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A six-alarm fire destroys at least 50 homes in Queens, New York. Floodwaters prevented firefighters from reaching burning homes in Queens, NY.
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Hi we are waiting for Mayor Bloomberg he has a lot to say to the people of New York City about the conditions the tunnels and subways.
People's safety at this point -- yet that that's underway we'll certainly take you there.
In the meantime though one -- the worst story is -- that has surfaced so far this disaster is a six alarm fire that has destroyed.
Fifty.
Homes.
It perhaps the entire community in breezy point New York City.
Nearly 200 firefighters responded to this scene and they found a large number of people.
Who had not gotten now who had ignored the warnings before the water started rising.
And that forced in many cases the FDNY to put their own lives at risk to -- -- the people from those flames and that danger.
And there's a reason you know why they would be very concerned about that community -- -- -- in a moment I'm joining me now on the phone.
New York City councilman Eric all -- he represents breezy -- queens and look at the aftermath it looks like a bomb hit.
This section.
Of New York.
Mr.
all record -- I'm so sorry.
For what has happened to your community what what can you tell us at this point.
Like I just left the rockaway peninsula and and as you describe that is is what it looks like absolute and total devastation is so bad.
-- to -- the destruction that has taken place as a result of this storm not only from the flooding in the flooding -- is certainly expensive and and considerable.
But as you mentioned that the damage from fires not only in breezy point where where is at its worst but also in Belle harbor where so many buildings.
Burned down to the foundations the -- department has been there and and and most of the fires have been contain them reduced to.
You know -- smoldering foundations but for the most part just total devastation.
And and and we -- still trying to assess.
If there was any loss to human life or any other damaged.
You know -- folks there are talking about this community and seeing that there's a lot of retired NYPD.
A lot of retired firefighters that lives in this community.
Can you can you confirm that.
Some teachers and and unfortunate just got a text from my phone now that my friend and the congressman Bob Turner his house also burned down.
Until one of those fifty homes ravaged by fire our own congressman.
Bob.
Turn -- -- -- him as as a guest on the show and and our heart goes out to him and everybody in these communities and and the pictures are just incredible.
You know it in terms of of lives and is this securing it you know those who are out there will give us an update if he can't what they're telling you about who may still be out there anybody why.
I believe that that almost everyone has been accounted for it and thank god for our.
EMS workers and our police department and our fire department and a volunteer part apartments and breezy point god bless them for staying ingredient trying to rescue people to evacuate people and get people to safety and trying to contain some of the fires.
Last night was horrific for so many people were trapped.
Literally trapped them breezy point.
Calling 911 -- my house is on fire or the house next to me is on fire and no one could get to them.
It's anyone's worst nightmare and yet today as -- you know that -- skies are clearing up we're thankful that that.
To my knowledge there hasn't been anyone who was killed by a fire breezy point.
You know it but it's just total total devastation.
Keep this picture up and as a councilman talks because.
And that is exactly what breezy point New York looks like this morning I mean every home in this.
It in the view of this camera is simply not there the trees have been fried.
And -- it is absolutely.
Devastating.
To look to look at this picture and think about this community and I was also reminded.
That this is the area everyone remember shortly after September 11 the plane went down in this area well.
That was the plan -- -- not to let that money down and belt Auburn not far from a breezy point -- -- all the was also.
Ravaged by fires last night and as I was in Belle harbor about an hour ago or so many people who who who live in Griese who escaped breezy point.
Had told me that all they could do is -- -- watched.
Last night as they saw the red and orange glow in this guiding new.
That there were at a control fires in their community and that they were helpless but there was nothing that they can do about what a horrible feeling -- must've been to those people to know that they have lost everything.
And councilman has -- the thing that just you know screams out -- -- right now as what people can do -- -- because one of the then this as you point out this is a group of people who live in this community wanna help anybody in any community but it's clearly a special group.
Though he's not -- I saw the Red Cross trucks on their way out to rockaway and into breezy point.
For those viewers that you have on Fox News.
That can contribute to the Red Cross certainly we want to help the relief effort there.
This is going to be and massive cleanup will probably total in the billions of dollars by the time we rebuild Iraq -- the boardwalk in many places was blown out literally blown out by the ocean.
In broad channel almost the entire community was completely submerged.
Thousands of cars totals.
Out you know and tens of millions of property damage and -- the only thing I think we can be thankful for is that there weren't more large.
More -- going it is what it is.
Historical biblical proportions.
I'm -- image in Turkey survey you know I heard a report from a firefighter this morning -- -- that they when they arrive there were 25 people standing on a rooftop.
So they successfully saved the lives of all those people if you're telling us that there has been.
No loss of life say you're right true heroism has taken place in breezy point.
And in broad channel in these areas and we need to be so grateful for the volunteer firefighters that got out there and the people who went out there to help those who.
You know quite honestly -- you know had been asked to evacuate but.
-- there's also the earth as you point out and -- many of them had been those homes our whole lives.
Yeah -- it's just very said it did its total devastation out there and as I mentioned this was an intense storm I think people took it for granted too many people -- I think it's a decision that they've come to regret.
But thankfully that happened that they -- -- hasn't been that many lives lost in this and we just thank thankful to the good lord -- that the -- so we can replace we will rebuild Iraq away.
And we will rebuild a better than ever.
You're absolutely right about that incredible spirit of New Yorkers it is network and they will rebuild we're grateful to those folks who helped them and save their lives -- in here a lot more stories about that area.
As we continue through this journey of covering hurricane sandy and.
