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Staten Island Residents Plead For Help After Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy battered large portions of New York and New Jersey leaving massive flooding, damaging transit systems and causing billions of property loss.

One of the hardest hit areas in the region was in Staten Island. The island was engulfed by the surrounding sea and officials ordered an evacuation of the piece of land just before Sandy's landfall on Oct. 29.

About 80,000 residents remain without power and in the storm residents say they saw 20 ft waves according to ABC News.

Mike Abuzzio a resident of the island who evacuated said. "My youngest daughter yesterday said, 'Daddy, I want to go. I told her, 'It's going to be awhile, hon.' She doesn't understand. She's 6."   

Despite having Red Cross and the National Guard on the island the recovery and the aid is still lacking which has prompted Staten Island Borough President Jim Molinaro to say.

 "My advice to the people of Staten Island is: Don't donate the American Red Cross. Put their money elsewhere."

Molinaro took issue of the proposed running of the New York marathon that has now been cancel by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The marathon goes to parts of the island and said the staging of the event would be "crazy, asinine," if it were to happen after the hurricane according to ABC.

Molinaro also pointed out the man power it would take to stage  the running of a marathon would take away from the much needed police assistance that is helping in the rebuilding process  and criminal activities reported there.

 "My God. What we have here is terrible, a disaster. If they want to race, let them race with themselves. This is no time for a parade. A marathon is a parade. Now is the time to put your shoulder to the wheel. If they want to prepare for something, let them prepare for the election, not a marathon," said Molinaro.

He also said.

"Do you realize how many police officers you need for a marathon? There are people looting stores on Midland Avenue. There is looting taking place in the homes on the South Shore that were destroyed. That is where we need the police."

After Sandy hit Staten Island search parties combed the island looking for the two brothers ages 2 and 4 who were swept away by a wave. Their parents later found their bodies at the end of a dead end street.

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