'Sandy' victims struggling in the biting cold - YouTube

'Sandy' victims struggling in the biting cold

A bitter cold wave that swept across the Midwest and Eastern U.S. this week has made a difficult situation worse for those countries most affected by extreme weather "Sandy" in October last year.

With temperatures down to minus 12 degrees, it is difficult to live in an electrical-based house without the possibility of heating.

Hole in the roof

Eddie Saman lives in New York State and recently got back his badly-needed power and hot water. But his house was badly damaged during the storm and with a large hole in the roof, the heating capacity flew south and hasn't returned.

Saman has moved into one of the many refugee tents set up by the government.

- It is terribly cold here, and I sleep most often right up next to the heater, said Saman told CBS News.
But in the cold weather, it is difficult to keep heat in the tents, even with propane fuel.

- Tents this size make it difficult to warm them up, but we also hand out sleeping bags and blankets, said Benjamin Swenson that helps with relief efforts in New York.

Do not give up

New York is experiencing its coldest winter in two years, and the victims of Staten Island are asking themselves how much more they can handle.

- This is New York and people are freezing here. There is no heat, no hot water, no kitchen or bathroom. I can not even take a hot shower, says Anthony Marotto to CBS .

Marotto has lived on Staten Island for 22 years and refuses to give in to fear for the next storm.

- I do not give up because of the weather, the government or anyone, he asserted.

There are still 1,500 people on Staten Island homeless.