Troops rescued scores of people trapped in their flooded homes in a New York suburb on Wednesday two days after superstorm Sandy battered the region, authorities said.
The National Guard troops in 10 high-wheeled trucks toured the streets of Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from New York, where the mayor said thousands of people are stuck in their homes.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer has also appealed for boats to be taken to the New Jersey state town to help rescue people. Water is still above the ground floor in some parts of Hoboken.
Authories in the town, most of whose residents work in New York City, put out alerts about the trucks on its Facebook page.
“Keep an eye out, go down to the lowest possible floor, but do not go outside. Signal to get their attention,” said the alert.
The troops also distributed thousands of military rations to locals.
An estimated 85 percent of Hoboken’s 55,000 residents are without power and authorities have warned there is increasing danger from the flood water.
“We’ve got live wires in the waters, and the waters are completely contaminated and getting more contaminated,” Zimmer told MSNBC television.
New York health authorities warned people to avoid all contact with water in the Hudson River, East River and New York Harbor because sewage treatment plants have “discharged untreated wastewater” into the rivers after being overcome by the storm.
Hoboken has declared a curfew from 6:00 pm each day because of crime in the town since the storm and it has been joined by Jersey City.
The Jersey Journal newspaper reported that 24 people were arrested in Jersey City on Tuesday night for breaking into stores.
“We have to provide for the welfare and safety of all our residents” during the recovery from superstorm Sandy, Jersey City mayor Jerramiah Healy said. “This limitation will assist us in achieving this goal.”
Troops rescue storm victims in New York suburb
