Page 17 - CBA 1999 YEARBOOK

The storm did an incredi­ ble amount of damage to our city, hitting our trees the hardest.
Labor Day Storm
Electricity, Phones, Water, Television: For over a week, these are the things some people would have killed for. Certain areas were very fortu­ nate not to lose power at all, while others were without power for more than a week. There was extensive damage, and Central New York was declared a national disaster area. Due to this, we were all safely snug in our beds by the eight o’clock curfew. This safety measure, however widely disliked, was important because telephone poles and trees lay across strees, crushing cars and houses, making it dangerous for unnecessary travel. Many people relied on generators and on one another to make it through. This horrible time brought many people closer together. People were helping one another by cleaning up and giving each other supplies such as food, ice, batteries, and other provisions. If one good thing did come from the storm, it was the formation of a tighter-knit community. This was not the only miracle witnessed during the storm, however. The timing of the storm was truly an act of God. There were two deaths, un­ fortunately, but if it had occurred earlier, the number of people in danger at the New York State Fair would have been much larger. This was the first time in years that the Fair needed to close early. This tragic, costly, and mortifying event was not all bad, though we have all learned from it, and will forever be in awe of the power of Nature.
By: Anna Weiss, Laidy Cabrera, Maria and Andrea Lazipone
Labor Dav Storm 13