuation. And it will take some doing to get energy back to it. Basement is still flooded, and Con Ed will not restore energy until it is drained and dry. Boiler was submerged, so who knows what it will take to get it going again.

South Brooklyn Running Club Fundraising For Red Hook

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(credit: Red Hook Initiative)(credit: South Brooklyn Running Club)
The South Brooklyn Running Club is planning a fund raiser tomorrow, Sunday, November 4th. Join them at 9 AM at 61 Local (on Bergen between Smith and Court)  for a fun 6 mile group run to raise money for the Red Hook Initiative (RHI). The cost is $10 and/or donations for RHI. That $10 also gets you free before/after run drinks from 61 Local. We will then go on a fun group run of about 6 miles. There will be different pace groups so everyone should come out to participate.

Here is more information from South Brooklyn Running Club member Caitlin:Since the NYC Marathon is off, our club thought we'd host a fundraising run for the Red Hook Initiative, an incredible organization that has been doing great things for the area for a while now, but particularly in light of the storm. Anyway, we do a lot of running in Red Hook, and want badly to give back.
SO! We've joined forces with 61 Local (on Bergen) to host a fun run tomorrow at 9am. There is a $10 suggested donation, 100% of which will go to RHI, and with that runners/walkers will get a free drink before and after the run. We'll also be collecting supplies (blankets, flashlights, batteries, toiletries, water, etc.) that are needed.
So be at the 61 Local (on Bergen between Smith and Court) at 9 AM.

Check out RHI’s website for what they are requesting.And get more information on the run on South Brooklyn's Running Club Facebook event page.

After Sandy: Neighbors Helping Neighbors In South Brooklyn

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Where to start after Hurricane Sandy? There is so much need, so much clean-up to undertake.
Many are organizing relief efforts in South Brooklyn to help those who are in need. More are willing and able to donate food, supplies and/or a few hours to help our neighbors in storm ravaged Red Hook and Gowanus.

Below are just some of the efforts.  I will be adding to these fundraiser/ relief events. So keep on checking.
‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡Sacred Hearts - St. Stephen Food and Clothing Collection
"While the devastation and damage experience by those in Staten Island and the Rockaways are more sever and serious, thousands in the communities of Red Hook and Gowanus have also lost their homes, possessions and currently are without electricity, heat and some without water. Please do not forget about these areas which also need help.

The parish family if Sacred Hearts - St. Stephen, 108 Carroll Street will be collecting dry foods and non-perishable items along with coats and clothing to give to our neighbors in Red Hook and along the Gowanus Canal. Collections will be taking place in the rectory garage located in the church yard behind the rectory and accessible via the Carroll Street driveway. The main collection day will be on Sunday, November 4th . Volunteers are need to help collect sort and distribute goods as well."
‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡The Cobble Hill Think Tank is collecting…"A Hill of Beans" for our neighbors in Red HookPlease donate:
- cans of beans
- bags of dried beans
- coffee beans (ground)
And also
- bags of rice
- canned fruits and vegetables
- blankets, coats, warm clothes
Bring your donations to The Cobble Hill Think Tank,
274 Court Street (across from the Cobble Hill Cinema)
All donations will be distributed to the Red Hook Initiative, www.rhicenter.org

It’s not enough, but it's a start.

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Tammy of Orange You Glad In organizing a fundraiser for the Food Bank.  She writes:
We are planning a fundraiser at OYG for the Food Bank. Actually, we were planning this prior to Sandy and now we are trying to double our efforts and goals. Basically we are having a one day draw-a-ton on Friday November 16th. In exchange for donations we are going to have a roster of nyc based artists creating drawings (that we'll then send out to the donators).
We are hoping to raise $4k (if not more).
Anyway, I wanted to reach out to you to see if you could post a little something about the fundraiser. We'll be taking donations up until the 16th. There is a bit more info on this site. Donations go directly to the food bank.
We are also looking to fill a few seats with local artists who might want to stop by for the day and donate their talents.
For all information, click here:  http://draw.orangeyouglad.com


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