Watch CBS News

Out Of State Workers Threatened On Long Island For Helping Clean Up After Sandy

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- A group of workers who traveled halfway across the country to help clean-up in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, received an ugly welcome on Long Island.

"You're out here trying to take our money? That's kinda hard man. We wouldn't go to Oklahoma and do that to you guys," said a voice-mail left on Paul Nosak's phone.

Nosak and his team of six came from Tulsa to help clear large trees that fell during Sandy.

A few days later, Nosak told CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff, that he found the fuel drained from his truck, and three of his tires slashed, along with several cut air hoses.

"People could have died. We could have gotten on the road and that tire could have blown apart and we could have swerved into a family of seven," Nosak said.

In another threatening phone call Nosak was told that he should leave, and that the original vandals "went easy" on him and his team.

"I want to go cut some hoses. I want to go cut some (unintelligible) lines. I would have done you up better than those guys did," the caller said.

Nosak and his team travel all over the country responding to disasters. He told CBS 2 that he is licensed and insured to work in Suffolk County.

"We're not here to hurt anybody, we're not here to hurt another tree company," he said.

Police are investigating the vandalism and the phone calls.

You may share your thoughts in our comments section below...

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.