New York:
It looks like New York but doesn't feel like it. When I look out of my window I see a smaller city because half of it is still plunged in darkness. A tale of two cities then - one with power, one without; one returning to normalcy, one still limping. More than 40 are dead, and the toll is still rising. Over 7 million are without power and the subways which transport 9 million people will take days to resume. The aftermath is devastating - homes destroyed, cars incinerated, deadly explosions - its heartbreaking.
The city is disheveled but the people aren't. The stories of courage are tremendous. The preemie 2-pound baby rescued by staff from NYU hospital as the ventilators failed and elevators stopped. The Coast Guards who risked their lives to rescue 14 from HMS Bounty. The state police who saved countless from floating cars and barely standing rooftops.
We are lucky. We are on the normal side of the 39th street divide. After the fury the day before, today was a calm start. Surprisingly sunny.
After checking up on friends and family, we decided to go get coffee. So did pretty much everyone else. Now coffee in New York is never a problem. There is a Starbucks on nearly every other block. But Starbucks was closed. So we went to a local neighborhood cafe. Closed again. Without subways running, it will take days to get employees back to work. Finally we landed up in the Time Warner Centre. So did everyone else.
Igor was also waiting for coffee. If I was internally complaining about the 45 minute wait, I quickly shut up after talking to him. He had trekked all the way from Soho, more than 60 blocks. "Downtown is a ghost town... no restaurants are open, there is no public transport... and getting a cab is virtually impossible... even with Mayor Bloomberg allowing cab sharing." Vito and Chiara stay in a loft in Union Square. Vito is the kind of person who replies to emails within minutes. But today was different. He had to go all the way to his office to respond to frantic calls and texts."We don't have any power, or water, or cellphone coverage and you know what, even my doorbell doesn't ring". Being so disconnected in the hub of the world is surreal. But the real damage is in the suburbs.
Steve's street in Montclair, New Jersey has 90% of the people without power and there are 6 fallen trees in one block. "Three trees collapsed on my house but thankfully nobody is seriously injured."
Today, the city will get back on its feet. The NYSE, Nasdaq will be open and so will be businesses. With its fast pace, for many it will be like the storm never happened. For others, even commuting to work will be grueling. Andy is an execution trader at a hedge fund who has been put up at a hotel since Sunday. His wife and kids are in Connecticut. "I can't wait to get back home but this is my job... NYSE was shut but global markets, Europe and Asia were open and Wednesday is going to be very busy". And even with buses back on, the city can't work on full capacity till the 108-year-old subway system, the city's lifeline, manages to clear out the salt water. Airports are resuming flights Wednesday afternoon but with over 18,000 flights cancelled, recovery will take days.
The mood is sombre, and everyone has the deepest respect for the first responders and all those who put their lives at risk to save those of others. Its a lesson on humanity, and we all salute you. But for those not so severely impacted, the famous new york attitude still lives on. With a dash of desi humour. For Saad Sidiqui, originally from Pakistan, staying without power for a couple of days is not a big deal. "We are so used to this.....I tell my friends, welcome to my Tuesday."