Fort Greene-Clinton Hill Weathers the Storm

The damage from Breezy Point, Queens to Red Hook to Lower Manhattan has been nothing short of devastating.

But in Fort Greene-Clinton Hill, residents and business owners mostly breathed a sigh of relief as the area dodged some of the worst damage Hurricane Sandy had to offer.

Not that the neighborhood escaped completely unscathed.

On Washington Park, a large tree fell across the roadway, its massive truck ripping up the sidewalk. Nearby in Fort Greene Park, a tree that appeared to be nearly a century old was smashed into pieces by Sandy's ferocious winds.

But unlike much of Manhattan below 34th Street, Red Hook and Coney Island, the power remained on in Fort Greene-Clinton Hill. And during a tour of the neighborhood Tuesday, little to no major property damage was seen.

Time Warner Cable customers continued to report Internet and TV outages. Subway service continued its indefinite suspension. Limited bus service is expected to be restored Tuesday at 5 p.m.

As he swept up the leaves and small branched kicked up by the storm on Clermont Avenue, Loudel B. was relieved.

"We're fortunate because people have passed away and lots of homes have been burnt," Loudel said, referring to the 10 deaths reported so far citywide and the 80 homes burnt in Breezy Point at the height of the storm. "It teaches us that we can't flout Mother Nature because sometimes she's nice and sometimes she's no so nice."