SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Photo By Erica Sherman

Brighton Beach was hit as hard as any other coastal community ravaged by Superstorm Sandy and local residents are still feeling the effects of its destruction in the form of expensive electric bills, according to a report by CBS NY.

Since Sandy came ashore late last October, amazingly, many residents of Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay and elsewhere are still without heat. To stay warm in these harsh winter months, people have substituted working heat with electric space heaters, many of which were given out by Red Cross, FEMA and other disaster support groups.

As a consequence, their electric bills have skyrocketed, punishing the pocket books of people just trying to stay warm.

CBS NY tracked the plight of the residents of 601 Brightwater Court. After Sandy, the heat was knocked out of the building and the city distributed electric space heaters to keep elderly couples like Pavel Gertsman and his wife warm.

While the heaters were welcome, the increased electric bills topping out at an extra $150 a month, were not. Their plight was relayed through Brighton Beach Business Improvement District Executive Director Yelena Makhnin:

“They’re on a fixed income with $1,100 family, and the difference in $150, it makes those people choose between food and Con Edison bills,” Makhnin said.

She said the Gertsmans have health problems and cannot afford the huge bill.

Con Ed spokesman Bob McGee said the utility is forbidden by law from reducing the Gertsman’s bill.

For his part, McGee suggested that people unable to pay their bills as a result of Sandy could try reaching out to non-profit organizations like the Red Cross.

Other options include contacting the city’s Human Resources Administration, which has federally funded home energy assistance programs. You can visit their website by clicking the link above or call them at (800) 692-0557.

Port Sheepshead Marina, nothing but rubble.

Despite more than a week of cleaning, Emmons Avenue’s eastern end, a strip of waterfront condos, bungalows and boating clubs, remains in shambles.

We visited Emmons Avenue’s two waterfront bungalow colonies earlier this week, and, though Hurricane Sandy destroyed several homes and left families for the streets, there had been no visits from FEMA, Red Cross or any examples of the volunteer frenzy other neighborhoods have received.

In the absence of outside help, neighbors banded together to help each other.

Keep reading, and view a photo gallery of the destruction in the bungalow colonies.

Some of the damage in Sea Gate, at the tip of Coney Island, left by Sandy. Photo by Erica Sherman

A news report is shining a light on Coney Island residents still left in the dark with no power, and in some cases with no heat or hot water. Public housing buildings right by the boardwalk got smashed by Sandy – flooding basements, pouring sand into building lobbies, and totaling cars – leaving elderly residents vulnerable, and causing increasing dismay as each day passes.

“Cold, no water, can’t flush my commode, I have to come downstairs and bring water up, ice, my refrigerator is not working because I have no electric. We need help,” told a Coney Island tenant to NY1.

As Sheepshead Bites’ own Laura Vladimirova previously reported, the situation on Coney Island is dire, and the area is in desperate need of supplies and volunteers like her and Bensonhurst Bean’s David Cohen, who both graciously offered their time to help out. If you are looking to donate, Laura recommends the following items: water, matches, candles, flashlights, canned goods, blankets, and clothing.

The Red Cross, FEMA, and the National Guard have set up emergency services in the area to help residents in the area with food and supplies. If you are a Coney Island resident in need of relief services, you can head to Brighton Beach Avenue and Coney Island Avenue until 4:00 p.m. Services are also being offered at West 25th Street and Surf Avenue until 4:00 p.m., and FEMA will be at the MCU Ballpark until 5 p.m.

More information can also be found on the Twitter pages of local pols, including Councilman Domenic M. Recchia, and Assemblymen Alec Brook-Krasny, both of whom are supplying up to the minute status reports and updates from Coney Island in an effort bring the area back from the abyss.

Kentucky National Guardsmen engage in a search and rescue mission March 3, in West Liberty, Ky., for survivors after torrential storms and violent winds destroyed much of the community there March 2. Photo by Spc. David Bolton, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard.

As many of us are aware, a series of deadly tornadoes on March 2 and 3 cut devastating swaths of destruction throughout the southern section and heartland of the United States, including in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. At last count, 39 people were killed by the storms.

Among the more tragic reports emerging from the weekend of unimaginable horror was the death of 15-month-old Indiana toddler Angel Babcock, who lived for two more days after being lifted into the air by one of the deadly vortexes and then dropped in a field. Both of the little girl’s parents and two siblings had also been killed by the tornado.

For those who are looking to help those affected by these storms, State Senator Marty Golden’s office has compiled a list of ways we can contribute financially and help our fellow Americans put their shattered lives back together. According to Golden:

“Many local governments and voluntary agencies are providing shelter for disaster survivors displaced by the storms, but the road to recovery will be a long one and further assistance is always welcome. For those seeking a way to help out our fellow Americans in this time of need, I have provided a list below of some non-profit agencies and the different ways one can contribute.”

By Texting:

• Sending “REDCROSS” via text message to 90999 will charge $10 to your next cell phone bill to distribute to the American Red Cross.
• Sending “STORM” via text message to 80888 will charge $10 to your next cell phone bill to distribute to The Salvation Army (You will need to reply “yes” when asked).

Online:

• The American Red Cross’ web site offers a search for local Red Cross chapters: redcross.org/where
• Feeding America, a group that works with food banks, offers lists of local food banks and contact information searchable by state or zip code: feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx
• The Salvation Army can be reached here: donate.salvationarmyusa.org

By Phone:

• The American Red Cross can be reached at (800) RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
• Feeding America can be reached at (800) 771-2303 (National Office).
• The Salvation Army can be reached at (800) SAL-ARMY.

By Mail:

• American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013
• The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, Ga. 30384-0339

The scene of the fire at 2775 East 12th Street on Saturday evening. (Photo by Ian Sellick)

Residents of the Bel-Air building at 2775 East 12th Street are being allowed to return to their homes after a fire forced them to evacuate on Saturday.

Sheepshead Bites visited the building today and found residents buzzing about the building’s entrance, many carrying bags. It was hopefully the end of the two-day ordeal, in which the residents relocated to the homes of friends and family, and American Red Cross also provided an emergency shelter at Bay Academy Junior High School.

However, not everyone is being allowed back to their apartments, according to one Sheepshead Bites commenter. She writes:

Apparently they are turning the lights on in order of your apartment, but not everyone is guaranteed to be allowed into their apartment tonight. The power in the building is restored but not all the wings have power. They are urging everyone to have someone stop by and speak to the super so he can verify if your apartment will have power.

On Sunday, management for the Bel-Air building taped a typed statement onto the front door’s of the building.

“Building management is on site and is working with our licensed engineers and Con Edison representatives to restore power as soon as possible. We will organize escorted access during the hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm,” said KQR Management LLC.

The management company did not return calls for comment by the time this story went to press.

The fire broke out in the electrical room at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, at first causing power outages to the apartment units.

“At first I thought it was just my apartment, but then I found it happened to everyone else,” said a resident.

“It was hectic on Saturday, there was a lot of commotion,” said another resident.

We just received word that there is a fire burning on Guider Avenue and East 12th Street.

Tipster Ian Sellick just sent over this email…

At least a dozen fire trucks, Guider Ave, E 12th closed, residents evacuated. Major incident center set up.

That’s all we have right now and we’re heading over to the scene.  Updates to come.

UPDATE: 8:17 PM: Sources tell Sheepshead Bites that a fire broke out in the electrical room in the basement of 2775 East 12th Street at approximately 6:30 pm today. At this time we don’t have confirmation that the fire has been put out or is under control.

Residents first became aware of the fire when lights began to flicker and electric appliances shut down. This was followed by the shut down of cable TV. Residents then noticed that the lighting in the hallways and public areas were off.  Then remaining lights in the apartment building shut down in what appeared to an orderly fashion.

One resident told Sheepshead Bites that she was returning from work and was stuck in an elevator for over 20 minutes until she was rescued by fire fighters.  No one has been injured in the fire.

The building has been completely evacuated and the American Red Cross has setup  an emergency shelter at Bay Academy.  Residents may bring pets to the shelter, only if they are in a cage.  The Red Cross told residents that they will not be able to re-enter the building tonight.

East 12 Street is closed from the bridge to Neptune Avenue and many surrounding streets are closed to vehicular traffic as well.

2775 East 12th Street is a seven story building with 29 units per floor.

We’ll bring you more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE: 8:36 PM: Tipster Ian Sellick just made his on the scene photos available on Flickr. You can check out all of Ian’s photos HERE.

This is a breaking news story and may contain inaccuracies. We will update it as more information becomes available. If anyone has more information or additional photos, please send them to tips (at) sheepsheadbites (dot) com.