Hurricane Sandy: Chinatown Black Market Emerges as Vendors Hawk Batteries, Candles, Outlets from the Huffington Post (includes a small photo album)
I’m not terribly surprised that after Sandy, black markets emerged. When people are without things that they believe to be necessities, especially in this day and age of technology, they are generally willing to pay any price to gain access to their phones and not to have to sit in the dark. There was a quote from a bakery owner that said “Whatever you can do to stay open, you do it” which I think really sums up what the people who opened up the bodegas and makeshift street stands to sell batteries, flashlights, and other essentials, for way over-price.
Hurricane Sandy Alert: Lower Manhattan Chinatown Needs Volunteers to Help from 8asians
8asians is a blog dedicated to writing about Asian American issues, and during Sandy it sent out a help-wanted alert during Sandy. The Asian American Writers’ Workshop originally sent out the statement, however it is blogs like 8asians who have dedicated followers in the communities that needed help that can get the word out to many more people.
Residents Could be Without Power for Days in Hurricane Sandy Aftermath from OurChinatown (Con-Edison Power Outtage Map)
Several Videos From Youtube
From WSJDigitalNetwork 30 Oct 2012: Shows the LES after Sandy as well as storefront awnings and sides in Chinatown.
From Joel Silver 30 Oct 2012: Shows a brief look at Chinatown after Sandy, the stores were closed and the streets were very empty for Chinatown.
From videonation 1 Nov 2012: Shows footage of Chinatown after Sandy as well as interviews with CAAAV staff members and volunteers.
From meniscuszine 2 Nov 2012: Shows how the stores were closed, the lights out, and how people were lining up to get their phone’s charged and gather supplies from the CAAAV, which took donations.
From Jan Lee 12 Nov 2012: Shows volunteers from Chinatown Community Young Lions helped out at Hamilton Madison House which had been turned into a commissary, warming centre, supply distribution centre, and an information clearing house.
