We the people of New York, and New Jersey, hereby declare the current water service infrastructure and basic emergency preparedness measures; unacceptable and inadequate in providing the residents of our fine States the minimal services and supplies required for basic survival.  Millions of our residents were without power, food, water, and fuel after Hurricane Sandy; due to catastrophic damages caused by the massive storm system.  Although it is not possible to prevent all damage from occurring; there are actions that should have been taken in advance, and regulations or mandates that should have been put into law to greatly minimize the impact.

Therefore, we the Residents of New York and New Jersey demand that the following reasonable actions be taken and regulatory mandates be declared into law immediately.  It is also explicitly understood that the costs of such actions and mandates shall be absorbed by the residents through the cost of the services provided over time.  Such recovery of costs shall be limited to cover only the upgrades, and such price increases shall not be permanently increased.

MUNICIPAL WATER SERVICES UPGRADES:

ALL WATER PUMP STATIONS / SUB STATIONS MUST HAVE FULL STANDBY BACKUP GENERATORS WITH FIVE DAYS OF OPERATING FUEL ONSITE AT ALL TIMES; IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

FULL SERVICE GAS / REFUELING STATIONS:

ALL GAS STATIONS AND REFUELING CENTERS MUST HAVE ADEQUATE BACKUP GENERATORS TO ENSURE THAT ALL AVAILABLE GASOLINE, DIESEL, AND OTHER FUELS ARE ABLE TO BE PUMPED TO SUPPLY THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS IN AN EMERGENCY.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS / INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES:

ALL NEW REAL-ESTATE / COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES SHALL NOT BE ABOVE GROUND.  UNDERGROUND CABLING / ELECTRICAL GRID EQUIPMENT MUST BE USED WITHOUT EXCEPTION.  INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT UPGRADING UP CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE MUST ALSO COMPLY WITH UNDERGROUND CABLING MANDATES.

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