NY1 Online: Governor Cuomo "Proud" Of How New Yorkers Weathered The Storm
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On his way to assess damage in New York City, Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke for about five minutes with NY1 to discuss the effects on Hurricane Irene on New York State as a whole.
Speaking shortly after 12:30 p.m., the governor stressed that residents do not need to be on the roads and streets yet.
"It's been bad in New York City, it's been worse on Long Island, but it's devastating all across the state," Cuomo said.
He said there currently at least 850,000 people in the state without power and the majority are on Long Island.
The mid-Hudson Valley area has flooding issues and so far the state's only reported fatalities are in Greene County, according to Cuomo.
The government said that state officials made the most of having several days' notice to prepare for the earthquake, and said that he took the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's recommendation to shut down the city's entire mass transit system.
Cuomo said that New Yorkers were truly united and withstood the hurricane in the best way possible.
"Hurricanes, earthquakes, good thing we're tough as New Yorkers," said the governor. "I'll tell you one thing, New Yorkers really came together. And New Yorkers were prudent and they were smart and they were generous and you really felt a sense of community. Sometimes we are at our best when conditions are at their worst, and I think this is one of those times. I'm proud of New Yorkers, I'm proud to be a New Yorker, and I think this is one of those times."
No hurricane-related injuries or deaths have been reported so far in the city.