The long-term issues for this are really troubling. Without power in Manhattan since the storm Sandy hit, Doug Block is in denial about his car. The 2003 Pontiac Vibe is in a garage on East 20th Street – a good two blocks from the East River – and flooded, probably over the top of its hood. Block, 59, has not seen the car yet, does not really know what condition it is in, and he does not quite know what to do about it.
“My wife filed a claim with State Farm, and we’re waiting to hear back from them,” says Block via email. “We haven’t even been able to get in far enough to assess the damage. But we talked to others parked near where we are, and their cars were ruined, so we’re assuming the worst.”