The following is a message from City Councilmember Brad Lander responding to last night’s tornado in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Dear Neighbor:
As too many of us know first-hand, earlier this evening a fierce, fast-moving thunderstorm moved through our area, causing significant damage throughout Brooklyn and Queens. In addition to lighting and heavy winds, there were reports of a tornado touching down in Park Slope.
Downed trees caused serious damage to homes, stores, and cars throughout our neighborhood. Quite a few streets remain closed at this hour, and I know some of you will be dealing with severe damage in the days ahead. Fortunately, injuries seems to have been limited. Schools will be open tomorrow (it is true that two large trees fell right in front of MS 51, but they did not damage the building, and they’ve assured us that school will be ready to start on time).
Below is some emergency management information if your home or vehicle suffered any damages during the storm. Thanks to the NYPD, FDNY, Parks Department, and others for their quick response (locally, they helped at least one family who were trapped inside their house).
The most heartening thing I saw on my walk around the South Slope tonight was neighbors on every block helping each other clear debris, move downed trees, sweep up glass, and even help a neighbor find a place to stay.
We’d like to build on that spirit tomorrow and over the weekend. I’ve talked to some people tonight that could use some help, and I’m sure there will be more. If you’ve got a few hours in the next couple of days to help clean and remove debris — or if you could use a bit of help from neighbors — email my office at lander@council.nyc.gov, or call us tomorrow at 718-499-1090. If you leave a message or send an email, please include your name, contact info and times you are available to help.
-Brad
How to Get Help:
If there is a life-threatening situation (a downed power line, dangerous debris) call 911.
If there is significant debris that is blocking the street or a fallen street tree, please call 311. Feel free to email your report to my office as well, after you call 311, and please include your 311 confirmation number.
If your house is uninhabitable, call the Red Cross for emergency assistance 1-877-RED-CROS
If you have a power outage, call Con Ed at 1-800-75-ConEd or www.coned.com.
If you have lost phone service, call Verizon at 1-800-837-4966.
If you have debris on your property that the city cannot take care of and you are physically unable to do so, email or call my office to see if we have volunteers that can help.
If urgent items, such as blocked streets or crushed cars, are not dealt with by mid-day tomorrow, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free reach out to my office at 718-499-1090 for help.
Shop locally, help a storm-damaged business:
Finally, as some of you likely saw, the plate-glass windows of the Brooklyn Industries store at 7th Avenue and 9th Street were blown out by the storm. But they will be open in the morning (don’t let the wood in the windows fool you), so feel free to stop by and show your Buy Brooklyn! spirit.
A delivery man on his way in to the store was injured when the glass blew out, and is recovering at Methodist Hospital. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and with the many others affected tonight.