LONGVIEW/GREGG COUNTY (KYTX) - Longview families who moved here from the East Coast are worried about friends and family still there in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
It's business as usual as Uncle Joe's Pizza and Pasta in Longview. But for the folks that work there, their minds are still on the family that they have back in New York.
"My family on Long Island, I have not been able to speak to since yesterday. They haven't had power since 11 a.m. yesterday morning, their time," Uncle Joe's Manager Trish Meeks said. "So, hard for them to keep the phones charged. Everyone's okay, though."
Trish managed to get a call through to her sister who lives in New York City, and knowing she's ok provides a little peace of mind for her.
"The worst is over. And I'm looking forward to hearing from the rest of my family some time later today," Meeks said.
We spoke by phone with Trish's sister, Anne. She told us that, for a city that never sleeps, New York City is unusually quiet.
"The city is extremely quiet," Anne Petoella said by phone. "I was unable to go to work today because the crane that is dangling is two blocks from my job."
Anne says there are trees down everywhere and the Hudson River flooded all the way to Broadway.
Head chef Gino Silehu also has family in new York and new jersey. In his native Albania, hurricanes don't happen. But Silehu went through hurricanes Ike and Rita while living on the Texas coast.
"I know how the people feel over there because it's hard," Silehu said, "but everybody doing fine, so it's the more important."
