Several days after a massive water main burst in the Bronx, residents along Webster Avenue are grappling with the absence of basic utilities. The break in the ancient infrastructure, dating back to 1890, has left many -- including families and business owners -- without water, power, and heat amid falling temperatures. As reported by ABC7 New York, the Red Cross is on the scene providing food and blankets to those affected by the disaster, which has seen water rise "deeper than most swimming pools," according to residents. One resident, who spoke to ABC7 New York, expressed a mix of desperation and gratitude: "Anything is better than nothing. You know what I'm saying anything is better than nothing. Thank you Red Cross!" The report describes the severe damage, with water rising up to the ceiling and the studs.
Meanwhile, CBS News New York adds that residents' immediate concerns are shifting toward the dropping temperature. Jessica Acea, a local mother, lamented the loss of her festive preparations, "I'm trying to save what I can save. What I can't save I'm throwing out with my eyes closed. But other than that, I really have nothing. I had a Christmas tree up. It's gone," she told CBS News New York.
As residents worry about their living conditions, Con Edison has faced challenges in restoring services. "The 310 who are still out are due to issues on the customer side. As soon as the necessary inspections and repairs are made and it is deemed safe to do so, we will be there to restore service," a Con Edison representative told CBS News New York. Red Cross's efforts to house around four dozen people including 19 children continue.
Communication gaps have also surfaced, with some residents unaware of the available emergency housing. "No Red Cross. They just gave me a blanket yesterday. That's it," Acea said in her interview with CBS News New York. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has stated it is collaborating with the Red Cross to provide necessary housing options, although specifics on outreach efforts remain unclear. In a contrasting turn of fortuity, heat and hot water have been restored to two large buildings, as reported by the OEM.
Businesses along Webster Avenue also share in the plight, with Angelina Ufomba of Royal African & Caribbean Foods voicing concern over financial losses during a typically busy season. "Somebody tried to buy something, I cannot open the register," Ufomba detailed to CBS News New York. "This is Christmastime. We need to sell, and help people that are looking to us for help."
