Tropical Storm Irene has blown through the area, leaving parts of the Tri-State awash in floods and other parts relatively unscathed.
In New York City, mass transit was shut down entirely – an unprecedented step which brought the city that never sleeps to a virtual standstill. Mayor Michael Bloomberg followed that with another unprecedented action: The first-ever mandatory evacuation of some residents.
“I think in retrospect we did the right thing,” Bloomberg said Monday. “Common sense says we should do what is right to protect the public.”
CBSNewYork has been asking our viewers on our Facebook page all weekend what they thought of the measures taken by officials. An unofficial survey of your comments suggests that most of you think they did the right thing.
“The concern for the safety of the people was very important,” wrote Judy Hojnowski Hunter on Sunday. “The information and preparations surely saved lives.”
“Better to be safe than sorry,” wrote Dawne Marie. “There’s nothing worth your life and the lives of others.”
Not everyone agreed, though.
“HUGE overreaction,” wrote Rob Postrel, also on Sunday. “I’d be pissed if I got evacuated over a rain storm.”
“This mismanagement is exactly what we don’t need here in NYC,” wrote viewer Kevin James Dalton. “Because now when the next really big storm comes people will not take it so seriously due to media/politicians crying wolf over this one prematurely.”
One Gulf Coaster wasn’t impressed.
“I used to think New Yorkers were tough as nails,” Patrick Lemire wrote. “Lee Press-On nails is more like it. It’s one thing to prep for the worst case scenario, but this is laughable.
“If they didn’t take precautions, people would still complain about them not doing anything and knowing it was coming. You can’t win,” wrote Kimberly Welsh.
“What people fail to grasp is that for a few hours of inconvenience you are kept safe, your family is safe, your loved ones can feel you are safe,” wrote Ruth Croson. “What price do you put on your life?”
{880 AM NY/Matzav.com Newscenter}
No way. Government officials did exactly what they should have. Irene was predicted to be a killer by the best weather forecasting we have available. HaShem was kind to us, very very kind. He was listening to the tefillos of all of us who live in NYC or have loved ones there, or just plain care about what happens to other people and to our country.
If Irene had acted as predicted, the actions of Bloomberg, Christie and others would have saved hundreds of lives. Let us be grateful that HaShem let it not be necessary. And let’s not forget the people who now are being flooded out in NJ, New England and upstate NY, and remember them in our Tefillos.
And remember – the hurricane season is only half over. We could have been just rehearsing for another big one. Next time, when they say “Go,” go, don’t quibble about how it “wasn’t necessary” last time. The life you save may be your own – or your children’s.
This is typical Liberal controlled media, fear mongering! Will Bloomberg compensate all the business’ that lost money because he arrogantly shut down the “PUBLIC” transportation?! Bloomberg should be impeached & thrown out of office in disgrace! He has destroyed peoples lives & he aught to pay for it! Billy Thompson would of never acted so arrogantly.
I vote there was no overreaction. Bloomberg and Christie, who I am not so keen on, happen to do a perfect job in preparing people for what could conceivably happen. I think lives were spared because of their efforts. It is utterly ridiculous to complain about their efforts in hindsight regarding the storm not being a Category 2 once it hit. This is nagging behavior on the part of the citizenry.