The power is out for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and an estimated 5.2 million people altogether across the east coast. Pix: Getty ImagesKUALA LUMPUR: Families of Malaysians living in New York City are keeping close tabs on their relatives there, following the calamity caused by superstorm Sandy on Sunday.
Although she is concerned for her architect-cum-interior designer daughter, Katrina, who is living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Junita Shah said she has been assured that her daughter is safe and out of danger’s way.
"I managed to speak to Katrina on Monday night, about 9.30 to 10pm Malaysian time. Although she’s held up in her apartment due to the lockdown, she says she’s fine. She and her flatmate are well stocked up on water, canned food and other necessities.
"We also managed to communicate via WhatsApp (smartphone application) this morning (Tuesday), around 11am, for about 10 to 15 minutes," Junita told Malaysian Digest when contacted.
The mother-of-two, who is married to Hamidon Taib, the owner of the Uncle Don food outlets, said Katrina has told her not to worry.
"She did say the wind there was terrible, it’s continuously howling... she was freaked out by it at first. But this is the second time that she is experiencing strong wind in NYC. There was a massive storm there around this time last year, although not this bad.
"Katrina even told me to stop watching TV! She said the area she’s in was not that bad. I believe she will be fine," said Junita.
When asked if she has requested for her daughter to return home as soon as the lockdown’s over, Junita said, "No, nothing of the sort. Katrina’s a professional, she’s got her work there, I’m not going to ask her to come back if there is no need."
For Susie Moggie, having both her sister and daughter in New York could be seen as both a curse and a blessing.
"For now, it is a blessing. My 21-year-old daughter, Didi Moggie-Arriega, studies Dance at Adelphi University in Long Island while my 34-year-old sister KK Moggie is an actress based in New York.
"Didi’s school was shut down on Monday and Tuesday, so she has been staying with my sister and another relative in KK’s home in West Village’s Christopher Street in Manhattan," said Susie, whose father is Tenaga Nasional Berhad chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie.
Susie said she managed to contact her relatives on Monday night, a few hours before their electricity supply was cut off.
"We’re communicating via mobile phones, mostly through WhatsApp. They need to conserve their power, they can’t really charge their phones, so they have to turn off their phones when not in use.
"Although they are stuck there, they are safe. I’m just glad all of them are together. They will only be back for Christmas later this year."
When asked, Susie said the next time she hoped to be in contact with her sister and daughter would be at 10pm Tuesday night (Malaysian time), after they wake up.
"Actually, I tried to call them earlier but couldn’t get through. I’m sure they’re just sleeping," Susie said.
"At least, I hope they’re just sleeping," she added.
Forecasters say superstorm Sandy could linger over as many as 12 states for 24 to 36 hours. Since the storm made landfall in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, 13 people are reported to have died.
It was reported that power is out for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and an estimated 5.2 million people altogether across the United States east coast.
US president Barack Obama has since declared a major disaster in New York and Long Island, making federal funding available to residents of the area.
- mD
