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'Sons of Anarchy' star: Storm aftermath 'a lot worse than how it's being portrayed by media'
Entertainment Weekly ^ | 11/2/2012 | Lynette Rice

Posted on 11/02/2012 12:13:43 PM PDT by YourAdHere

EW spoke to Sons of Anarchy – and Staten Island native — Theo Rossi (Juice Ortiz), who was home visiting family and friends when Sandy hit. He’s remained there ever since and gave us this first-hand account of the devastation.

“It’s so bad here, a lot worse than how its being portrayed by the media. They are finding bodies left and right, elderly people who don’t even watch the news or who knew the storm was coming. I was just with one of my best friends from high school and college, and his house is completely gone. One story I heard was about this one guy who evacuated his house during Hurricane Irene but then it got looted. So when they told him to evacuate for Sandy, he said, ‘I’m not leaving.’ Now they can’t find him, his 13-year-old daughter is dead, and his wife is in critical condition at the hospital. These are the stories. My stepfather and my mother, I love them to death. But when they heard the storm was coming, they said, ‘It’s not going to be that bad. Irene didn’t do anything.’ They had two flashlights and a couple of scented candles. Little did they know. It’s just not worth it. If you’re told to evacuate, you need to get out.

The one weird thing is how there is no power. The other weird thing is how there’s no gas. To get gas requires a three-and-a-half hour wait. It’s like this odd, post-apocalyptic kind of thing. Most trees are down. Power lines are down. It’s like a movie, or like The Walking Dead. You can’t believe it. Especially when you grow up here. I moved to Los Angeles in 1999, but this has always been my home. There’s the place I kissed a girl, that’s the place I played handball. I know this island in and out. To see it completely destroyed is bizarre.

I’ve been trying to hit every shelter on Staten Island to do what I can, just to make people smile. A lot of people know me and know I’m from here. My flight has been changed six times now. Finally, I got a flight for Sunday. Then, the city decides they are going ahead with the New York City Marathon. The bridges will be closed, so I can’t get to the airport. How are they doing a marathon when most people don’t have power? On top of it, the hotels in Manhattan have been nice enough to put up people who have no homes. They are charging them $200 as opposed to $700 a night. But now they are throwing these people out because they’ve got people from all over the world coming to run the marathon. They are throwing out the survivors! So I call Jet Blue and say I can’t fly Sunday because I can’t get from Staten Island to JFK Airport. And they said ‘Okay Theo.’ They know me know because I’ve been calling them every 15 minutes. They say, ‘Theo, we can get you on a flight Friday.’ I say book it! I call up the car service, and they say, ‘We can’t pick you up, we have no gas.’ All my friends on Staten Island say, ‘How are we going to get you there? We have no gas.’ And the people who do have gas, don’t want to waste it going to JFK. So I’ve got to call and change my flight again. Now I’m leaving Monday. Everybody says if we don’t have gas in our cars by Monday, if the roads aren’t clear by Monday, that’s it … we’re throwing in the towel.

I’m really glad I’m here to help and do anything, but I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m just glad I’m here with my family. A shout out and thank you to all the amazing city workers who have been working around the clock. Police, fire, sanitation. You all are the true fabric of this city.”


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: epicfail; obama
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To: bgill

He’s trying to keep people’s spirits up and God bless him for that, its more than most celebs in new york are doing. I like his show, he’s a really good actor and he’s standing up saying “hey, you all are being lied to about conditions here” again, its more than others are doing.


21 posted on 11/02/2012 12:52:34 PM PDT by chae (I was anti-Obama before it was cool)
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To: bgill

He’s trying to keep people’s spirits up and God bless him for that, its more than most celebs in new york are doing. I like his show, he’s a really good actor and he’s standing up saying “hey, you all are being lied to about conditions here” again, its more than others are doing.


22 posted on 11/02/2012 12:53:29 PM PDT by chae (I was anti-Obama before it was cool)
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To: YourAdHere

How many missed meals away from anarchy are they?


23 posted on 11/02/2012 12:53:39 PM PDT by ßuddaßudd (>> F U B O << "What the hell kind of country is this if I can only hate a man if he's white?")
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To: YourAdHere
LIPA says damage worse than expected

Saying Hurricane Sandy exceeded its own estimates of damage, the Long Island Power Authority now predicts it may take some Long Islanders longer than the 10 days it predicted to restore power as it builds up an army of about 5,000 workers.

More than 534,000 customers are still without power as of Friday morning, according to LIPA.

24 posted on 11/02/2012 12:54:54 PM PDT by dirtboy
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To: PowderMonkey
I heard one radio interview of a NYC resident who said, "We're gonna' stay put and watch some movies. Ride it out. I got some flashlights for the kids, and two cans of beans. It's gonna' be great!"

That guy obviously knew there would be a power outage or he wouldn't have given the kids flashlights but please explain how the heck he was going to watch movies without power. After a couple movies, his dvd batteries are gone along with the beans. Fine if a single person wants to be stupid but it's unacceptable for a person with kids.

25 posted on 11/02/2012 12:57:59 PM PDT by bgill (Evil doers are in every corner of our government. Have we passed the point of no return?)
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To: YourAdHere
LIPA says damage worse than expected

Saying Hurricane Sandy exceeded its own estimates of damage, the Long Island Power Authority now predicts it may take some Long Islanders longer than the 10 days it predicted to restore power as it builds up an army of about 5,000 workers.

More than 534,000 customers are still without power as of Friday morning, according to LIPA.

26 posted on 11/02/2012 12:59:51 PM PDT by dirtboy
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To: YourAdHere

Friends’ warehouse full of inventory was under 4 feet of water.

Other friends have been unable to return to NYC.

Other friends have not yet checked in.

But Bruuuuuce is gonna sing the Prezzydent’s praises tonight.


27 posted on 11/02/2012 1:15:41 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Obama killed Gadaffi. How's that working out these days?)
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To: skeeter

Kanye Douchebag Obama doesn’t like Americans.


28 posted on 11/02/2012 1:17:01 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Obama killed Gadaffi. How's that working out these days?)
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To: Bryanw92
Current official death toll is 41 for NYC, 19 of that in Staten Island.

Total Sandy-related deaths in the region is 97.

29 posted on 11/02/2012 1:26:41 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (political correctness is communist thought control, disguised as good manners)
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To: Fresh Wind

Whoraldo!! That says it all.


30 posted on 11/02/2012 1:29:10 PM PDT by MAKOTHEDOG (LANDSLIDE)
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To: YourAdHere

I’m sure you’ll understand if I say NO Thanks, I don’t get my news from media celebrities.


31 posted on 11/02/2012 1:31:48 PM PDT by Romulus
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To: dirtboy

We went through the “no power” drill last year with the October blizzard.

Day 1—amusing change
Day 2—get to know the spouse since there is no TV
Day 3—everyone starting to get edgy
Day 4—everyone is edgy
Day 5—Keep everyone away from sharp objects
Day 6—Make plans to get outta town!

Fortunately for us power came back on in day 6.

The problem for LI/NJ/Staten Island is
there may not be enough gas to leave town.

You do not want to be an incumbent politician if the power is still out by Tuesday and the locals are stuck in town (day 8).


32 posted on 11/02/2012 1:36:24 PM PDT by cgbg (No bailouts for New York and California. Let them eat debt.)
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To: YourAdHere

Next time you visit New York City, bring a jet pack for emergency evac.


33 posted on 11/02/2012 1:40:33 PM PDT by justa-hairyape
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To: YourAdHere
Janet Napolitano is on the scene! (Wonder if she brought any of her lesbian friends with her to pah-TEE after her photo op?)

Just announced on Fox News: FEMA has arrived in Staten Island and the people will start to get some assistance.

34 posted on 11/02/2012 1:41:17 PM PDT by arasina (Communism is EVIL. So there.)
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To: Bryanw92

The first newspaper I read estimated 30,000 dead after Katrina. I think it was European though. Typical.


35 posted on 11/02/2012 3:26:30 PM PDT by Amberdawn
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To: bgill

Alcohol must have played a part in this, ‘cause I’m still trying to figure out how he equated preparedness with having, not one, but TWO cans of beans. He sounded sooo eager and ready for the impending storm.


36 posted on 11/02/2012 3:48:54 PM PDT by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: arasina

Over four days for FEMA to show up. Even worse than NOLA.


37 posted on 11/03/2012 6:55:20 AM PDT by dirtboy
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To: PapaBear3625
From one of your links:

[Updated at 7:58 p.m.] The Defense Logistics Agency, at President Barack Obama's direction, will buy up to 12 million gallons of unleaded fuel and up to 10 million gallons of diesel to bring to the areas hardest hit by this week's storm, FEMA said in a press release.

Transported on tanker trucks, the fuel will head toward New York, New Jersey and other areas that are experiencing severe gas shortages in the wake of Sandy.

[Updated at 7:37 p.m. ET] President Obama has authorized tapping the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve and distributing that fuel to "state, local and federal responders in the New York/New Jersey area," the U.S. Energy Department announced.

The fuel - which is loaned by the Energy Department, who will pass it onto Defense Department - will help power generators, water pumps, buildings, trucks and other vehicles. About 2 million gallons of fuel will be drawn down, with the Defense Department expected to replenish the stock within 30 days.

-----------

Why did it take so long? Rick Perry had tanker trucks of gas dispatched immediately during the Rita evacuations.

38 posted on 11/03/2012 7:02:14 AM PDT by dirtboy
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