One Week After Sandy, Power Restorations Ongoing

A week after the massive storm named Sandy tore through the tri-state area, hundreds of residents remain without power.

New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) reported Sunday night that more than 3,100 front line and support personnel are on the job to restore power as quickly as possible.

“Because of the widespread damage from the storm, it has been a challenge to secure personnel to supplement our work force,” said Mark S. Lynch, president of NYSEG and Rochester Gas & Electric. “But since the days before the storm hit, our emergency planners have been working on this challenge. Throughout the restoration effort, their work has paid off.  We continue to be committed to securing the optimal number of people to rebuild our electricity delivery system and restore service as quickly as possible.”

Nearly 3,000 Putnam County residents—and more than 14,000 in Westchester—remained without power Sunday night. About 600 residences in Southeast were in the dark at about 3 p.m., councilwoman Lynne Eckardt said. A few hours later, the number was 440, according to the company's website.

Crews from Nova Scotia, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas and Minnesota have arrived to bolster efforts in the area. More than 500 line and tree crews are now on the job, some that have been released from utilities and contractors across the country and from Canada, according to NYSEG's Sunday night press release.

More than 70 percent of customers in its Brewster Division, which covers a range of areas, including Northern Westchester, have had service restored, the company said. NYSEG expects virtually all customers to have power restored by midnight Wednesday. Some previously unknown damage or areas that remain inaccessible may extend restoration times.

Folks will have another chance to charge electronics, grab bottled water and/or pick up dry ice Monday (Nov. 5). Town of Southeast and Village of Brewster officials have arranged for the local comfort station, Hudson Valley Cerebral Palsy Association at 15 Mount Ebo Road South, to remain open. Organizers say supplies will be most plentiful after 11 a.m.

Around the corner and down the street, Southeast Town Hall will open for the first time in about a week. Officials said Sunday that power had been restored to the Route 22 building. The PART Bus System, including Para-Transit, is slated to return to normal operations Monday, too, Putnam County elected leaders announced. 

For estimated restoration times, visit: http://www.nyseg.com/Outages/outageinformation.html

For more news on NYSEG's efforts you can follow them on Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/NYSEandG.