Student from Hall County speaks about superstorm experience

MANHATTAN , NY - An NYU student from Hall County is coping the best he can in the wake of the superstorm Sandy.

Taylor Hall, a graduate of Gainesville High School, is a sophomore musical theater major and rode the storm out with his girlfriend on 7th Street in Manhattan. When the weather calmed, Hall said they went outside early Tuesday morning.

"It is the strangest feeling, because it's pitch-black, and there's no sound. It was actually kind of creepy but really fun," Hall said.

He said the brunt of the storm hit between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday. They were charging their electronics, waiting for power to go out. It did just that around 9:30 p.m. Hall said they were able to watch some TV shows on their laptop for a while, and then played cards.

He said NYU has been e-mailing students, for anyone who has Internet access.

"The majority of the university facilities are below 25th Street which is where most of the power has gone out. They have a few places set up in several dining halls, where you can go. They have generators, so they have electricity and food for everybody. They're trying to get everyone there periodically," Hall said.

So far, NYU hasn't evacuated anyone from their dorms. Hall said the university is just telling everyone to remain calm.

"They hope to have the power back up maybe sometime Saturday or Sunday," Hall said.

While parts of the city were inundated with flood waters, Hall said there's no flooding in his immediate area. He's several streets away from some flooding.

"There have been a few building collapses. There was one just a few blocks down from my dorm, and actually a tree fell within a block of my girlfriend's dorm and took down a few underground powerlines I think," Hall said.

Hall's dorm is on 14th Street.

He was able to contact family in Hall County and assure them he was fine. Cell service is sporadic, according to Hall.

"It's very touch and go. It makes me feel like I've been sent back a few decades. There's absolutely no cell service anywhere below about 23 Street. I had to take a little hike up here."

Hall planned to stick it out in the city until classes resume.

"I'm going to hang out here. I've got a stock of board games. We've got water and food. We're set with a bunch of beef jerky and pop tarts. I think we'll be able to ride it out for the next few days," Hall said.

He spoke to accessnorthga.com above 23 Street, of course after he talked to his mother.