Breezy Point, a tight-knit community of tightly-spaced homes along the Queens shore, was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy, when, in addition to flood damage, more than 80 homes burned to the ground. The cause of the fire, which is under investigation, could have been generators, downed electric lines, or, as some suspect, methane leaks from broken gas pipelines.

National Grid, the local utility, did not shut off gas to Breezy Point until the morning after the fire, and the company PR person says, "There is no indication natural gas was the cause." Reuters noted that, "as Hurricane Sandy roared up the eastern seaboard, electricity was powered down in large swaths of the region as a proactive measure. Electricity is relatively cheap and easy to shut off. But natural gas is more costly to shut down as it involves sending a worker to every home. Typically, natural gas companies don't switch off the gas in inclement weather."

"That gas should have been turned off in New York, " said Mark McDonald, a former natural gas executive who is founder of the New England Gas Workers Association. "We've been warning about fires like these for years."

In Mantoloking, NJ, MSNBC reported on damage "likely related to natural gas lines that are sparking the fires, or downed electric lines." CNN reporters who toured Barnegat Bay described a strong smell of gas. Reuters reported 1300 gas leaks in coastal NJ and that "gas crews were overwhelmed." New Jersey Natural Gas decided to shut down the system after fires kept reigniting. Chief Operating Officer Kathleen T. Ellis said, “It is beyond imagination. The only safe thing to do is shut down the system.”

Were these fires a fluke caused by a freak storm, or is there a larger danger? Natural Gas Watch also interviewed Mr. McDonald and points out, "Damage done to the metropolitan area’s underground natural gas distribution system by the recent massive flooding may pose a significant, long-range threat to public safety." The issue stems from a part of the gas distribution infrastructure known as a regulator vault. A vault like this is currently being constructed in Manhattan on Gansevoort Street, adjacent to the new Whitney Museum and the High Line park, to service the Spectra pipeline. The problem with vaults comes when they are flooded; their ability to regulate gas pressure can be impaired. Natural Gas Watch quotes McDonald who says, “Water can cause the regulator to be stuck open completely, in the wide open position. If that happens, it dramatically increases the pressure and it can cause serious problems down the line. If gas is coming into a home or a business at a much higher pressure than it’s supposed to, it can cause a fire or even an explosion." In addition, flooding can accelerate corrosion of the regulators.

Could Sandy be the turning point in our national discussion of fossil fuels? Given all the problems with gas––the fracking, the radon, the risk of explosion, the leaks and emissions that supercharge climate change––shouldn't that conversation include ending the use of gas altogether? In New York City, our former comfort with gas has become uneasy. For nearly 200 years, the city has been “wired” for gas; historical streetlamps are revered as romantic icons. In tonier households, an 18,000 BTU trophy stove is a sought-after marker of one’s good taste and culinary abilities. But in modern times, does running miles of potentially explosive pipes under streets and inside apartment walls seem a sensible idea? Doesn't the threat of super storms tearing up a beach, such as the one in Rockaway, where a new oversized gas line is proposed, give pause? Won't concern over pipelines and vaults in densely-populated neighborhoods, such as the West Village, turn off even gas enthusiasts? Certainly, activists have turned up resistance with increasingly intense civil disobedience, as outlined in this recent article in The Villager. As radical as it sounds, might ordinary consumers willingly give up on gas? Could this be the beginning of the end of gas?

The court-ordered Spectra/Con Ed meeting for Community Board 2, originally scheduled for Nov. 8th, has been postponed; a new date and location will be announced, likely for December. This presentation will include the public's first look at Con Ed plans for the 1500-foot extension to the Spectra Pipe, which will run up 10th Avenue.

At this time, the November 13th Court date has not been changed. Watch your inbox for updates.

Sandy did postpone some filing dates for the HRPT lawsuit, and needed affidavits were obtained by our heroic lawyer, who rode a bicycle through the darkened city to obtain needed signatures.

• Polling sites for the Presidential election on Tuesday may have changed due to flood damage. Check online or call 1-855-NYS-SANDY for Election Information.

• Among the most effective relief efforts are Occupy Sandy, which is centered out of a church in Sunset Park. To volunteer or donate supplies, please follow the instructions on the website or join the alert system by texting "occupysandy" to 23559.

• Sandy cancelled many blood drives and supplies along the east coast need replenishing. Find a location to donate here.