NEW YORK CITY (CBS) -- President Obama is visiting New York City today. He's getting an update from local officials on superstorm Sandy recovery efforts in the city's most outer borough.
New York City Police Sergeant Rudy Mienert is glad that President Obama is getting a firsthand look at the damage superstorm Sandy did to his street on Staten Island.
Some residents say FEMA and private relief groups have not done enough to get them back on their feet. More than two weeks after the storm thousands who still have homes remain without power and heat. But Mienert sees evidence that the government is helping. He says, "Everybody thinks they going to be first in line, there's people who need assistance a lot faster than others, eventually they're going to get to everybody."
Bob and Maxine Hochman rode out the storm floating on a foam mattress in their bedroom. They are satisfied with the government's response so far. Maxine says, "I think it was a little slow at first but once everything kicked it was overwhelming."
Over 47,000 New Yorkers have applied for housing help through FEMA. Many displaced residents are exhausted and frustrated. They want FEMA to act faster.
Residents here are making heartfelt pleas to the president as he sees the magnitude of the damage and the recovery effort.
The President visited New Jersey shortly after the storm, but Mayor Bloomberg asked him not to come to New York because he didn't want to divert resources to protect the President.