NYC: Was *supposed* to travel there this Friday, Nov 2, for family trip
Oct 30th, 2012, 08:56 AM
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NYC: Was *supposed* to travel there this Friday, Nov 2, for family trip
I'm wondering if we should reconsider our plans to visit NYC this Friday 11/2 through Monday 11/5.
Husband and I, as well as 7 year old son - his first ever trip to NYC - made plans to visit, staying inOmni Berkshire (mid-town), and to see some museums, etc. and see Spiderman on Broadway.
Presumably, Amtrak will have resumed service, although wondering how packed the trains are likely to be. We aren't worried about the Subway for *our* needs, we can always take a cab when wandering outside of Mid-Town. My thoughts are with those people who require the subway to get to and from work. Trying to imagine what impact the power outages, flooding, and transportation issues will continue to have on hotels, restaurants, tourist venues, etc. Don't want to be interference in restoration efforts, nor do we want to have our "special occasion" trip compromised (that is, by large scale closures and huge safety issues...not minor inconveniences like not being able to get a certain wine at dinner b/c shipment was not able to come in, etc. That stuff is completely unimportant....(
Reschedule? I can cancel hotel and Amtrak as late as noon on Thursday...
Husband and I, as well as 7 year old son - his first ever trip to NYC - made plans to visit, staying inOmni Berkshire (mid-town), and to see some museums, etc. and see Spiderman on Broadway.
Presumably, Amtrak will have resumed service, although wondering how packed the trains are likely to be. We aren't worried about the Subway for *our* needs, we can always take a cab when wandering outside of Mid-Town. My thoughts are with those people who require the subway to get to and from work. Trying to imagine what impact the power outages, flooding, and transportation issues will continue to have on hotels, restaurants, tourist venues, etc. Don't want to be interference in restoration efforts, nor do we want to have our "special occasion" trip compromised (that is, by large scale closures and huge safety issues...not minor inconveniences like not being able to get a certain wine at dinner b/c shipment was not able to come in, etc. That stuff is completely unimportant....(
Reschedule? I can cancel hotel and Amtrak as late as noon on Thursday...
Oct 30th, 2012, 11:11 AM
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It's hard to know what the impact will be for a visitor. Lower Manhattan is a mess and something as basic as taking a ferry ride to pass by the Statue Of Liberty will be a problem. You won't be in the way of any cleanup because streets will be closed off blocking you. Some really random streets are still closed off due to things like a building facade coming off (14th street near 8th ave) a crane collapse (57th 5-8th avenues) .Electricity is out in large areas so there will be crews working on that for a while. The Parks may still be off limits in areas as downed trees are removed.
Food deliveries also shouldn't be a problem as bridges and tunnels are reopening, but until full public transportation is restored, service in many places (restaurants, stores, etc) might be slower since not all employees can get to work.
I don't know if this came up for you before, but this is the weekend of the NYC Marathon. There have been no announcements of what will happen to that, but assuming flights resume to some of the NYC airports, we will be hosting tens of thousands of extra people. In other words, with no subway service available, do not count on getting a taxi!
If this really is a "special occasion trip" and you can easily cancel train and hotel I would opt for rescheduling.
Food deliveries also shouldn't be a problem as bridges and tunnels are reopening, but until full public transportation is restored, service in many places (restaurants, stores, etc) might be slower since not all employees can get to work.
I don't know if this came up for you before, but this is the weekend of the NYC Marathon. There have been no announcements of what will happen to that, but assuming flights resume to some of the NYC airports, we will be hosting tens of thousands of extra people. In other words, with no subway service available, do not count on getting a taxi!
If this really is a "special occasion trip" and you can easily cancel train and hotel I would opt for rescheduling.
Oct 30th, 2012, 03:43 PM
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Definitely reschedule. With the subway not running all other forms of transit will be mobbed - and cabs and car services will be picking up groups of passengers. Finding one for yourselves is likely be extremely difficult.
Also not sure when Amtrak will be up and running. NJ Transit is shut for the until further notice due to a huge number of trees on the tracks and lack of power.
I think people who are not here don't have a clue as to how bad it is. The millions of households without power are expected to get it back within 7 to 10 days.
And the NYC subway system usually carries 8 million riders per day. You will be fighting them for buses, taxis and even car services in from the airport. Also, businesses counting on workers from areas with no power or transit - so everything will be slowed down.
To really enjoy the trip definitely reschedule.
Also not sure when Amtrak will be up and running. NJ Transit is shut for the until further notice due to a huge number of trees on the tracks and lack of power.
I think people who are not here don't have a clue as to how bad it is. The millions of households without power are expected to get it back within 7 to 10 days.
And the NYC subway system usually carries 8 million riders per day. You will be fighting them for buses, taxis and even car services in from the airport. Also, businesses counting on workers from areas with no power or transit - so everything will be slowed down.
To really enjoy the trip definitely reschedule.
Oct 30th, 2012, 04:14 PM
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Thank you all for confirming what I guess I already knew to be the only answer. Just disappointed as this unexpected break from school doesn't happen every year.
We do have some idea about how bad it is, although on a much smaller relative scale -- we are in Maryland and have also been hit badly. But yes, it is hard to wrap my brain around the unavailability of such heavily relied upon transportation and the numbers without power in the MILLIONS....Baltimore isn't even home to ONE million these days. It seems the image of the "resilient" New Yorker comes to mind, too...hard to imagine unflappable New Yorkers being phased by anything. So, yes, that helps me begin to imagine just how bad...
And, nyer, you mentioned the Marathon. (I actually posted about coming up during Marathon weekend when planning this trip, and nyer, mclaurie and nytraveler, you generously offered your opinions about traffic, hotels, etc. on that post). I went to the Marathon website yesterday, looking for guidance, and, at the time, they indicated they are on for the race! Incredibly. I wonder if they are being strongly urged to reconsider. Certainly by the scathing readers' comments on whatever part of the website I wandered to, it is not being received as a grand idea.
Not sure if any of you live in Manhattan. Well, regardless of where you live, I hope that if this storm affected you in some way, life soon returns to some semblance of normal and with minor discomfort.
We do have some idea about how bad it is, although on a much smaller relative scale -- we are in Maryland and have also been hit badly. But yes, it is hard to wrap my brain around the unavailability of such heavily relied upon transportation and the numbers without power in the MILLIONS....Baltimore isn't even home to ONE million these days. It seems the image of the "resilient" New Yorker comes to mind, too...hard to imagine unflappable New Yorkers being phased by anything. So, yes, that helps me begin to imagine just how bad...
And, nyer, you mentioned the Marathon. (I actually posted about coming up during Marathon weekend when planning this trip, and nyer, mclaurie and nytraveler, you generously offered your opinions about traffic, hotels, etc. on that post). I went to the Marathon website yesterday, looking for guidance, and, at the time, they indicated they are on for the race! Incredibly. I wonder if they are being strongly urged to reconsider. Certainly by the scathing readers' comments on whatever part of the website I wandered to, it is not being received as a grand idea.
Not sure if any of you live in Manhattan. Well, regardless of where you live, I hope that if this storm affected you in some way, life soon returns to some semblance of normal and with minor discomfort.
Oct 30th, 2012, 10:53 PM
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I'm a New Yorker stranded elsewhere. Definitely avoid it like the plague. I don't even want to go home! I have power and my place is fine but I'm much happier where I am where there are no issues whatsoever. Please come visit us at another time. 
Oct 31st, 2012, 03:57 AM
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Yes, I live in Manhattan - but on the upper west side - so still have power. But there was an explosion at the power station on east 14th St and so power to anyplace downtown is out - and not expected back for days. So below that point stores are mostly not operating, nor are restaurants (food has gone bad) nor are there any traffic lights - so not sure there are any buses either. Friends/colleagues who live in that area have all moved out to stay with friends living farther north sleeping on sofas or floors.
The only things operating are cars and buses. there is no way the latter can handle the number of people that take the subway so there will be huge mobs on the buses (which typically run double full at rush hours anyway). (Subway typically has 8 million riders - not separate people but riders, with each person riding at least twice - to and fro work or school.) So there will be a huge number of cars of people trying to get to work and massive traffic jams are expected. (On the news this am they are already reporting large traffic jams of cars into get into manhattan.)
Penn station tunnels were flooded by the 12 foot storm surge, so while Amtrak is running a few trains they cannot get into NYC yet. It is expected the tunnels can be pumped dry in the next couple of days - but no specific timetable. The PATH tunnels from Jersey to NYC were also flooded - I believe to the ceiling and I haven;t heard a timetable to reopen.
Many colleagues in Jersey have no power and NJ transit is not running at all - again without a timetable for resuming service.
I am trying to get a car service to get to work - since the 7 mile walk is more than I'm willing to do. If I can;t get one I'll continue to work from home.
NYCers are not wusses. We knew this storm would be bad - but it turned out even worse than we thought (projected 8 ft storm surge was 11 feet) - and friends of mine that live in the west 20s were trapped by 4 feet of water in their streets. And no power for who nows how long.
But most hard hit are the areas near the ocean. Coney Island is destroyed - the boardwalk was ripped up into pieces and floated many blocks inland. There are 18 dead - so far - a couple simply drowned in their homes.
The Marathon will take place - but parts may be rerouted. Tonight's Halloween parade will be rescheduled for next week. Knicks opening game for Friday night may have to be rescheduled due to lack of power. This will not be a fun place for a couple of weeks.
The only things operating are cars and buses. there is no way the latter can handle the number of people that take the subway so there will be huge mobs on the buses (which typically run double full at rush hours anyway). (Subway typically has 8 million riders - not separate people but riders, with each person riding at least twice - to and fro work or school.) So there will be a huge number of cars of people trying to get to work and massive traffic jams are expected. (On the news this am they are already reporting large traffic jams of cars into get into manhattan.)
Penn station tunnels were flooded by the 12 foot storm surge, so while Amtrak is running a few trains they cannot get into NYC yet. It is expected the tunnels can be pumped dry in the next couple of days - but no specific timetable. The PATH tunnels from Jersey to NYC were also flooded - I believe to the ceiling and I haven;t heard a timetable to reopen.
Many colleagues in Jersey have no power and NJ transit is not running at all - again without a timetable for resuming service.
I am trying to get a car service to get to work - since the 7 mile walk is more than I'm willing to do. If I can;t get one I'll continue to work from home.
NYCers are not wusses. We knew this storm would be bad - but it turned out even worse than we thought (projected 8 ft storm surge was 11 feet) - and friends of mine that live in the west 20s were trapped by 4 feet of water in their streets. And no power for who nows how long.
But most hard hit are the areas near the ocean. Coney Island is destroyed - the boardwalk was ripped up into pieces and floated many blocks inland. There are 18 dead - so far - a couple simply drowned in their homes.
The Marathon will take place - but parts may be rerouted. Tonight's Halloween parade will be rescheduled for next week. Knicks opening game for Friday night may have to be rescheduled due to lack of power. This will not be a fun place for a couple of weeks.
Nov 1st, 2012, 05:57 AM
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Here's what I wrote in answer to a similar question:
"I live in Midtown and other than the traffic tie-ups getting into the city, everything is normal. We never lost power and had virtually no damage, except for a few broken windows and a couple of trees coming down.
Having said that, I understand there is a gas shortage and many taxis have been pulled from the roads. Also big traffic jams into Manhattan since 3 tunnels are closed and the remaining bridges and tunnel are packed with traffic. Your biggest problem will be getting into an airport and than getting in & out of Manhattan.
If it were me, I'd probably cancel rather than have to monitor the situation on a daily basis and hope for the best."
"I live in Midtown and other than the traffic tie-ups getting into the city, everything is normal. We never lost power and had virtually no damage, except for a few broken windows and a couple of trees coming down.
Having said that, I understand there is a gas shortage and many taxis have been pulled from the roads. Also big traffic jams into Manhattan since 3 tunnels are closed and the remaining bridges and tunnel are packed with traffic. Your biggest problem will be getting into an airport and than getting in & out of Manhattan.
If it were me, I'd probably cancel rather than have to monitor the situation on a daily basis and hope for the best."
