Hurricane Sandy Wreaks Havoc on New Rochelle — Flooding, Power Outages, Trees Down, Lines Down

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Reports from the Field

Monday Nov. 12 5:44 PM – Con Edison is now reporting total customers without power down to 6.

Echo Avenue – 1 – partial outage
Davenport Avenue 1- – no lights
Coigini Avenue – 3 – partial outage
Forest Avenue – 1 – Service Wires Down
Quaker Ridge Road – 1 – partial outage

Monday Nov. 12 8:28 AM – Con Edison is now reporting total customers without power down to 15.

Sunday Nov. 11 12:04 PM – Con Edison is now reporting total customers without power down to 92.

Saturday Nov. 10 7:35 PM – Con Edison is now reporting total customers without power down to 253. My neighbors in Highland Park got power a few hours ago. A spot check from the Con Edison outage map shows that all remaining outages are single digit outages and almost all of them are 1 customer per outage.

Saturday Nov. 10 8:39 AM – The State of Emergency is definitely winding down. This morning Con Edison is reporting 731 customers in New Rochelle without power and is telling residents they will have power before the weekend is up. Of course, if you do not have power at this time that is no consolation. FEMA will be at the New Rochelle Public Library this weekend. The Red Cross will be at City Hall. Details below.

The Red Cross shelter at Albert Leonard Middle School has closed. However, the Red Cross will be distributing food and comfort kits at the City Hall parking lot, 515 North Avenue, on Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 4PM. Representatives from FEMA will be at the New Rochelle Public Library on Saturday from 9AM to 5PM, and on Sunday and Monday from 1PM to 5PM. Additionally, assistance is available at the Westchester County Center, with representatives from FEMA, the Red Cross and Con Ed from 8AM to 8PM, 7 days a week, until further notice.

Friday Nov. 9 8:42 PM – In the clearest sign yet that New Rochelle is getting past Hurricane Sandy, the City has announced today they will no longer do daily robocalls. The Red Cross is closing the emergency shelter at Albert Leonard Middle School but will be handing out supplies at City Hall starting this weekend. Con Edison is reporting 1,904 New Rochelle customers are without power. So far, the gas lines feared when New York City and Long Island went to odd/even gas rationing has not only failed to materialize in New Rochelle but even in the Bronx. The final test will be Saturday. That said, there were still many gas stations without gasoline and the idea that the gas “shortage” would end this week as suggested by Governor Cuomo have not panned out.

Still more frustration for those without power.

A Quebec-based crew came to Highland Park, my neighborhood, and re-strung the wire that sagged into the street, blocking traffic on Perth Avenue. This wire sagged during the Nor’Easter. Meanwhile, they ignored the blown transformer and smashed light pole across the street leaving a large chunk of my neighborhood still without power.

Rochelle Park still has no power. Our estimated restoration date was for yesterday at 11pm. They have moved it to 11 pm, Saturday night. If you drive down The Blvd toward The Court wires are still hanging. The Serpentine is blocked off as of 8:10 this morning and no one is there working, yet since Tuesday whenever I call Con Ed, I am told crews have been dispatched to my area. — KR

Dear Talk of the Sound – the latest buzz – is that folks are so disgusted with NR’s lack of response that many are considering moving. We’ve had our place on the market and now are definitely not rebuying in New Rochelle – NO FREAKING WAY! I’m out, Larchmont’s communication has been amazing, I just don’t understand why people who pay such high taxes in NR while so many don’t get absolutely nothing. This town is a DISGRACE! — AP

Friday Nov. 9 8:54 AM – Today is the day Con Edison initially projected 100% power restoration. Westchester has 16,000 without power. New York City has 19,000 without power. As of now Con Edison is reporting 1,904 or 7% of New Rochelle without power. For anyone who thought that Con Edison was diverting resources to New York City you might note that Manhattan has just 59 customers without power.

It is easy to lose sight of the context but pre-Sandy to have 7% of New Rochelle without power the next day would be considered really bad, post-Sandy these figures are considered signs of progress 11 days after the storm. Amazing how perspectives can change in such a short time. For many years to come, when we have a bad storm with lots of damage, New Rochelleans will say “this is nothing, remember Sandy?”.

Long lines in New Rochelle overnight. This is the beginning of the reversal of a trend that will accelerate today as NYC and LI go to odd/even gas rationing. Expect the weekend to be very bad, especially on Main Street in the area of Exit 15. NRFD getting a lot of false alarm calls on CO alarms going off due to low/dead batteries. Get the word out to change the batteries on CO detectors to help free up our first responders for actual emergencies.

Con Ed working in Residence Park. Got emails that Wilmot Woods, Bloomingdale Estates, and Scarsdale Downs got power back yesterday. 43 Calton apartments did get power but rest of Highland Park has not. No word on Rochelle Park and Rochelle Heights or Trenor. A reader emails “Trenor got power at about 5pm last night after a team from Pike worked on the lines without stopping from 7am.”

As one City official put it the other day, “somebody has to be last”. Not an honor any neighborhood wants but I do wonder which will be last to get power?

Thursday Nov. 8 4:00 PM – The decision of New York City and Long Island to go to an odd/even license plate system for gasoline purchase starting tomorrow at 6 AM bodes ill for New Rochelle which has been over run by motorists from NYC, mostly the Bronx. When the news broke, you can bet 10,000 people got in their cars and started heading for Exit 15 of I-95. I spoke with County Legislator Sheila Marcotte who said that County Executive Rob Astorino preferred to defer odd/even rationing to the local level. With NYC, LI and NJ doing it, if we do not do it we become the first option for millions of people and will be overrun. We have no choice but to go along or be inundated. I have spoken with City Officials on the need to make this announcement for New Rochelle ASAP so the NYC news outlets will be sure to mention that New Rochelle is also on an odd/even system so as to discourage motorists from coming North into New Rochelle. The response I received is that the City is monitoring the situation. Unfortunately that means I am going to need to head out there late night and early tomorrow to monitor as well. In my view, we should have already declared odd/even rationing as Michael Bloomberg is leaving us no choice and we are going certainly see a massive influx of motorists.

A few more “metric” updates. Con Edison is down to 2,300 customers without power or 8% as of 5:30 PM this evening. The Red Cross Shelter at ALMS was down to 11 clients. Most street closures are resolved; officially down to 2 but as I mentioned last night Con Ed closed Perth between Lomond and Aberfoyle, my backyard. In another sign of progress that folks may not like, parking enforcement is in effect for meters and alternate side restrictions are in effect. Not all progress is good!

Isaac parents wondering why there kids were in the dark midday yesterday when the power failed. One parent says she heard the generator had not been started in 6 years and when they power went out staff could not start it. Being told the only lights for a while were two flood lights near the main office that went off after 20 minutes. Staff had no batteries for flashlights or lanterns but eventually got some. Well its not like there was a power failure in our schools recently. Oh wait. There was, for a week. What parents do not realize is that each school is supposed to have a regularly updated plan. The only school with an updated plan currently is New Rochelle High School. The rest have plans which name people who do not even work for the district anymore. The equipment called for in the plans like generators and batteries are not in position or do not work. Even if there was a plan for the other 10 schools and the equipment was in place, the staff has not been trained. This is why there was a mad scramble at Isaac yesterday — no plan, no equipment, no training. This is why when the district recently did an early dismissal/emergency drill no one from the New Rochelle Police Department or New Rochelle Fire Department participated. By New York State law, the district is supposed to include first responders in drills, NRFD and NRPD were not even notified there was doing to be a drill let along participated.

Thursday Nov. 8 11:22 AM – Just got back from a loop around the South End of New Rochelle. From talking to Con Ed crews, they stopped work yesterday evening and picked up again early this morning. They lost ground on getting people back on line but are close to where they were yesterday. Areas like Wilmot Woods, Trenor Avenue, Rochelle Heights, Highland Park, and Residence Park have now had trees cleared (a “kill team” according to Con Ed parlance) but still waiting for Restoration teams. The two biggest changes from yesterday morning is that FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the Westchester County Center in White Plains and Con Edison is no longer distribution Dry Ice at the County Center or Yonkers Raceway just IBM offices in Armonk (details below).

A reader sent along this tidbit from the NY Times: Cuomo Fires Emergency Office Chief for Misusing Workers in Hurricane.
Journal News has a good article on the FEMA press conference yesterday about the new White Plains location.

Thursday Nov. 8 8:24 AM – We took a step backwards over the last 24 hours; yesterday morning at 8:30 AM there were 3,116 Con Ed customers in New Rochelle without power, at the same time today that figure stood at 3,403 after a spike as the storm hit, up to 4,035. I just got back from driving in the area of New Rochelle High School. Primary Roads (North Avenue, Eastchester Road, Webster Avenue) are down the black, secondary and tertiary roads have not been plowed, many are passable as one-lane roads, creating delays. A slopping, slushy, mushy, mess.

School is open, as noted last night. What is hilarious is the numerous discussions the board had over the past two years about instituting 2 hour delays. They listened to various parents and staff talk about the hardship of starting school on time when the roads were bad, on days when other districts were having 2 hour delays, the board expressed great empathy, the administration made of show of investigating the possibility and then, after much deliberation, declared they would, going forward, make use of a 2 hour delay option. So what happened today? We are still digging out from Sandy, 3,400 customers have not had power for 10 days, DPW was not even plowing streets last night due to downed power lines so that only the primary roads are down to the black, and in Westchester 24 of 39 school districts are on a two hour delay including bell-weather districts like Yonkers, Mount Vernon and White Plains. New Rochelle is one of two districts that reported to the Journal News that they were opening at the regular time (Greenburgh is the other). So much for the empathy and investigation surrounding the two-hour delay option. As one reader asked “…if no 2 hour delays today then when.”

I see that I kept copying “Tuesday Nov. 7” instead of “Wednesday Nov. 7” into my alerts. Trying to work too fast. I trust readers realized I meant Wednesday Nov. 7 not Tuesday Nov. 7.

Wednesday Nov. 7 7:26 PM – Amazing how the school board and administration is almost entirely invisible for a week during Hurricane Sandy and aftermath but proceeds with a school board meeting in the middle of a Nor’Easter when the City of New Rochelle has declared a State of Emergency and the roads are so dangerous due to downed power lines that DPW is not plowing the streets. How badly do they want the public not to see them conduct their business? Pretty bad! Six Seven board members shows up and one “civilian”. May as well meet in a back room at the Casa Calabria. As expected, the board used the agenda item “Hurricane Sandy Update” to pat themselves on the back for doing a wonderful job. No discussion of the communications failures, the lack of an emergency response plan and any consideration of “lessons learned”. At the New Rochelle Board of Education, there is never any reason to ask what we could do better since “where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average”.

If the front of my house is any indication, it’s really nuts out there. Two cars crashed and got stuck in front of my house on Aberfoyle. A third car came up the hill and slipped back and appeared to hit one of the two cars, then proceeded to spin around for a while until he ended up on my neighbors lawn across the street, then in my driveway, then into my neighbors front walk, last I could see him he was spinning his way backwards down out street. Meanwhile around the corner on Perth the road has been closed due to a downed wire, on the other side of Perth that has finally re-opened after 9 days but the power lines are still down, not in the street but on my neighbors lawns. The lines from my house to the street are sagging, covered in a thick snow and being blown around. I am charging all my phones and other devices while I can. I have a strong feeling my house will not have power before the night is over.

Trinity and Isaac both lost power and district was prepared to close both schools but Con Edison got them both back online along with area around Center and Pelham Road. As of 10 pm, schools spokesperson Paul Costiglio tweets “All New Rochelle schools are scheduled to be open for a full day tomorrow.”

New Rochelle Board of Education Meeting Tonight 7 PM at City Hall — There is no way the school board can meet tonight. Roads are a madhouse. lines down, accidents, cars stuck in the snow. We will pick this up when they re-schedule the meeting. School board meeting as scheduled despite the fact that the City has declared a State of Emergency.

Wednesday Nov. 7 6:37 PM – Fireworks in the South End as transformers blow up and down Pelham Road. Isaac Young power out again. Forest Avenue near Maywood and Kingsbury, lines down. 21 Prospect Street at Church Street transformer explosion. 167 Center Avenue transformer explosion, power out in the area. 300 Pelham Road has people stuck in elevator. 151 Wolf’s Lane transformer fire, 3 Winthrop Avenue transformer explosion, 44 Church Street, blackout in area, 34 Prospect pole fire, unconfirmed but Trinity school may be out as well. Stratton and Kewanee, 60 Elk Avenue. The Office of Emergency Management Emergency Operation Center is back in business taking control of all first responders call.

Wednesday Nov. 7 5:42 PM – Stay off the roads. Very dangerous out there. Lines down, accidents, cars stuck in the snow. DPW crews were working on tree removal so they are just out now salting the road. They go by priority — hospitals, snow evacuation routes and hills so they have done places like Memorial Highway, Mayflower Avenue and Stratton Road in the last 30 minutes. A further issues is that DPW trucks were all converted to work as dump trucks not snow plows so there are no snow plow crews working now, snow piling up unabated. Wires down on 4th Street. City cancels Zoning and MAC meeting.

Wednesday Nov. 7 4:44 PM – 13 Glenmore Drive off Webster, pole fire. Lines down and sparking on the ground at London Terrace. Report of line sparking at 127 Franklin, 56 Walnut CO from generator running in the home (idiots!), temporary speed bumps that were installed were not removed before snow so snow plows contending with those. 133 Kingsbury Road, wires down in the road, burning. 9 Runyon Place near Daisy Farms Road, lines down, arcing. 31 Hunter Avenue, lines down, arcing. 239 Avon Road/Oxford, lines down in a backyard, Grand/Wilmot has a police car and 2 buses stuck in snow, traffic is very bad, stuck all over the place. Line down, no arcing, next to my own car which I foolishly left parked on Perth behind my house. I was able to move my car before the Con Ed crew yellow-taped off Perth. Con Edison is already on scene, for downed lines on the other side of the street. Perth near Aberfoyle Road is now impassable. A second line down on Hunter, no arcing. 237 Loring/2nd Street lines down.

Wednesday Nov. 7 3:44 PM – Just head about wires “arcing” at Washington at 4th and 5th Street. Pelham Road just got their power back on. Isaac got their power on. Transformer explosion on Fifth Street between Lafayette and Union. West End having trouble. Here we go again. 24 Ellington has wires down on the road, burning. Outages rose from 3,116 as of 8:33 AM to 4,035 as of 3:44 PM.

Wednesday Nov. 7 3:06 PM – I met with City Manager Chuck Strome a short while ago. I asked him what thought the best thing a person without power could do for themselves. He said that residents should “continually” call Con Edison (1-800-75 CONED or www.coned.com)and make reports to City Hall (740-6118 or 654-2300). He encouraged people to call so the City could take the information gathered in the calls, review it against the information the City already had and use that to give “guidance” and “advice” to Con Edison. Chuck described all the calls and emails coming in from residents upset about the slow pace of restoration; as a frequent critic of

Chuck said that the number of crews working changed from day to day and that today there are 16 crews in working in New Rochelle. Chuck said that it was a source of frustration for the City that Con Edison personnel were providing residents with incorrect information. The procedure for “trees down on wires” is for a Con Edison tree removal crew to go to the scene, de-energize the area, cut and remove trees and tree limbs and leave. That crew will be followed up by a Con Edison restoration crew which will arrive on scene, repair the wires and energize the area. If you have had a Con Ed crew come to your area and remove trees and limbs then a restoration crew will be sent next (no particular timetable).

The City of New Rochelle shows the following streets blocked as of 1 PM on Wed. Nov. 7: Bellview Place and Lorenz Avenue. Chestnut Lane and Leland Avenue, Harbor Lane and Fort Slocum Road, John Street and Weyman Avenue, The Circle and Orchard Place, Trenor Drive and Carlisle Road, Woodland Avenue and Circuit Road, Hillside Lane and Beechmont Drive, Premium Point in two locations. In addition there are Low Hanging Wires at Storer Avenue and 8th Street and a Branch Hanging On Wire at Lockwood Avenue and Edgewood Park. If there are trees across the road or wires down on your street and you do not see that listed here, contact the City of New Rochelle to advise.

Chuck made some news during out meeting — that the City Council will consider requiring all gas stations in New Rochelle to have backup generators. The item is on for discussion at the Nov. 13th meeting.

Just got off the telephone with Allan Drury of Con Edison after asking him about the impact of the Nor’Easter. “We make decisions on whether to send workers up in buckets on a case-by-case, location-by-location basis. We place the safety of the workers first. There may be areas that are protected by the wind where work can continue.” He said that continually calling Con Edison will not make a difference.

Westchester County crews out salting county highways.

Wednesday Nov. 7 1:20 PM – Uh oh! New power outages at Iona College and the surrounding areas of Beechmont and Halcyon Park, stores on North Avenue and up into Beechmont Road are without power. Tree down on live wires on London Terrace in the area of Forest and Pinebrook. Isaac Young and surrounding area down Pelham Road lost power. School district confirming Isaac, also Trinity Elementary is experiencing sporadic power outages, Jefferson Elementary had a single incident of power loss but power is currently on. Barnard lost power. Kids have been dismissed and all afternoon activities cancelled. Lines down in surrounding communities as well. If we are losing power in sectors of the City this early into this Nor’Easter that is not a good sign. We are going backwards.

Iona College Alert: Iona Loses Power on Main Campus Due to Fire on Fifth Avenue in New Rochelle, NY.

Wednesday Nov. 7 8:33 AM – (50 photos added) As pace slows, frustration grows. The pace of power restoration in New Rochelle by Con Edison makes the likelihood of 100% power restoration by 11/9 or 11/11, the dates provided by Con Edison since last week, seem remote. In the past 24 hours, the number of outages in New Rochelle has gone from 3,586 as of Tuesday at 8:14 AM to 3,501 as of Tuesday at 10:59 PM) and now 3,116 as of 8:33 AM. The bad news is that utility companies have a policy about putting bucket trucks up when winds gust over 40 mph. According to the National Weather Service we are already at winds out of the North at 14 mph with gusts up to 18 mph. This means that restoration efforts may cease for 24 hours or more (checking with Con Ed) now and we may have more outages due to more downed trees and coastal flooding.

Con ed told me they had 1 building and 73 homes without power on that road, in the building we have over 70 families which many have been displaced. Saw many of our neighbors voting last night, many have moved out just too cold.

— 43 Calton Road Apartments

I live in a neighborhood in northern New Rochelle. I have been without power for 8 days. It took Con Edison 7 of those 8 days to come into my neighborhood and assess the damage; moreover it took 7 days for Con Edison to send out someone at night to “sit” on the downed power line in my neighborhood.

Our power comes out of the Heathcote Substation; the outage is responsible for 330 customers without power in the Wilmot Woods, Bloomingdale Estates, and Scarsdale Downs neighborhoods. Currently the largest single outage in New Rochelle and one of the largest single outages in Lower Westchester.

Why was there no progress made on this large outage until yesterday? What took so long for Con Edison to remove a tree? To sit on a downed wire? Why has such an extensive outage been ignored for 7 days?

We are very cold; there is another storm approaching, with possible snow. What is being done for us? The people who have been in the dark and cold for over a week?

— Wilmot Woods, Bloomingdale Estates, and Scarsdale Downs

We have been told repeatedly by city crews coming back over past week that the tree will not be cleared until coned removes the power lines hanging down. Would someone please take charge and coordinate the response here between coned and the DPW to get them both out at the same time so that this could be fixed in short order?

My neighbor said he was so frustrated with the fact the Trenor has been blocked for more than a week now and went down to city hall yesterday seeking assistance and was told they were not even aware of a tree down blocking the street (which simply is not possibly accurate given prior visits to the site by DPW ). He was told to open a ticket….

— Trenor Drive

Dear Mayor Bramson,

I’d like to begin by saying that I am writing this e-mail using second hand and anecdotal information so I apologize in advance if I am proceeding under any false pretenses. That said I need to express my displeasure, bordering on disgust, with post-Sandy clean up and repair.

You suggested to the Wilmot Woods Assn that we contact Gov. Cuomo to complain about Con Ed and treatment that you called “reprehensible”. However, if it is worth pressuring the governor on the state level then, by extension, it is worth pressuring you on a local level.

Con Ed has told is that they can’t fix power lines until trees are cleaned up and that is the responsibility of New Rochelle. In other words, yours. Now, I can only speak anecdotally here but tree clean up has been incredibly slow, at least in our area. And, while anecdotal, I have seen numerous examples and, at a certain point, a surplus of anecdotal information is called data. This may well be finger pointing and blame shifting on the part of Con Ed, but if true then New Rochelle is as much, if not more to blame for our, in your phrasing, “reprehensible” treatment.

Mr. Mayor, my children, like yours, go to Davis. The difference is that yours can keep their daily schedule, leaving from their warm familiar homes after breakfast, a quick trip to school, returning to their warm home for homework and dinner before going to sleep, cozy and warm in their beds. By contrast, after a week, mine have two choices: sleeping in, leaving and returning to a house that is dark and 47 degrees, or being (and feeling) displaced, uneasy and making a mad scramble to get to school on time after a much longer trip from where we’re staying. And if what Con Ed says is accurate it will go on another week.

We agree on the absurdity of the situation and that our treatment has been reprehensible. However, if what Con Ed says is true, you can do much to alleviate this horrific situation.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

— Wilmot Woods

Rochelle Park and Rochelle Heights, right behind the city hall as not had power restored. As of this morning when I called no one was assigned the area. This has been extremely frustrating. Now with the storm coming up tomorrow, doesn’t seem like we will have power well into the weekend.

— Rochelle Park and Rochelle Heights

They finally got CON ED to give go ahead to clear tree….Many more in the same area and the tree on Webster STILL there…power may be out on madeline Avenue, west new rochelle…

— Residence Park

Tuesday Nov. 6 6:05 PM – ROUND II: URGENT WEATHER MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE…DAMAGING WINDS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACROSS LONG ISLAND…NEW YORK CITY…AND COASTAL CONNECTICUT…STRONG WINDS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE TRI-STATE…HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM WEDNESDAY TO 4 AM EST…DAMAGING WINDS NORTH 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH…WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES…AS WELL AS MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE…A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE…STRONG COASTAL STORM WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO LOCALIZED MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM WEDNESDAY TO 7 AM EST…TIDAL DEPARTURES…AROUND 4 TO 5 FT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO EVENING. AROUND 2.5 TO 4 FT LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING…MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING WILL OCCUR MAINLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. MINOR TO LOCALIZED MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED VERY LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. WIDESPREAD FLOODING OF VULNERABLE SHORE ROADS AND/OR BASEMENTS WILL HAMPER RECOVERY EFFORTS.

I was planning on shutting down this emergency update article today but with this Nor’Easter bearing down on New Rochelle I will leave it up for another 1-2 days.

Looking at the numbers from Con Edison today, a good argument can be made that Con Ed has largely abandoned New Rochelle power restoration efforts. The pace of restoration is moving now at a glacial pace. This morning at 8 AM New Rochelle had 3,586 without power and by 11 PM that was reduced down to only 3,501 or 12%. 75 customers in a 12 hour period is not going to get the job done. As it happens, there is a Con Ed crew in front of my house working on the half of Highland Park that has been without power. I can hear the chainsaws as I write so it seems like my neighbors will finally return to the grid. Meanwhile, Trenor is still out, Rochelle Park and Rochelle Heights are still out. Residence Park is still out. Where else? Let me know at info@newrochelletalk.com

Tuesday Nov. 6 12:10 PM – City spokesperson Kathy Gilwit just reviewed with me the items discussed at the City press briefing on Friday as a sort of marker of progress since the weekend. Most open items are now closed. All public schools have power. Iona College has power. The 3 nursing homes that were running on backup generators now have power. The traffic lights issue has largely been resolved Main and Weyman is now restored and thoroughfares have flashing lights, smaller intersections have stop signs. The majority of gas stations are now restored, lines during the day are 20-30 minutes. The ALMS Red Cross Shelter has gone up from 20 clients to 30 today. First responder calls are getting back to normal, NRPD back to normal, NRFD was about double on Nov. 1-2 but now closer to normal, CO calls to NRFD are higher than usual, about 5 per day (and the major one reported above with 9 people). The tree blocking Five Islands Park has not been removed. An outside engineer visited the Rowing Club yesterday but otherwise no new developments on the Rowing Club or removing the 2 boats that landed near by. DPW got all of its deliveries of gasoline and diesel, sanitation is back on normal sanitation/recycling schedule, as of Friday there were about 60 roads closed, today there is under 30 but an official count will not be completed until end of day today. I also asked about a post-presser issue, the closing of I-95 (twice) over the weekend; City confirms that was done by the New York State Police.

Tuesday Nov. 6 10:45 AM – Just got back from a partial tour of the City – North Avenue Corridor, East Main Street, City Park, Trenor/Valley and Calton. Residence Park still without power but work going on at Lou Gehrig’s house on Meadow Lane (one of the worst hit areas in New Rochelle). Saw gas lines at Mobil at Iona College and Shell on East Main that were about 20 cars long. At Hudson Park, the City is turning the parking lot near the Rowing Club into a transfer station for chopped up trees hauled by DPW crews (not private use).

The folks on Valley Road who were emailing me yesterday have power now. Today I am hearing from the folks on Trenor Drive. There is a tree down on wires near Carlisle and the area is without power. The residents are frustrated with what they perceive to be conflicting information coming from Con Edison “sitters” who are doing site security detail at the intersection of Trenor and Carlisle. It is natural that people will want to to talk to anyone to get information and believe hat the “sitters” have information to pass along. Let me assure you the know absolutely nothing about anything regarding power restoration and have zero influence over what happens. Brining them coffee and donuts is nice but it will not effect your power restoration. The City has consistently said they will not remove trees until Con Edison de-energizes the wires in that area. Anything else people are hearing is not the case. Chuck and Noam have been getting beat up on this one pretty good for the past week. I am often first in line to criticize them when they are wrong. In this case they are right. This is solely a Con Edison issue. Con Edison sets their own “bang for the buck” priority list. I see their crews working around time. Today I saw a Pike truck near Paine Lake. They are around. As mentioned earlier, the pace slows as more people get restored as there are smaller and smaller numbers of customers effected by a particular fix.

We are hearing reports from area residents who inquire about Trenor that they were being told as recently as yesterday that there was no “ticket” open showing that a tree was down Trenor. It is hard to credit that when Con Edison has a sitter at that location and the area has been taped off. Part of the problem is that resident perceive Trenor to a “major artery” and a means to get to and from ALMS. In fact, it is not. It is a secondary road and there are alternate routes to ALMS. The issue is simply how many homes are out of power due to the downed power lines at Trenor and Carlisle. There are many other neighborhoods in the same boat. For instance, my own. There is a tree down across from my house and it is impacting a large chunk of the Highland Park neighborhood of 350 customers.

The only thing that residents can do that will have a direct impact is create a paper trail. That would mean filing reports out of outages each day so that Con Ed keeps getting that information (1-800-75 CONED or www.coned.com) Also, to report downed trees to 740-6118. I prefer using the web with Con Ed so I can screen grab or print my filing with them.

Tuesday Nov. 6 8:16 AM – Election Day and all regular polling places are reported as up and running; go to your normal polling places. Con Edison is reporting 49,782 of 348,198 or 14% without power down from the high of 185,077 or 53%; New Rochelle is 3,586 out of 28,958 or 12% without power down from the high of 20,525 or 71%. Getting word of a major Carbon Monoxide incident in the West End.

Monday Nov. 5 11:24 PM – Hearing that Valley and Broadview got power, earlier down on Kingshighway. Con Edison reporting New Rochelle down to 4,150 or 14%. Tonight there have been a number of incidents at gas stations — altercations and collisions with drivers trying to cut each other off. Reports that a pedestrian was struck by a car near the CostCo gas line on Weyman Avenue. Gas delivery earlier at Getty station at Main and Cliff Street, lines formed right away. Altercation at the Sunoco station on Huegenot and River. It appears that the lines which had been short earlier today lengthened into the later afternoon and evening, maybe people filling up after first day back at work for many people?

Monday Nov. 5 3:55 PM – Back again from another tour. Things are looking markedly better on main roads like Weaver, Quaker Ridge, and so on. Traffic lights generally working and traffic moving. Saw a relatively short line (40 cars) for Shell at Main and Emerson but very long lines closer to downtown New Rochelle. My advice is that before just getting inline you might want to first drive up Route 1 from Exit 15 to the Larchmont Board and/or up North Avenue to Iona College and look for lines of 50 cars are less. If there are none only then should you jump on a really long line and only if you absolutely need gas.

Unfortunately, the Con Edison outage numbers actually went up today; at 10 AM it was 4,221 or 15% (11/5 9:58 AM) but by 3:40 PM it was at 4,393.

The County Board of Elections and the City of New Rochelle are both confirming that all polling places will be fully operational for election day.

I should have mentioned earlier that yesterday afternoon I went for a tour of my own neighborhood and was surprised to find Mayor Noam Bramson rounding the bend from Aberfoyle (where he grew up) onto Argyll. I waved. He nodded. Détente in a crisis 🙂

Monday Nov. 5 10:08 PM (20 photos added) – Just got back from a drive around New Rochelle. New Rochelle schools are back in session. Many more traffic lights are on. The Mobil Station near Iona College is back on line. The wait there for gas was 10 minutes. Con Edison is reporting that they are down to 4,221 (15%) customers without power. Of course, if you are without power the fact that 85% of customers have power is no consolation. In my neighborhood of Highland Park, a large part of the neighborhood is without power. The Con Edison sitters have been across the street from my house for days now with their yellow lights flashing throughout the night. I ran across a crew from Austin, TX working for Pike Energy working down by Beechmont Lake restringing power lines.

I am getting emails from folks all over town, including Valley Road residents. I have inquired at City Hall and Con Edison. City Hall makes a good point, that was the number of residents without power decreases, the pace of restoration slows because each repair impacts smaller and smaller clusters of customers. Con Edison is in the phase of smaller groups of customers and within that Con Ed is still prioritizing according to the number of customers affected by any particular repair. I have yet to find anyone at City Hall that believes the pace of restoration is a function of the City failing to devote resources to the problem. The gating-factor is Con Edison and there is only so much they can do even with extensive out-of-state mutual aid. Not an answer anyone wants to hear after a week without power but by all accounts the power issue and the gasoline issue will be resolved completely by the weekend — unless the storm heading towards us becomes a full-blown Nor’easter which will not only bring 40 mph winds to bear on already weakened trees and light poles but bring something we avoided with Sandy, heavy rains and flooding.

Sunday Nov. 4 7:38 PM – The New Rochelle Board of Education finally got around to answering the questions I have been asking them for the past two days. I especially like how they sent them to me AFTER they posted them on their web site on Sunday evening. The conduct of the district during this crisis in keeping the public informed has been deplorable. Now they are playing at oneupmanship in answering my questions by posting them to their web site first after almost a week of near radio-silence. In any case, here are the answers to the questions I have been asking.

The Board of Education is now confirming what I already reported many hours ago – that all public school now have power. They are also incorrectly reporting that 7 of 11 schools lost power. It was 8 of 11. They do list all the schools so apparently they are now all on, they just can’t count to 8.

I have been asking about the food in refrigerators because on Wednesday the district was proposing to re-open schools and serving the food stored in refrigerators that had not had power since Monday, without County health inspections. The answer they provided is that they removed any spoiled food, clean out refrigerators, freezers, and kitchens to prepare them for full operation on Monday. They say students will have hot and fresh food ready for them as they resume their regular school schedules. I might add that all the frozen food was moved to the high school. They did not respond to my question whether the County Board of Health and have given their kitchens a clean bill of health.

I have been asking about transportation since Friday at the press briefing the City held. Tonight the district says all bus carriers are ready to transport students to school. They say that Miles Square and First Student bus companies have been going through all bus routes to identify any areas that need to be re-routed and have identifying obstructed streets or bus stops to share with the City of New Rochelle. The bus companies will be attempting to contact all families who will need to have their bus stops or routes adjusted. Buses might be running later than usual due to re-routing, blocked roads, and increased traffic around schools.

I have been asking about the Red Cross shelter at ALMS. I was told there are 20 people still there and that they were still today actively considering moving them to the Hugh Doyle Center. Tonight the district says the shelter will remain at ALMS and that extra precautions have been taken to ensure safety of all students while the shelter is in operation. No wording about protecting the people at the shelter or insuring their privacy.

Questions I did not ask but for which they provided information is that the telephone and computer services are fully restored at all buildings, debris at the schools has been cleared including debris blocking access to the schools. You can expect to see police around the schools helping with traffic.

I have also learned that the Board of Education agenda from the meeting cancelled last week will be carried forward to the next scheduled meeting which is this coming Wednesday.

Also not answer at this point are my questions about Schools Superintendent Richard Organisciak. He may or may not have been in New Rochelle this week but I can say that all the different times I was at City Hall I did not once see his car in his parking spot. I have asked where he was all week, if he was in New Rochelle, when and for how long and why was he not at the press briefing on Friday with the Mayor and the City Manager and various City department heads. No response yet; do not expect one.

Saving the best for last, as of 10 PM, the number of customers without power in New Rochelle is down to 4,918 or 17%.

One issue that has been cropping up more and more is confusion among residents as to what DPW and Parks crews are doing at any given time. Some readers have observed the DPW/Parks crews on breaks while at work sites, working on clearing debris from parks instead of removing trees blocking roads where no wires are involved and clearing trees from private properties that fell on public roads in some cases but not others. I have promised to look into that Monday and report back but I want to say that nothing everything is always as it appears — and some times it it exactly what it looks like. I would urge readers to avoid jumping to conclusions — sometimes a crew is on break because they have been working for many hours, sometimes workers clear a private tree because it has some public impact, and sometimes crews are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. Give me a chance to look into the reports tomorrow.

Sunday Nov. 4 1:48 PM – Iona College had had power restored. The school district has announced its Business Office will be open Monday, November 5 at 7:00 AM for Employees who need to pick up their checks. I have asked the Board of Education several times now for answers to questions about Transportation, Food, the Red Cross Shelter at ALMS and the next board meetings. Just heard back from Board President Petrone that she is gathering information and expects to have answers by the end of the day.Will post when I get that. For its part, the City says they intend to make a decision shortly about possibly moving the Red Cross shelter from ALMS to Hugh Doyle. There are 20 clients there now so they could fit in the Hugh Doyle Center if need be.

NRPD is instructing officers to make a survey of their sectors for downed trees, closed roads, etc. so we might get a new count of closed roads. As of Friday 60 roads in New Rochelle were still closed.

I just drove around New Rochelle, along Main Street and Huegenot from the Larchmont border down to the Pelham border. Only CostCo appears to have gas along Route 1 in New Rochelle at this time.

Talk to various elected officials in New Rochelle along with many, many residents, I can say with a high degree of confidence that there is a broad dissatisfaction with the crisis communication strategy employed by the City and the School district. Several City Councilpersons have stated that they want to conduct a review of the overall crisis management by the City.

As someone who has spoken to as many residents and City employees as anyone and been a close observer before, during and after the storm I would say that overall the response has been very good. The glaring exception was communications but that has improved greatly. The first responders went above and beyond the call during the storm — police, fire and EMS were incredible, both the folks out on the streets and those back at HQ. I was out in that storm myself it was extremely frightening. Heck, it was frightening even back inside my house later that evening. That we had no major fires, no major crime incidents and that no one lost their life as the result of the storm directly attributable to the professionals we have in our Emergency Services personnel. DPW and Parks, which was seconded to DPW during the current crisis have been very good in clearing roads and creating safe situations out of downed trees, dangling tree limbs and more. I believe that Chuck and Noam and their teams, and I would single out Omar Small here, have worked very hard and have done what the could with a bad hand in trying to browbeat Con Edison for more resources. I would also mention some of the private contractors that were clearing trees on private property. A lot of people did a lot of good work. That is what makes the communications issue so troubling — these guys were doing a very good job but not effectively communicating that to the public. The one big danger in a crisis situation, with no power and no phones, is fear-induced panic stemming from a lack of information or, more likely, too much misinformation and rumors. In any case, our public employees are earning their pay this week that’s for sure. Is everything perfect? Far from it. But for those in a position to fully assess that catastrophic level of this natural disaster — and I count myself among those — the work being done has been anywhere from very good to exemplary to heroic.

Sunday Nov. 4 8:04 AM – Con Edison is reporting that 6,500 or 23% of New Rochelle customers are without power this morning down from a high on of 20,525 or 71%; systemwide, Con Ed has restored 75% of all customers. Far more gas stations in New Rochelle are open, have power and are selling gasoline. Lines are still long. I-95 has been closed (again) at Exit 15/16 due to gas lines. All public schools now have power; Iona College is being worked on now.

I just got off the phone with Con Edison Media Relations and was able to get outage data for Westchester and New Rochelle for Saturday and Sunday morning (their site was not refreshing for me yesterday). For Westchester, the trend in outage data has been 107,000 (7 AM Saturday), 99,000 (10 PM Saturday), 88,000 (7 AM Sunday). For New Rochelle, the trend in outage data has been 8,800 (7 AM Saturday), 6.900 (10 PM Saturday), 6,500 (7 AM Sunday). Full Con Ed outage details below.

I got word from the City that Barnard and Davis now have power. Those were the last two public schools on the list so now all public schools have power. Iona College is being worked on now which may bring the nearby Mobil gas station back online as well. Also, that the tree that fell from Salesian property onto LeFevre Lane blocking access to Five Islands Park was scheduled Friday by Salesian to be removed through independent contractor, it will be removed no later than Monday when Parks crew returns to park cleanup as they are working this weekend for DPW.

I have yet to drive around New Rochelle and do an “eyes on” survey but the online Gas Buddy data shows recent updates for many of the gas stations in New Rochelle have recently updated pricing information, this in turn suggests they have power, are open and have gasoline but this is not confirmed at this time.

One of the problems this weekend is that smaller stations are getting small deliveries, about 500 gallons. Compare that to CostCo which gets 5 tankers of 8,700 gallons all at once and can store 90,000 gallons. Just heard that Sunoco near Exit is getting a small gasoline delivery now.

PRICES UPDATED AN HOUR AGO OR LESS: Emporium at Horton Ave & Mt Joy Place, Getty at Main St & Cliff St, CITGO at Webster Ave & Washington Ave, Getty at North Ave & Park Pl (cans only), The old Power Test station on Echo near Main, the brand new station with no name at North Ave and Lincoln Ave, Gulf at Main St & Huguenot St near Civil War statue, Gulf at North Ave & 5th Ave, Quality Fuel at Main St & Woodland Ave, US Petroleum on Main St & Webster Ave, Shell on Main St & Emerson Ave.

PRICES UPDATED 6 HOURS AGO OR MORE: Costco Gasoline by Home Depot, Sunoco at Huguenot St & River St, American on Main St & Weyman Ave.

The data from GasBuddy clearly suggests there are more stations open and far more that have gasoline so perhaps things are starting to turn the corner here as well. I might add that the prices for gasoline are showing a wide variation. For regular, from a low of $3.75/gal at CostCo to a high of $4.25/gal at Shell on Main near Emerson. You can draw your own conclusions but mine is that when this is all over I am going to be getting my gasoline at CostCo whenever possible.

More frustration from residents:

At Bellview Place, we’ve been down since Monday and con ed is still giving us the run around but power has been restored to Lorenzo and Brookside. The tree is still in the middle of the street.

So only parts of Halcyon Terrace got power last night. Just head that the area around Holy Name Church does not have power; that is a polling place.

We have received a large number of photos from readers and contributors. We now have about 1,300 photos in the Flickr Slideshow. This is really great as it allows residents as well as those far away who are concerned about New Rochelle to see what’s going on here.

Saturday Nov. 3 7:06 PM – Gasoline delivery to station at Horton and Brook, Gulf gas station at North and Fifth has gas again, station at Main and Webster open, Gulf at Main and Huegenot near Civil War statue has gotten gas. Also, Halcyon Terrace got power back.

Saturday Nov. 3 5:06 PM – The New Rochelle Police are closing I-95 at Exits 15 and 16 due to a massive influx of motorists seeking gasoline in New Rochelle. The streets around the highway have become impassable in areas due to traffic congestion. NRPD has advised the New York State Police and the New York State Thruway Authority of the decision made moments ago.

Saturday Nov. 3 2:30 AM (100 new photos added) – I made a survey of gas stations over the pasat couple of hours. CostCo is definitely the place to be — I just got back from there, they had 5 tanker trucks there filling the CostCo tanks which hold 90,000 gallons of gas. I spoke to Mike, the Asst. Manager of CostCo. They are flowing a large number of vehicles through 18 pumps at a very high rate. The line is very long but it is moving fast, a two hour wait and they are far less likely to run out of gas while you are in line. They have not raised the prices and waived the membership card requirement (no cash, no credit cards, debit or AMEX only). I asked Mike why they waived the membership requirement, he said it was a crisis and they were going to do what they could to help. The Gulf station at North and Fifth has gas and long lines. I am still not seeing gas stations being restored to power since the City stated that they were added to the priority list. The oddest site was the Getty Station on North Avenue and Park Place near Sickles Avenue; it was a two hour wait for gas can-only. Contrary to various conspiracy theories as to why no vehicles can fuel up there, the issue is that NRPD did not want to have a line of cars running down North Avenue blocking a lane.

I spoke to one of the tanker drivers. He picked up the fuel he was carrying in Delaware near Philadelphia. He said that heading up I-95 there were plenty of gas stations with plenty of gas and no customers, he said that up past Exit 25 in Connecticut was the same things. He said the “gas shortage” was only within that area of Southern New Jersey up to lower Connecticut that everywhere else there was plenty of gas. He said that one of the refineries was back on line and the pipeline so he expected more supply soon.

I am going to go ahead and say that the South End is getting far more attention than the North End in terms of restoring power. Late last night I drove from Pelham Road and North Avenue up to Wilmot and Stratton. It was like going from Times Square to the Dark Side of the Moon. Often these things work against the South End but because much more of the critical infrastructure is in the South End more of the South End is on the priority target list and the “more bang for the buck” policy means that the more densely populated South End has more priority targets for both government, medical, schools and residential.

I stopped by the New Rochelle Public Library. It was not crowded, there were even empty computer stations, it seems more like a normal Saturday afternoon. I went down to Five Islands Park to see the tree that is blocking the road leading into the park and could see no wires down anywhere, not clear why the tree has not been removed but it is no due to Con Ed issues.

I sent some questions to City Hall earlier this morning and got answers from New Rochelle spokesperson Kathy Gilwit via email at 11 am. So, as of that time, I can report that Barnard and Davis were still out, that they were being worked on today. The three nursing homes that did not have power yesterday do have power now. Iona College is still out but being worked on. She added “Locally, mutual aid crews are working on residential restoration at Con Ed’s direction. also, there are certain areas without power that have underground lines vs overhead and those are separate crews.

Still no Con Ed data available. I sent an email to my contact at Con Ed media relations asking for outage date since the outage map appears to be down all day.

I have been going non-stop for a week. I am going off-duty for the duration of the Notre Dame v. Pittsburgh game. In case you do not know, Notre Dame is 8-0 and ranked #3 in the country. I went to Notre Dame as did many members of my family including my son who is a senior and enjoying a dream season. Hopefully, there will be no new incidents until the final whistle. UPDATE: A come-from-behind-two-point-conversion-tying-triple-overtime win was not what I had in mind as a relaxing way to unwind after a very long week. Sheesh! I am more exhausted than when the game started. But a win is a win. Go Irish!

Saturday Nov. 3 10:30 AM – Con Edison’s web site has not been responding for the past hour or so but it is clear that more and more customers are getting back power to their homes. For many, the next big issue is the gasoline shortage. There are two problems: gas stations without power and gas stations with power but no gas. There have been calls to require gas stations to have backup generators, an idea that has been floated before in New York State, but which was killed off by lobbyists working for the gas station owners. Gas stations without power will be able to immediately begin pumping gas once the power is restored and the City has added gas stations to their priority list with Con Edison as of Friday. Government officials are attempting to calm fears of a gas shortage to address panic buying by motorists. The problem is that low supply is a problem that is being masked by the number of stations without power. Area ports that were closed have now been re-opened but two major refineries and oil storage sites in New Jersey still do not have power. There are efforts to bring in fuel from other states by truck and the U.S. government has directed the Pentagon to get involved. The DoD is trucking in 24 million gallons of fuel to the region and lifting restrictions on deliveries by foreign-flagged ships (Jones Act) to get oil from the Gulf Coast up to the New York Metro area. The DoD is also tapping into the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve for the first time ever. Compounding all of this has been problems with the mass transit system. As power is restored to fuel-related facilities and gas stations the problem should be overcome within the next 7-10 days.

Until then, Talk of the Sound will continue to monitor New Rochelle gas stations. Readers with smartphones can help by installing the Gas Buddy app and submitting updates on availability, pricing and wait times at local gas stations. While we cannot vouch for the accuracy, readers can monitor GasBuddy data here:

Gas Buddy Pricing Information for Westchester County and New Rochelle

The most significant information in the GasBuddy data is not the pricing (as is typically the case) but the stations that have recently been updated. Four have been updated in the past hour: Costco Gasoline at 1 Industrial Lane, American at 835 Main St & Weyman Ave, Gulf at 569 North Ave & 5th Ave and Shell at 46 East Main St & Emerson Ave. This changes all the time has gas supplies run out.

Under the banner of neighbors helping neighbors, Kimberly Russo (29 Rutledge Road and Cathleen Schwetz (7 Ronalds Lane) are collecting coats, warm clothing, children’s books and basic health care items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, etc.) to be delivered to some of the hard hit areas in Long Island on Monday, and Queens later in the week. You can drop off supplies at either location.

Friday Nov. 2 11:45 PM – Did a late night check of the gas stations. There are currently three that have power and gasoline: Gulf at North/Fifth, Gulf at Main/Civil War Soldier, CostCo. The waits and both Gulf’s was between 2-3 hours but both expected to run out of gasoline about midnight. CostCo was a 45 minute wait, not sure how much supply they had. Talked to NRPD at each location, all calm at each location. Con Ed check shows we cracked the 10K mark — 9,466 or 33% as of 11/2 11:50 PM.

Friday Nov. 2 8:17 PM – Just got off a media conference call with John Miksad, Con Edison’s Senior Vice President of Electric Operations, who discussed restoration efforts in Westchester County and NYC. Miskad says this is the largest natural disaster we have ever experienced in our system, hit us in every corner of our system. Irene was the largest — 200,000 customers — Sandy has been 910,000 customers, 4.5 times as bad as Irene. Can not rule out voltage reductions. Getting in crews from Virginia, Kansas, California, Pennsylvania, many more. Setting up tent cities for workers at Rye Playland, Citifield and Phillips Field (Staten Island). Bowling Green and Fulton Street subways stations should be back online overnight.

AT&T says “In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, we are closely monitoring our wireless network for service disruptions. Our crews are working around the clock to restore service to impacted areas. Please stay safe and thank you for your patience. Sincerely, AT&T.”

We did an impromptu internet radio show today to provide an opportunity for folks to call in and vent, report information or ask questions. A podcast is here. If folks find it useful we may do another one, maybe Monday.

Friday Nov. 2 5:21 PM – Just got back from the Iona College Halloween Event. Kid loved it. What a great thing to do for the community. I will have a story up on that later. Getting word that locations around the City are coming back on. Here is a quick run down of what we’ve been hearing about areas getting switched back on: Sutton Manor, Dudley’s, North Avenue from Clinton Place to Union Street, all of Union Avenue, All of Pelham Road. Despite that, while Westchester dropped from 39% to 35%, New Rochelle actually increased from 42% to 43% without power.

Note on Absentee Ballots: My in-laws who are in their 80’s do not want to go outside and vote Tuesday. I just got an email back from Nancy Meehan Republican Deputy Commissioner who tells me “The State Board of Elections has approved an extension of the Absentee Ballot deadline for all voters to Nov 2. Therefore, all absentee ballot applications sent by MAIL or FAX must be received by Fri Nov 2. The IN PERSON deadline is Monday Nov 5. Any ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov 5. The State Board of Elections has approved an extension of the deadline for absentee ballots to be received and counted from 7 days after Election Day to 13 days after Election Day. Ballots must still be postmarked no later than Monday, November 5th, however they now have until November 19th to arrive at the local Board of Elections. You can download an application from our website www.westchestergov.com/boe or come to the offices of the Westchester County Board of Elections at 25 Quarropas Street in White Plains, NY 10601 to get one and have it filled out by the voters who may authorize you to pick up the ballots for them. We will be open tomorrow (Saturday).

Friday Nov. 2 1:45 PM – Just got back from the press conference at City Hall (Talk of the Sound, News12, WVOX, Daily Voice, Patch, NRTV were on hand). I placed my Handycam on the conference table to capture the audio but here’s the video as well for those who do not mind the weird camera angles.

You can view video directly on YouTube here.

You can listen to an mp3 audio file of the press conference here.

The lede is that Con Edison has assigned 6 more crews to work under the City’s Con Ed liaison and that additional crews are in and out addressing broader Con Edison issues that occur within the City. At 8 AM 50% of New Rochelle was without power, that figure now stands at 42%.

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson spoke eloquently about the scope of the storm, praised the work of the City and School personnel, expressed gratitude for the levelheadedness of New Rochelle residents, stressed how hard he has been pressing Con Edison for more resources, that this is the only priority right now — getting power restored to all residents. Noam touted the Iona College trick or treat event at 4 p.m. Reiterated that President Obama had declared Westchester County a disaster area and that FEMA could be reached at 800-621-3362.

New Rochelle City Manager Chuck Strome says Con Edison is working its way down the priority list, that 9 of 11 public schools has power (Barnard and Davis still do not but should be live today). Iona College and 3 nursing homes without power (all running on backup generators), 60 streets are currently closed due to trees down on power lines, still several major intersections without traffic lights being manned by police, there are only 6 gas stations operational, the rest have been added to the priority list. Chuck said there were 20 people at the ALMS Red Cross Shelter down from a high of 30 but warned that figure could rise to expected colder temperatures this weekend. On topic of moving the Red Cross Shelter to the Hugh Doyle Senior Center, said that might happen, that Hugh Doyle could handle 20-25 people, that shelter might remain at ALMS even if school was open.

New Rochelle Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll says crime is down and traffic collisions are down, add that a Getty station is only filling gas cans not vehicles but did not say which one Reader NRUsed adds “Getty at North and Sickles just got gasoline shipment,You need a gas can to get gas. Carroll told Omar Small he wants a list of who is in the shelter so they can be advised when power is back on in their homes.

New Rochelle Board of Education President Chrisanne Petrone stated that all schools will be opened on Monday and that Tuesday, Election Day, would be a regular full day of school despite the school calendar indicating it would be a professional development day for staff only. Also, SAT’s on 11/3 were pushed back to 11/17.

New Rochelle Fire Chief Lou DiMeglio says NRFD is getting double the number of calls (the numbers during the storm were 10-20 times greater than a typical day when they get about 24 calls), many calls are CO calls related to generators, wants residents to take care to keep them 10 feet from homes and not near open windows. CO can kill. There have been calls where, as power is restored, major appliances short circuit so unplug all major appliances in the home. An extra ambulance has been put into service.

New Rochelle DPW Commissioner Alex Turgis says DPW crews are out picking up debris except where there are downed power lines. Con Edison as “sitters” or “site security” personnel at many locations. Some are providing wrong information to residents, saying they are waiting for the City to come when the City is actually waiting for Con Edison to de-energize the lines in the area first. A lot of calls from residents on this point based in misinformation from these “sitters”. He stressed that all lines are determined to be live unless Con Edison says otherwise, even downed lines that did not have power might get power if something else in the grid changes, also noted that Verizon and Cablevision lines, if touching a live wire, can become live themselves. Bottom line, assume the line can kill you and stay away.

New Rochelle Parks Commissioner Bill Zimmerman says the parks sustained significant damage, that parks crews are serving under DPW for now, they cleared Hudson Park, working on Davenport now, the Rowing Club from the late 1800’s was severely damaged, the boats there that landed in the parking lot will not be removed until insurance companies come, maybe next week. There was tremendous beach loss and the sun deck was compromised. Klondike boat dock was damaged. Doyle Center came back online and there is now senior transportation.

I asked Chuck and Noam if the additional crews suggested that New Rochelle residents could be hopeful that the Nov. 9 date provided by Con Edison for full restoration could be accelerated. Noam suggested people hope for the best and plan for the worst. Chuck said he is more worried about the date being pushed later than Nov. 9 than being moved up, based on his past experience.

I asked Chrisanne whether the yellow bus companies had agreed to put their equipment out on the road on Monday and whether the unions agreed to put their drivers in those buses. She said that was currently being discussed but the district was hopeful that would not be a problem. She said that drivers may have to take alternate routes and that the district would need to communicate to students that their bus stop may be moved.

I asked Alex about diesel fuel. He said the City had 1/2 its tanks full of gasoline, about 2/3-3/4 full of diesel, that it was not an issue and they were expecting more supplies today.

A reader asked me to ask “Are police officers assigned to stations on patrol, OT and who is paying for them?

City answer was “Both and expect the costs to be reimbursed by Federal/State”.

A reader asks “Tomorrow is the first yard waste pick-up day. Are we going to have the pick-up?”

City answer “Tomorrow is citywide pickup of bagged leaves – yard waste ends when leaf pickup begins;t he guidelines are different. Technically it’s leaves only, no branches but with the debris from the storm exceptions will be made. That being said, private contractors who remove trees on private property should haul the wood away, too as part of their service.”

I shot some handycam video of the presser and will post that video and and mp3 audio soon.

Friday Nov. 2 10:30 AM – Gas Station situation is very fluid. Most recent information from NRPD is that Gulf at North and Fifth is out of gasoline, no word on more there. Getty and North and Sickles just got gasoline shipment, Sunoco at River/Echo and Main got gasoline but line backs up all the way to Larchmont border. Costco had gas early this morning but expected to run out by 10 AM. CostCo is waiving the requirement to have a CostCo Card to buy gas but only accepts debit cards or AMEX (no cash at all). CostCo expects another gasoline shipment sometime on Saturday. Heading out now to see ALMS shelter, NRPL, YINR and Five Islands Park if I can. Then heading to press briefing at City Hall at noon (any questions you want asked? robertcox@talkofthesound.com)

Friday Nov. 2 8:09 PM – The word of the day is progress. Con Edison is reporting that they have broken through the 50% threshold in New Rochelle. As of 8 AM this morning, 50.3% of New Rochelle now has power. Overnight, 2,854 customers had power restored. In Westchester County, 14,445 customers had power restored overnight, down to 39%.

There was a Special City Council Meeting last night, convened for the purpose of voting to borrow money to move the DPW City Yard from East Main Street to Beechwood Avenue. That did not happen. Also, on the agenda was a resolution to approve the Armory MOU for Good Profit. That did not happen either. Instead, 40% of the meeting was devoted to discussing the storm situation and 60% receiving and having “fact finding” discussion about following a presentation regarding the City Yard. More on that in a separate article so we can focus here on the storm discussion. Chuck Strome stated that there were still schools and nursing homes without power, as well as, senior housing such as 60 Union Avenue and that those customers took precedence over residential power restoration. Again, the way this works is that until all those facilities — and you can now add polling places not in public schools and possibly gas stations — are back online they will not work on residential power restoration but if you are fortunate enough to be on the part of a loop that includes a priority customer you will also get back power as a sort of side-benefit the restoring the priority customer. In other words, the key moment will be when Con Edison and the City declare that all of these priority customer are back on line and that they are then moving onto residential customers. When that happens, all residential power restoration will be made on a “most bang for the buck” criteria where fixing a particular problem will restore the most power for the most customers. Public Schools still without power as of last night are Barnard, Davis, Alternative High School/St. Gabes and Jefferson. Note, just told that parts of Weyman Avenue got power last night which likely means Jefferson got power.

From the City Council meeting, additional information came out. Parks Commissioner Bill Zimmerman stated that Five Island Parks was inaccessible due to a tree down on LeFevre Lane. Assistant City Manager Omar Small stated that groups were volunteering to help with the recovery effort and that he was accepting those offers of help (914-654-2000). Mayor Noam Bramson stated that some have questioned why sanitation crews were picking up recycling and trash; he said the reason was that the crews otherwise had nothing to do until Con Ed addresses the live wires and downed power lines. Barry Fertel raises concerns about the long lines at gas stations and the possibility of violence; there was some discussion about this so it may be the case that gas stations get onto the priority list. Mayor Bramson stated that the City and Con Edison were still very much in the information gathering stage rather than the restoration stage. Ivar Hyden reported to Council that the New Rochelle Public Library had become a community gathering place, showing movies, offering a place to charge electronic equipment and otherwise keeping people warm and busy. He announced that the library would open on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shari Rackman praised Houses of Worship in New Rochelle for opening their doors and providing activities for children. Rackman expressed concern that some residents were operating generators without being familiar with their operation and instances of gasoline and kerosene being dumped into storm drains which might cause explosions and fires. Louis Trangucci and Ivar Hyden expressed frustration that they were not being better informed by the City so that they could respond to calls from their constituents; the City Manager pledged to work to improve communications. Jared Rice asked a question on many people’s minds: who is directing power restoration, the City of Con Ed. Chuck Strome stated that typically Con Edison, by policy, does not take direction from municipalities to “fix this or fix that” but in this crisis situation the City is expressing their priorities and Con Edison is working within those priorities. Chuck said that part of the problem is that Con Edison has sent some crews into New Rochelle without informing the Con Ed liaison which causes confusion. A very good piece of information came out about the “municipal calls” which take placed between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. The City has been holding off sending out alerts until after these meetings which is why the robocalls go out in the early afternoons each day. Al Tarantino asked about FEMA which generated a detailed discussion with the bottom line that Westchester County has been declared a natural disaster area and that the expectation is that every FEMA program (i.e., source of funds) will be applied in the case of Hurricane Sandy (technically a tropical storm when it hit New Rochelle) but that this determination of which programs applied in this case was based on certain criteria which are currently being evaluated. Once those evaluations are completed, a final determination will be made as to what programs apply to Westchester County with the expectation that given the scope of the damage all programs would be implemented. Chuck added that in the past FEMA set up a walk-in center in White Plains where people could go to file claims.

There will be a press briefing at noon today (Friday). If you have questions you wish me to ask of City Officials please submit them right away. You can email me questions at robertcox@talkofhtesound.com or text me questions at 914-325-4616. I will post any questions with answers after the press briefing.

Thursday Nov. 1 5:46 PM (60 new photos added) – Just got off a conference call with John Miksad, Con Edison’s Senior Vice President of Electric Operations, who spoke to reporters about restoration efforts in Westchester County and New York City. Basically, a “making progress” message and assurances that resources were not being diverted from Westchester to Manhattan. For Westchester, Con Ed has gone from a high of 185,077 customers without power, or 53%, to 164,529, or 47%, a drop of 20,548. He did not mention it but for New Rochelle they have dropped from a high of 185,077, or 53%, to 17,298, or 60%. Con Ed has dispatched a number of their employees to work on “site safety”. This is causing some confusion as residents see a Con Ed employee standing next to a downed tree on wires and think their power is about to be restored. They are there to “guard” the site. If that seems unproductive you are not alone.

The gasoline situation has gotten worse. Police are on scene at the few gas stations that are open. At the Gulf Station on North Avenue at Fifth Avenue, customers said they were waiting 90 minutes. The line extended up Fifth Avenue to Slocum Street. At the Shell Station on East Main Street near Emerson, the line went all the way back to Lispenard but was moving much faster, the wait was about 30 minutes.

There will be a City press briefing sometime at midday on Friday. I will attend. If you have question you would like asked at the presser please email them at info@newrochelletalk.com.

Earlier today I was on Norman Road where the neighbors convinced CBS to dispatch Lou Young from CBS 2 News where he did three live shots. Mayor Noam Bramson came over to be interviewed and had some choice words for Con Edison.

Just head that bartenders in New York are mixing a new drink called a “Sandy”…it’s just a watered-down Manhattan.

County Legislator Jim Maisano provided information on County assets in New Rochelle. He had spoken with George Oros who said that the County Water Treatment Plant was operating normally. Jim also spoke with Kathy O’Connor, the County Parks Commissioner who told him that a large glass wall in the Casino was “lost” due to the storm and that County was working hard to fix it in time for a wedding this weekend. The rest of Glen Island was getting minor repairs. Jim said he was pushing Astorino and Bramson several times a day to get more resources to work on residential restoration (Jim is without power himself). Jim is also trying to his own social media outlets to get information out to his constituents. Jim said that Rob Astorino was working well with Governor Cuomo. “We’re all in this together, it’s difficult with what the community is going through but the bottom line was that we need to get the power on for our residents”.

In a wonderful gestures, Iona College will host a Post-Halloween Trick or Treating for New Rochelle Neighborhood Children on Friday, November 2, 2012 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm on the Iona College Campus at Spellman Hall. “The electrical power may be down in much of New Rochelle, but the spirits of the Iona College campus community are up. Sponsored by Iona’s Student Government Association (SGA) students, faculty and staff will volunteer to provide Halloween candy for neighborhood children on Friday November 2, between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm on campus outside of Spellman Hall. Outdoor campus trick or treating is open to children under age 11 who are accompanied by an adult. “New Rochelle is a great community that comes together for its neighbors. We are pleased to open our doors to children who were unable to go trick or treating this year due to the power outages and subsequent aftermath of Hurricane Sandy,” said Iona College President Joseph E. Nyre. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes, dress appropriately for the weather and come trick or treating with an adult guardian. A number of Iona students, faculty and staff will be dressed in their Halloween best to greet visitors on campus.

The SAT’s on Saturday November 3rd have been cancelled; re-scheduled for November 17th.

Thursday Nov. 1 12:33 PM (no new photos added) – Update from City Manager Strome: I just got off the phone with City Manager Chuck Strome. He provided a great deal of information but tops on the list is that he just got off the phone with Con Edison who stated that the expected date of 100% restoration for New Rochelle is November 9th. There are currently two crews operating in New Rochelle — handling street clearing and clean up of downed wires, responding to emergencies and priority power restoration. There is a Con Edison representative working in the New Rochelle Emergency Operation Center. The City is coordinating with that Con Ed representative who then directs resources on a rolling priority list. Chuck stressed that the City had expressed in the strongest terms the need for additional crews in New Rochelle. He added that the City has its own resources ready to go to work but that until the downed, often live, power lines are addressed by Con Ed their hands are tied. Overall the priority has been Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Medical Facilities, the Schools and Major Intersections. Due to the upcoming election, a list of polling places other than schools (e.g. some of the churches and community centers) is now being drawn up in coordination with the City Clerk and the County Board of Elections. Those facilities will be next on the priority list. The expectation is that all polling places will be restored by Election Day. At this time the priority is still on schools. Trinity, Isaac and College of New Rochelle have been restored. Barnard, Davis, Jefferson and the Alternative High School at St. Gabe’s are still without power and now the current priority. The expectation is that all schools will have power by Friday or perhaps Saturday at which point household restoration will become the priority, ranked by number of customers that can be restored at a particular location. If you are in a densely populated area with hundreds or thousands of customers effected you will be ahead of a single-family house that lost power in an area where no one else lost power. Albert Leonard is still serving as a Red Cross shelter but people at that location might be moved to the Hugh Doyle Senior Center when schools re-open. Chuck said he feels City was lucky that we did not have heavy rains and flooding. He added that we caught a break during the high tide at the height of the storm on Monday night because the winds were blowing offshore which kept the wave action and tidal surge down. Chuck said that the storm clean up was the largest he has ever seen in his twenty plus years working for the City of New Rochelle. Sadly, the Rowing Club has been officially condemned. The owners will now be required to apply for a new building permit and go through an expensive process of shoring up the structure and almost starting over with that building. It is not clear the owners have the financial resources to save the building. Many people are going down there to take a look. It is roped off for a reason. Chuck stressed that people should stay away from the building. Chuck also stated that many of the downed lines are, in fact, live wires. Stay away! Resist the temptation to get out there and start cutting away downed trees with wires in them. The City has had no storm fatalities. Let’s keep it that way. Chuck reported that Weaver Street remains closed near Young Israel Scarsdale and near Quaker Ridge Road. Stratton near the back of Iona Prep also remains closed. To put to rest any conspiracy theories, Chuck added that the Mayor’s house on Pinebrook never lost power and that Con Ed crews working on Pinebrook were not there to get power to the Mayor’s house. Con Ed told the City that they are looking to open a second “dry ice” distribution center in Westchester County other than Yonkers Raceway. The City has been pushing to use City Hall in New Rochelle for that purpose. Several readers have questioned staffing levels during the storm. Chuck says that Police Commissioner and Fire Chief were given full discretion on staffing. No extra police were added but there were extra fire crews available on Monday. The focus for the City was on post-storm clean up. Chuck said that the City will hold a press briefing some time this afternoon.

Chuck asked that residents report power outages to Con Edison at 1-800-75 CONED or www.coned.com, report downed trees to 740-6118, report other matters,non-emergency calls, to the New Rochelle Police Department at 654-2300.

After Chuck answered every question, I want to add my own observation that while residents are upset (and getting more upset) the scope of this situation is so far beyond anything the area has experienced that trying to scream and yell and stomp feet is not going to help solve the problem. The problem is that there are too few people to work on restoring power and that can’t be helped.

SPECIAL MESSAGE ON COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE FORM OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS – Thursday Nov. 1 10:41 AM

The level of communications from our municipal government and school system has been abysmal. I have been holding off saying anything but at this point I have to report here that the level of communication coming from City Hall has been entirely inadequate. The vast majority of official information during this crisis has been coming from Con Edison, The Westchester County Executive’s Office, the MTA and Governor Cuomo’s office. The City of New Rochelle has been largely silent. There have been no press briefings or conference calls with media, no status reports and no responses, through official channels, to questions. Once a day robo-calls from the Mayor about where to get dry ice (information provided by Con Ed) or the shelter at ALMS (information provided by the Red Cross) is not sufficient. The City needs to fix their communication strategy immediately and when this is over needs to review and assess their crisis management strategy which, so far, seems to be to hunker down in City Hall, not answer questions from the media, and otherwise hide from public view. As readers know, I have been up and down New Rochelle constantly for the past 5 days and I have yet to see a single City official out and about or on-scene. Where is our local government? I might add the New Rochelle Board of Education has only been slightly better. Our twin governments are currently providing a case study in how not to manage a crisis. Ridiculous. It needs to end.

Thursday Nov. 1 10:26 AM (no new photos added) – The Mayor has called a Special City Council meeting for tonight to vote on bonding to pay for moving the City Yard. The meeting had originally been scheduled for Tuesday. The New Rochelle Board of Education which also cancelled their Tuesday boarding meeting has not decided what to do about that meeting.

NRFD responded yesterday to a report of a brush fire on Beechmont near North Avenue. What they found was that 2 raccoons had stepped on a live wire and were barbecued. Last night around 9 PM, Con Edison responded to an emergency call from 43 Calton of live wires on a car. There are a lot of wires down, people are becoming used to the situation and may become less cautious. Always assume that all lines are live wires; take extreme caution around any downed wire. Don’t end up like those raccoons.

Thursday Nov. 1 7:53 AM (no new photos added) – Over the past 12 hours, Con Edison restored power to 1,909 customers — from 20,249 at 7 PM Wednesday to 18,340 at 7 AM Thursday. Currently, 63% of New Rochelle customers are without power down from the all-time high during the storm of 71% or 20,525. Regionally, LaGuardia Airport and Westchester County Airport are open with limited service. The New Haven Line is still closed opened with limited service (Stamford to Grand Central) and the Harlem Line has limited service (from White Plains up to Mount Kisco). Cars driving into Manhattan must have 3+ people in the car to cross the bridges. Subway service below 34th Street is suspended.

Wednesday Oct. 31 11:27 PM (no new photos added) – Getting word that power is back on along parts of Eastchester Road, East Main Street and Pelham Road. If you hear of an area coming on email us at info@newrochelletalk.com.

The Journal News has a good story up on how the schools will deal with meeting the New York State 180 day requirement: State Easing school ‘snow days’ rule would require legislation

School districts that will lose four or five days of instruction this week fear what will happen if the winter brings several snow storms. Three or four additional snow days could push many districts way below the 180-day minimum.

“We’ll get to what this means long-term later this week or early next week,” New Rochelle schools spokesman Paul Costiglio said. “It’s scary. Here we have already (used) three days and it’s not even winter.”

New Rochelle is among several districts that built only two snow days in their calendars for 2012-13, meaning those districts will have to cancel at least several vacation days to stay above the 180-day minimum. As of Wednesday, seven of New Rochelle’s 10 schools were without power and the middle school was being used as the city’s main shelter.

Wednesday Oct. 31 7:30 PM (no new photos added) – Con Edison is reporting that for Westchester County customers without power they are down from 179,089 (51%) at 10 AM this morning to 167,579 (48%) at 7:07 PM. That’s good. Not so good is that over the course of the day there was actually an increase in New Rochelle customers without power from 20,182 (70%) at 9:38 AM to 20,249 (70%) at 7:07 PM. I would expect those numbers to show improvement as they work around the public schools is reflected in the numbers. Just head that WVOX is back on the air. Metro-North is running limited service to Grand Central on the Harlem Line only, out of White Plains up to Mount Kisco. The New Haven line remains down. Even if you get into the City, the subways below 42nd street are still closed.

A number of readers have sent very kind emails, text messages or stopped me in the street to express their appreciation for the updates and photos on Talk of the Sound. A great deal of the information we are providing comes from New Rochelle residents sending along news tips, photographs and other information. So, thank each other. This is a community effort. Keep those news tips and photos coming.

Wednesday Oct. 31 5:02 AM (about 100 photos added) – I’ve been out since 11 a.m. covering the City. Quite a bit to update here. As predicted here on the morning after Sandy, schools will be closed all week and back open Monday. Really there was no choice. Just too much damage. As of 2 p.m. today the only schools with power were New Rochelle High School, Albert Leonard Middle School and Ward Elementary School. The same crew that was working on Sara Lane yesterday was on Bonnefoy Place off North Avenue near Pronto Pizza (which was open and serving delicious slices of pizza). I spoke with the guy running things and he explained more about how they are working. He said they are working “for” the City right now, going where the City wants them. It appears this may be the only crew in New Rochelle, sort of a SWAT team. An hour later I saw them on Pelham Road and North Avenue. The guy explained that they were working on the “Davenport Loop” part of the grid which has Trinity School in the center. Davenport Loop is about 4,000 customers, with power from three feeders and encompasses that area around Trinity out to Davenport Neck and around Shore Road up then North from there. Con Ed was working just restore the part of the Loop that would put Trinity back online. The guy said the priority was schools so if you are near a school then you might get back power sooner than most. I took pictures of the map the Con Ed guy was using so you can see for yourself how they are working their way through the process of restoring power (photos just added). I was told of a power crew from Mississippi helping Con Ed in New Rochelle today but did not see it. Another problem at the schools is that they are legally required to serve meals to some students and the food in the refrigerators could not be served (in fact, the County Health Department is going to have to inspect all the refrigerators). Also, we got an update on the situation at Isaac on Monday about the alarm that went off. We reported that on the scanner the NRFD said the key-holder for the building would not come to the school during the storm. Turns out that school staff was already in the building when the alarm went off (due to a backup generator failing). Getting gasoline is a problem — many stations are closed, those that are open may not take credit cards and the lines to get in and out of stations are getting a bit testy. We are hearing of diesel shortages with all the work crew trucks on the road. Many traffic and street lights are down in New Rochelle. I want to say that residents are being VERY good about driving around without traffic lights — people are generally being well-mannered and patient. I was back down at the Marina and got a good long look at the Rowing Club building. I was there when a guy from the building department was walking around, taking pictures. There is now an “unfit for occupancy” placard on the building. I don’t think it takes an engineering degree to realize that the building may be beyond repair. We will keep an eye on this one as the Rowing Club is one of the more iconic buildings in New Rochelle and it will be very sad to lose it. Not for nothing but the view from Echo Bay looking out towards the Sound, a view which includes the Rowing Club, has been part of our masthead for over four years and is also on my Talk of the Sound business cards. There is a reason for that — it is my favorite vista of New Rochelle (from the boathouse at Sutton Manor). The McDonald’s by Iona College is closed; the one by the Armory is open and was jam-packed this afternoon. The Mirage Diner, Beechmont Tavern, Chicken Joe’s is closed.

People are starting to get frustrated. Here are some emails that arrived while I was out this afternoon:

Calton Road in Wykagyl a disaster, 43 Calton Road, the large co-op, without power…..trees blocking access to Calton Road from THREE directions….needless to say, we’re miserable!!!!!

Where is Con Edison?????? We need power, warm/hot water. We are aware of the damage from Sandy but upper New Rochelle is up and running. Please help us. How long do we have to live like this??. the trash has not been picked up for days—- this is unacceptable. Please help us soon. — Concerned Residents of Pelham Road.

Thanks for your updates. Do you have any sense as to what con ed is doing on stonelea? it looks like the crew closer to old boston post slept in their vehicle last night. Power is still off. Thanks again. D on Stonelea.

Is our neighborhood low down on the priority list? Anything we can do as a community to get our service restored earlier? AB in Highland Park.

s anyone paying attention? North end streets are clear and they are getting electricity. South end, City picked up recycling! Who are they kidding?

Today I met Pete, a resident near Bonnefoy. He saw me taking pictures of the Con Ed crews in their cherry-pickers. When I told him I was shooting for Talk of the Sound he told me had was a reader and that my updates about the state of New Rochelle made him feel better, to know that he was not alone and that everyone is suffering from one end of town to another. I would send that same message to all readers — know that there a lot of people working very hard to get power restored. Resources are stretched thin and there are not “extra” resources laying around since the damage was coverage 20 states and mutual aid is maxed out. As perhaps one of the few people who has been moving up and down and all around this City for the past several days, listening to the scanner, talking to crews from Con Ed, workers from Cablevision and Verizon, City workers from DPW, Parks and Rec, NRPD and NRFD let me say with some assurance that these folks are working very hard and extremely aware that people are suffering and that it falls to them to get things back to normal for everyone else. Be patient, folks. My best advise is that folks should assume this will be a one week event. If you get lucky and get power back on sooner then great — and those with power try to be generous and help your neighbors.

Wednesday Oct. 31 10:05 AM (just a few photos added) (just a few photos added) – Good news. For the first time since the storm hit the number of Con Edison customers without power in New Rochelle has declined! Yesterday at 7 p.m., 20,525 or 71% of New Rochelle Con Ed customers were without power. This morning at 10 a.m. the total stood at 20,182 or 70%. I got a message that Wykagyl Terrace got power back and presumably Sara Lane (see previous update). Also, ares around Pratt Street is back on. So, Happy Halloween. On that note, there is no one in New Rochelle who can officially “cancel” or “postpone” Halloween but for our readership I want to suggest that Trick or Treating should be postponed until more power is restored in New Rochelle. There are still wires down, roads closed and branches down — stumbling around in the dark in these conditions is not a good idea. We leave it up to the Mayor, City Manager, Schools Superintendent and Board of Education President to take the lead on this. At this point a one week postponement with the option to postpone further strikes us as good sense under the circumstances. Joint robocalls should be used for this purpose. Meanwhile, we checked with Schools spokesperson Paul Costiglio who tells us that, as of late yesterday afternoon, there were still several schools without power. “We are working with ConEd to get them back on line as soon as possible,” said Costiglio. No word back from City Manager Chuck Strome on the manpower questions that were being raised the other day. As readers get back power we are seeing more photos coming in. We have added them to the slideshow. At some point we will select the “best of” and create a second slideshow. Cell phone service is still intermittent; it actually seems worse today. Texting works better.

Here is the latest outage map for New Rochelle (as of 10 AM 10/31). Click to enlarge. It helps to see the extent of the problem.

Tuesday Oct. 30 6:05 PM (new photos added) – Thank you readers! It is tough out there with 71% of New Rochelle Con Ed customers without power as roll into Day 2. Sharing information over the internet which can be picked up on smart phones is one of the few ways residents can get regularly updated information on what is happening in New Rochelle. Please keep the pix, video and news tips coming (info@newrochelletalk.com). We have received a number of photos and videos over the past 24 hours. We have been adding the photos to the Flickr slideshow about. There are now 869 photos in the slideshow. Jen Parente, Maria Cox (my wife) and I just got back from driving around the North End. It’s safe to say there is no North-South Divide in New Rochelle when it comes to Hurricane Sandy. The storm was an equal-opportunity disaster with wires down, trees down and damage to homes throughout the North End. As late as 5 PM today, Weaver Street near Young Israel Scarsdale and Stratton Road near the back entrance of Iona Prep were closed due to downed trees across the road resting on wires. Quaker Ridge Road Eastbound was closed due to downed wires in the road. So it was a bit of a shock to come across 5 Con Ed trucks working on Sara Lane near Albert Leonard Middle School. At a time when the number of reported outages was still increasing in New Rochelle, residents on Sara Lane were told their service would be restored “momentarily”. When I asked the supervisor why they were working on such a small street when there was far more serious problems elsewhere he said that Sara Lane was a “spur” for “that big road over there” (pointing in the direction of Pinebrook Boulevard). Even if true, that still did not explain why significant roads like Weaver and Stratton and Quaker Ridge were left closed while a Con Ed crew with 5 trucks was working to restore power in that one small area around Pinebrook. The stated priority of City and County officials has been to clear roads and restore power to critical buildings like government buildings, schools and hospitals. At 3:30 PM, EyeonNewRoc was up at Playland with County Executive Astorino who reiterated what he had said earlier in his press conference at 11:00 AM that the priority was NOT restoring residential power at this time. NOTEL EyeonNewRoc toured Playland with Astorino and reported back that the County park suffered significant damage, especially to the recently installed boardwalk.

Tuesday Oct. 30 11:53 AM (new photos added) – The most important information picked up today, driving around the City, was from a Con Ed worker who said that his field orders were to NOT turn on anyone’s power for THREE DAYS. Bad News. 70% of New Rochelle is without power. I would be very surprised if anyone got power back in 5 days, many will be a week and even more. This due to all the wires down. They are down throughout the City. Be prepared for schools to be closed for the rest of the week. Just got back taking photos with Jen Parente. She got a great photo from the Marina area of a rainbow over downtown New Rochelle. We covered the South End and Center of New Rochelle. We will get up into the North End after lunch. Many, many side streets are closed off due to downed trees and wires. It is still not safe to be out walking around but of course people are out gawking and shooting pix and video. Highlights of storm damage is the Rowing Club at Hudson Park the inside has been gutted and it appears unlikely the building can be salvaged. There are two boats in the parking lot next to the Rowing Club. Dudley’s had water up the bar but that has receded. At the intersection of Meadow Way and Woodland light poles snapped, trees came down and there wires are tangled up like spaghetti. Beechmont was closed at North Avenue but is now clear. Road to Glen Island was closed but crews were clearing a tree blocking the road. Check the photos as they tell the story. Astorino press conference talking about the unprecedented nature of the power outages. Clean up will take a long while so be patient and make other plans where possible. Stopped at Sutton Florists which did have some looting last night. The windows broke because the street light hanging above Huegenot and Division flew threw their window, also the Westchester Place sign from near Cormondel blew through their window. There are photos of both the light and sign in the slideshow. Students at Iona College have been evacuated from their dorms.

Tuesday Oct. 30 6:57 AM – 65% of New Rochelle is without power according to Con Edison. No estimates of when power will restired. Heading out to survey the damage. Back in a couple of hours with photos.

Monday Oct. 29 11:11 PM – Calls for trees and wires down continue but not at the same space as earlier this evening. Hard rain and high wind still out there but slightly less intense. Close to 60% of New Rochelle Con Ed customers are without power. Plan is to get out there early tomorrow and see what the daylight brings. Signing off for the evening. Be safe.

Monday Oct. 29 9:53 PM – NRFD just came to my neighborhood. I called them due to downed tree and downed power lines which were causing a tree to burn. They taped off the area and drove on. They are crazy busy. Got a message from JohnD that Pratt Street is completely closed due to downed tree. Wires down at 25 Oxford Street and 39 Beattie. Trees down on 91 Harbor Road (tree through house), 10 Larchwood (backyard, no danger), 396 Forest Avenue, 181 Lyncroft (tree blocking road completely), 1 Stonelea. Snapped telephone pole at 255 Lyncroft across road, has transformer on it. NRFD cannot get to house at 15 Premium Point due to flooding. There have been deaths reported in Westchester from the storm but none in New Rochelle so far (deaths were car crash on Sprain Brook Parkway and a 2 kids kills in a house in North Salem).

Monday Oct. 29 9:16 PM – Marina Restaurant on Davenport structure fire (put down). National Hurricane Center says Sandy has made landfall in New Jersey; worst yet to come. Lines down at 41 Forest Circle, Quaker Ridge Road near Hudson School, 45 Howard Parkway, 2333 Palmer Avenue, 22 Stonelea Place, 6 Revere Road, Sara Lane, 219 Clinton, 11 Lincoln Street, 58 Hamilton 10 Lincoln Avenue, 88 London Terrace, Church and Pelham. Trees down at Victory Boulevard near Mildred, 632 Webster Avenue, 219 Clinton, Surrey Drive (on house). White Oak Street is closed down due to tree. Alarm at Isaac but no one from school wants to respond due to weather. Wondering if New Rochelle residents are starting to appreciate why not having a full-force NRFD and NRPD is a problem — first responders are running around like crazy tonight and cannot keep up with the calls.

Monday Oct. 29 8:14 PM – Looting at Sutton Florist on Division Street/Huegenot Street after windows blown out. WVOX knocked off the air. NRPD and NRFD are now triaging calls, going down a list based on most urgent, do not expect an immediate response except in the most urgent situations. For minor issues, you are on your own. 2 trees down on Morningside. 4 calls to Cooper Avenue. 2 trees down on Meadow Lane. Tree down on Pelham Road at Elm Street, impassable. Tree down on Liberty. Tree down on Perth near Aberfoyle, wires down, sparking, burning. 65 Old Orchard Road transformer and tree on fire near house. Wires down at Division/Huegenot, Tree and Wires down on Esplanade.

Monday Oct. 29 7:57 PM – Window blow out at Radisson Hotel NoMa Restaurant, initial report 3 injured, only 1 taken to Sound Shore. Hutch is being closed in various places. Vivian Lane and Charlotte Drive fire in electrical box. 55 Pelham wires down. 291 Beechmont wires down, burning in the street. 72 Barad Road, tree down, road impassable. Wires on Webster arc’ing. 94 Walnut has lines down, whole street. Wilmot near Daisy Farms Road lines down. 43 Treno has lines down, tree, on car. Tree down at Eddie Foy Park. Woman in labor at 26 Lorenzo made it to Sound Shore.

Monday Oct. 29 7:17 PM – Staying indoors and reporting off scanner for now. Partial roof collapse at 759 Main Street. Fire on Dorchester. 26 Lorenzo – woman in labor. Echo Avenue closed at Bayview, lines down, 2 trees down on Eastchester/North. 65 Kensington Oval – transformer fire. 28 Top of the Ridge – tree through house, electrical fire. Chandelier caught fire, under control.

Monday Oct. 29 6:47 PM – Just got back from driving around. After 15 minutes I decided to turn around and go home. Flying debris in the street — large objects like garbage cans, tree limbs, etc. Very dangerous conditions. Huge tree down on North Avenue in front of the High School blocking three lanes. Trees down on Webster, light poles down. Live power lines down. Trees down on East Main Street. Really too much to keep track of at this point. Just stay home and hope for the best. I was planning on heading down to Hudson Park for high tide but I am revising that idea at this time. I will just get up early and see what daylight brings. Power out in Highland Park, Sutton Manor, many others. Con Ed can’t keep up.

Monday Oct. 29 5:55 PM – It is madness out there. Trees down, live wires down, fires. Lots of power outages now. Wind has really picked up. This is definitely going to be very bad. Structure Fires at 34 Crosby Place and 4 Hawthorne Place. New Con Edison outages include 1 at Seacord Road, 1 at Berrian Road, 1 at Lovell Road, 1 Lovell Road, 7 in area of Trenor Drive and Silver Birch Drive (lines down), 10 in area of Wellington/Avenue and Overlook Road, 79 in area of Antler Place/Elk Avenue/Forest Avenue, 16 at Earle Place, 65 in Halcyon Park, 29 at Hilltop, 1 at Ferdinand Place, 2 on Hamilton Avenue, 15 in Rochelle Park/Rochelle Heights area, 25 at Stonelea Place, 1 at Wilson Drive, 1 at Sherman Street, 160 at Moran Place, 727 at Webster/Grover/Charles, 1 at Memorial Highway, 23 at Woodland/Elm Street, 180 at Residence Park, 42 at Shady Glen, 591 at Pelham Road/Whitewood, 540 Mount Tom/Greenway/Park Ridge, 10 on Davenport Avenue, 1 on Kensington Oval, 77 at Center Avenue/Poplar Place, 1 at Church Street, 35 at Ashland Street.

Monday Oct. 29 1:44 PM – Just got back from Hudson Park and other areas along the water. Added more photos to the Flickr Slideshow above. The wind is really start to whip the intermittent rain. There were a lot of gawkers in Hudson Park and on the “On the Waterfront” parking lot above the New Rochelle Marina. Got some great photos. Jen Parente was also there and will be adding photos as well. The Beach Bar at Hudson Park is underwater now, waves were pounding the rocks in front of Hudson Park and over towards the North End of Davenport Neck visible from the park. Dudley’s was about 1 foot underwater. The parking lot at the New Rochelle marina was under 6-12 inches of water. There is a small river running across Pelham Road at Whitewood, Weyman Avenue running towards Glen Island is closed due to flooding. I just missed a police rescue. New Rochelle Marine police put a small rubber boat into the water at Fort Slocum Road and made 2 rescue trips; one a man the other a woman and her dog. Con Edison is reporting 509 customers in New Rochelle without power: 1 on Oxford Road, 1 on Fenimore Road, 450 in the area around Broadfield Road, 1 on Paine Avenue, 1 on Brewster Terrace, 1 on Rockland Place, 15 in the Rochelle Heights-Rochelle Park neighborhood, 1 on Church Street, 2 on Liberty Avenue, 2 on Colonial Place, 1 on Cherry Avenue (tree down on house), 1 on Moran Place, 2 on Lawrence Place.

Monday Oct. 29 11:00 AM – I have been driving around for the past 2 hours. Lots of wind, swirling leaves. Large tree down on Bloomingdale Drive and Wilmot Road. Con Edison reporting power outage impacting 32 customers, working ongoing at Lockwood Avenue impacting 48 customers, wires down on Paine Avenue impacting 1 customer, wired down on Rockland Place and Moran Place impacting 1 customer each. Reports coming in from Pintard, Pelhamdale and Esplanade where a tree is down on a house. Heading down to Hudson Park now for high tide.

Monday Oct. 29 8:22 AM – Stores in downtown New Rochelle, Main Street and North Avenue, are boarded up. Power is out from a tree down on Lockwood avenue from Webster to Fourth street, 48 customers effected. Otherwise, Con Edison is reporting no power outages in New Rochelle at this time.

Monday Oct. 29 12:12 PM – Took a quick tour of the waterfront at about high tide. The water is up but not to unprecedented levels. The waves are crashing over the area around the Beach Bar at Hudson Park. The boats at the New Rochelle Marina area sitting up pretty high. You can certainly see that with the real storm surge coming tomorrow things are going to be a real mess.

Sunday Oct. 28 4:00 PM – Jim Killorin writes to say that Habitat for Humanity will have cots and space available for people on Main Street in New Rochelle. They have 50 extra costs. Habitat stands ready to help with repair of homes damaged by the storm. For more info email jim@habitatwc.org.

Sunday Oct. 28 3:00 PM – Drove around New Rochelle for the past 2 hours. There is not a great deal of preparation going on in the City. Before Irene there were windows boarded up at downtown stores, sandbags on houses on the water in Davenport Neck and tape on many windows. So far, only the door at the Publisher’s Building and the Marriott Residence Inn are the only two taped up windows I have seen. No sandbags anywhere that I could see. At Sutton Manor, where the boathouse was under several feet of water, all the boats have been removed and the slips and floats moored about 30 feet aware from the boathouse. Bottled water is sold out at many locations around the City but there is milk and other groceries available. The pre-Irene panic does not seem to have occurred here for Sandy. The owners of the beach bar at Hudson Park have disassembled all but the metal frame, the thatched roof and the bar signage. Scaffolding on Huegenot Hills has been lowered after a complaint filed with the building department.

National Weather Service Alert: SANDY EXPECTED TO BRING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE FLOODING TO THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST…INCLUDING LONG ISLAND SOUND AND NEW YORK HARBOR… …WINDS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR HURRICANE FORCE AT LANDFALL

Con Edison Outages Total

Westchester 348,198 customers with out of service total at 45,402 or 13% (10/29 6:25 PM) 106,548 or 31% (10/29 8:06 PM) 150,466 or 43% (10/29 11:03 PM) 165,800 or 47.6% (10/30 7:05 AM) 181,290 or 52% (10/30 11:56 AM) 185,077 or 53% (10/30 6:54 PM) 179,089 or 51% (10/31 9:38 AM) 167,579 or 48% (10/31 7:07 PM) 164,529 or 47% (11/1 7:51 AM) 151,096 or 43% (11/1 5:57 PM) 136,651 or 39% (11/2 8:08 AM) 127,368 or 37% (11/2 1:58 PM) 119,965 or 35% (11/2 5:28 PM) 108,877 or 31% (11/2 11:50 PM) 107,000 or 31% (11/3 7:00 AM) 99,000 or 28% (11/3 10:00 PM) 88,000 or 25% (11/4 7:00 AM) 76,235 or 22% (11/4 10:00 PM) 66,713 or 19% (11/5 9:58 AM) 61,223 or 18% (11/5 3:42 PM) 55,171 or 16% (11/5 11:27 PM) 49,782 or 14% (11/6 8:14 AM) 41,614 or 12% (11/6 10:59 PM) 36,627 or 11% (11/7 8:33 AM) 39,501 or 11% (11/7 3:44 PM) 33,582 or 10% (11/8 8:21 AM) 23,607 or 7% (11/8 5:46 PM) 16,365 or 5% (11/9 8:51 PM) 7,867 or 2% (11/10 8:42 AM) 3,127 or 1% (11/10 7:40 PM) 2,067 or 1% (11/11 12:04 PM) 155 or 0% (11/12 8:30 AM) 184 or 0% (11/12 5:44 PM).

New Rochelle 28,958 customers with out of service total at 7,903 or 28% (10/29 6:25 PM) 11,532 or 39% (10/29 8:06 PM) 16,991 or 59% (10/29 11:03 PM) 18,842 or 65% (10/30 7:05 AM) 20,113 or 70% (10/30 11:56 AM) 20,525 or 71% (10/30 6:54 PM) 20,182 or 70% (10/31 9:38 AM) 20,249 or 70% (10/31 7:07 PM) 18,340 or 63% (11/1 7:51 AM) 17,298 or 60% (11/1 5:57 PM) 14,444 or 50% (11/2 8:08 AM) 12,232 or 42% (11/2 1:58 PM) 12,327 or 43% (11/2 5:28 PM) 9,466 or 33% (11/2 11:50 PM) 8,800 or 30% (11/3 7:00 AM) 6,900 or 24% (11/3 10:00 PM) 6,500 or 23% (11/4 7:00 AM) 4,918 or 17% (11/4 10:00 PM) 4,221 or 15% (11/5 9:58 AM) 4,393 or 15% (11/5 3:42 PM) 4,150 or 14% (11/5 11:27 PM) 3,586 or 12% (11/6 8:14 AM) 3,501 or 12% (11/6 10:59 PM) 3,116 or 11% (11/7 8:33 AM) 4,035 or (11/7 3:44 PM) 3,403 or 12% (11/8 8:21 AM) 2,300 or 8% (11/8 5:46 PM) 1,904 or 7% (11/9 8:51 PM) 731 or 3% (11/10 8:42 AM) 253 or 1% (11/10 7:40 PM) 92 or 0% (11/11 12:04 PM) 15 of 0% (11/12 8:30 AM) 6 of 0% (11/12 5:44 PM).

As usual, we will be were out in the storm, reporting on conditions throughout New Rochelle. Storm Prep and Storm photos to photos@talkofthesound.com. NOTE: we came back in around 7 PM for the night — conditions are too dangerous.

Talk of the Sound will be consolidating the various alerts and messages received as New Rochelle and the surrounding area prepare for Hurricane Sandy which is currently on track to arrive in our area sometime around Sunday and remain until Tuesday. High winds, heavy rain and high tides are expected to cause serious flooding and widespread power outages are expected.

Government Storm Alerts

• City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy Update 11-13-12 State of Emergency Lifted; FEMA at New Rochelle Public Library until Friday – New Ro Alert 15 Thursday Nov. 13 3:42 PM
• Con Edison Crews Continuing Massive Restoration – ConEd Alert 20 Saturday Nov. 10 7:38 PM
• Con Edison’s Army Out In Force Restoring Power To Customers – ConEd Alert 19 Thursday Nov. 8 6:51 PM
• City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy Update 11-9-12 – New Ro Alert 14 Thursday Nov. 9 3:00 PM
• City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy Update 11-8-12 – New Ro Alert 13 Thursday Nov. 8 10:54 AM
• Con Edison To Continue Dry Ice Distribution For Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 18 Thursday Nov. 8 8:58 AM
• Westchester County Remains On Full Alert For Nor’easter – WestCo Alert 15 Wednesday Nov. 7 4:35 PM
• City of New Rochelle Storm Update, State of Emergency Continues; City Working with Con Edison to Restore Power; Polling Sites Open – New Ro Alert 12 Wednesday Nov. 7 3:35 PM
• Con Edison Restores 900,000 Customers; Working To Help Customers With Damaged Equipment – ConEd Alert 17 Wednesday Nov. 7 3:19 PM
• The College of New Rochelle Reopens After Hurricane Sandy – CNR Alert 11 Monday Nov. 5 4:00 PM
• City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy 11-3-12 – New Ro Alert 10 Monday Nov. 5 2:57 AM
• City of New Rochelle Polls Open in New Rochelle for Election Day – New Ro Alert 9 Monday Nov. 5 2:37 PM
• New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce FEMA Information – NRCoC Alert 1 Monday Nov. 5 11:37 AM
• Con Edison Monitoring New Storm Forecast For Later In Week 84% Of Customers Hit By Hurricane Sandy Restored – ConEd Alert 16 Monday Nov. 5 11:37 AM
• Con Edison To Continue Dry Ice Distribution For Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 15 Monday Nov. 5 11:30 AM
• Con Edison Restores 80% Of Customers Hit By Hurricane Sandy – ConEd Alert 12 Sunday Nov. 4 10:13 AM
• Con Edison To Distribute Dry Ice To Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 12 Sunday Nov. 4 10:13 AM
• Con Edison Restores 75% of Customers Hit by Hurricane Sandy – ConEd Alert 12 Sunday Nov. 4 9:53 AM
• Astorino Provides Hurricane Sandy Update – WestCo Alert 14 Saturday Nov. 3 12:08 PM
• Con Edison To Distribute Dry Ice To Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 11 Saturday Nov. 3 10:22 AM
• Con Edison Restores 70% Of Customers Hit By ‘Worst Storm’ – ConEd Alert 10 Saturday Nov. 3 9:33 AM
• Message from New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli – NYOSC Alert 1 Saturday Nov. 3 9:02 AM
• City School District of New Rochelle Will Re-Open Monday, Full-Day Tuesday – NRBoE Alert 5 Friday Nov. 2 3:40 PM
• Westchester County Department Of Health: Generator, Stove And Chain Saw Safety Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – WestCo Alert 13 Friday Nov. 2 3:18 PM
• Governor Cuomo Announces Enhanced Commuter Rail and Subway Service – Metropolitan Transit Authority Alert 4 – Friday Nov. 2 3:02 PM
• County Executive Commends Local Food Industry For Professionalism – WestCo Alert 12 Friday Nov. 2 1:36 PM
• City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy 11-2-12 – New Ro Alert 7 Wednesday Oct. 31 12:23 PM
• City of New Rochelle Warns of Phony Con Edison Employees – New Ro Alert 6 Wednesday Oct. 31 12:21 PM
• Astorino: President Has Declared Disaster For Westchester Due To Sandy – WestCo Alert 11 Friday Nov. 2 12:02 PM
• New Rochelle Public Library Extends Hours To Assist Residents Without Power – NRPL Alert 2 Friday Nov. 2 9:53 AM
• Astorino To Announce Operation Hot Shower at Club Fit and New York Sports Club Locations – WestCo Alert 10 Friday Nov. 2 9:23 AM
• Astorino And United Way Of Westchester And Putnam Announce Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund – WestCo Alert 9 Thursday Nov. 1 6:33 PM
• Con Edison Assures Astorino That No Resources Are Being Diverted From Westchester – WestCo Alert 8 Thursday Nov. 1 5:17 PM
• Con Edison To Distribute Dry Ice To Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 9 Thursday Nov. 1 12:02 PM
• Con Edison Expects To Restore Vast Majority Of Customers By Next Weekend – ConEd Alert 8 Thursday Nov. 1 12:01 PM
• Governor Cuomo Announces Free Transit For Thursday and Friday Because of Transportation Emergency – Metropolitan Transit Authority Alert 3 Thursday Nov. 1 8:49 AM
• Astorino Continues To Assess Storm Damage, Meets with Cuomo, Schumer and Gillibrand, Con Ed and NYSEG – WestCo Alert 6 Wednesday Oct. 31 4:55 PM
• New Rochelle Schools Closed Entire Week, Back on Monday 11/5 – NRBoE Alert 4 Wednesday Oct. 31 3:32 PM
• Con Edison To Distribute Dry & Wet Ice To Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 7 Wednesday Oct. 31 3:30 PM
• A.G. Schneiderman Provides Guide To Property Owners As They Recover And Rebuild From Hurricane Sandy – NYSOCS Alert 2 Wednesday Oct. 31 1:59 PM
• Long Recovery Period Ahead: Hurricane Sandy Status Report from Noam Bramson – New Ro Alert 5 Monday Oct. 29 1:35 PM
• Astorino Urges Extreme Caution For Trick Or Treaters – WestCo Alert 5 Wednesday Oct. 31 12:40 PM
• Con Edison Crews Battling Downed Wires, Trees To Restore Power To Customers – ConEd Alert 6 Wednesday Oct. 31 12:05 PM
• Astorino: Follow Consumer Department Tips On How To Select A Contractor And Avoid Being Gouged In Aftermath Of Sandy – WestCo Alert 6 Wednesday Oct. 31 11:30 AM
• City of New Rochelle 10-31-12 Recovery Update – New Ro Alert 4 Monday Oct. 29 11:11 AM
• New Rochelle Schools Closed Wednesday 10/3 – NRBoE Alert 3 Tuesday Oct. 30 5:12 PM
• Astorino Gives Update On County In Aftermath Of Sandy – WestCo Alert 4 Tuesday Oct. 30 12:00 PM
• Con Edison Assessing Damage From Sandy, Making Repairs To Restore Power – ConEd Alert 5 Tuesday Oct. 30 12:49 PM
• City of New Rochelle General Hurricane Information, Dry Ice Info – New Ro Alert 4 Tuesday Oct. 30 12:16 PM
• Astorino Gives Update On County In Aftermath Of Sandy – WestCo Alert 1 Tuesday Oct. 30 12:00 PM
• Con Edison Reports 68,700 Customers Without Electrical Service Due To Hurricane Sandy – ConEd Alert 4 Monday Oct. 29 4:53 PM
• Sound Shore Medical Center Inclement Weather Alert/Disaster Plan Activated – SSMC Alert 1 Monday Oct. 29 2:30 PM
• New Rochelle Schools Closed Tuesday – NRBoE Alert 2 Monday Oct. 29 2:02 PM
• Tappan Zee Bridge Update: Speed Limit Reduced To 35, Mph Empty Tractor Trailers Banned, Bridge Closing Possible If Conditions Warrant – – NYSThru Alert 1 Monday Oct. 29 12:24 PM
• Con Edison On High Alert As Sandy Heads Toward New York – ConEd Alert 3 Monday Oct. 29 10:38 AM
• City of New Rochelle General Hurricane Information – New Ro Alert 3 Monday Oct. 29 11:11 AM
• A.G Schneiderman Warns Against Price Inflation Of Necessary Goods And Services During Hurricane Sandy – NYSAG1 Alert 1 Monday Oct. 29 7:43 AM
• Astorino Suspends Bee-Line Bus Service – WestCo Alert 2 Sunday Oct. 28 6:58 PM
• New Rochelle Public Library will be closed on 10-29-12 – NRPL Alert 1 Sunday Oct. 27 6:02 PM
• Con Edison Bracing For Hurricane Sandy – ConEd Alert 2 Sunday Oct. 28 3:39 PM
• New Rochelle Schools Closed Monday – NRBoE Alert 1 Sunday Oct. 28 1:47 PM
• NewRo Cancels Garbage Pickup, AltSide Parking, ALMS Shelter Opens 3 PM – NewRo Alert 2 Sunday Oct. 28 1:16 PM
• MTA Service Suspended Starting 7 PM Sunday Night – Cuomo Alert 3 Sunday Oct. 28 9:43 AM
• New York Army and Air National Guard Mobilized – Cuomo Alert 2 Saturday Oct. 27 9:43 AM
• Cuomo Directs MTA to Prepare for Service Suspensions – MTA Alert 2 Saturday Oct. 27 9:43 AM
• New Rochelle Calls for Storm Preparedness – NewRo Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 3:44 PM
• Cuomo Directs MTA to Plan for Possible Orderly Suspension of All MTA Service – Cuomo Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 1:43 PM
• Astorino Calls on Westchester Residents to Be Prepared – WestCo Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 2:42 PM
• Con Edison Monitoring Hurricane Sandy – ConEd Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 7:57 AM
• MTA Prepares for Hurricane Sandy – MTA Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 2:14 PM

City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy Update 11-13-12 State of Emergency Lifted; FEMA at New Rochelle Public Library until Friday – New Ro Alert 15 Thursday Nov. 13 3:42 PM

The State of Emergency for the City of New Rochelle has been lifted. Power has been restored for virtually all residents, but Con Ed may have to shut off power briefly in certain neighborhoods in order to make permanent repairs during the weeks ahead. New outages might then occur. If you lose power, you MUST contact Con Ed directly at 1-800-75-CONED.

Westchester County is eligible for federal disaster aid through FEMA. To register, please contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or www.disasterassistance.gov. In addition, FEMA representatives will be available in person at the New Rochelle Public Library on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9-5 and Wednesday from 10-6, as well as at the Westchester County Center, seven days a week, from 8:00am to 8:00pm.

Fall leaf collection will continue as scheduled. To the extent possible, please bundle storm debris separately, so it can be picked up quickly and will not impede leaf removal.

The City of New Rochelle issues updates through the City website www.newrochelleny.com; Facebook and Twitter; NRTV Cable Channel 75 and FIOS Channel 28; and automated phone and email messages. Residents can subscribe to receive these emergency alerts directly through the City’s website at www.newrochelleny.com.
The following Storm Recovery Update was sent citywide today through the City’s emergency communications network.
This is the final recovery update from the City of New Rochelle. Power has been restored for virtually all residents, but many repairs were temporary, and Con Ed may have to shut off power briefly in certain neighborhoods in order to make permanent repairs during the weeks ahead.

The City will seek reimbursement from FEMA for many storm-related expenses. Residents and businesses can do the same. To register, please contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or www.disasterassistance.gov. In addition, FEMA representatives are available in person at the New Rochelle Public Library on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9-5 and Wednesday from 10-6, as well as at the Westchester County Center, seven days a week, from 8:00am to 8:00pm.

Fall leaf collection will continue as scheduled. To the extent possible, please bundle storm debris separately, so it can be picked up quickly, and so that it won’t impede leaf removal.

The State Public Service Commission will likely hold hearings to evaluate Con Edison’s performance, and the City expects to participate in this process. Improvements must be made before the next major storm hits. We are grateful for the hard work of the utility crews that helped our region recover, many of which came from hundreds of miles away, and of our emergency services and public works teams.

Finally, we offer thanks to the many New Rochelle residents who supported their neighbors and demonstrated exceptional patience throughout this difficult experience.

Con Edison Crews Continuing Massive Restoration – ConEd Alert 20 Saturday Nov. 10 7:38 PM

Con Edison crews are closing in on completing the largest customer restoration campaign in company history.

At 6 p.m., approximately 11,400 customers in New York City and Westchester County were without electrical service. The company has restored service to more than 1 million customers who were affected by Hurricane Sandy and Wednesday’s Nor’easter.

Con Edison is on pace to restore power by the end of the weekend to all customers who were affected by the storms and whose equipment can accept service. Con Edison reported approximately 7,900 customers without electricity in New York City and 3,500 in and Westchester County.

These numbers do not include about 30,000 customers in flood-ravaged areas of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Those customers cannot get electrical service until their own internal equipment is repaired, tested and certified by an electrician as ready for service.

The company is working with the New York City Buildings Department to expedite the restoration of these customers. For information, click here: http://www.coned.com/es/Energy-Services-Flyer.pdf.

Sandy caused five times as many outages as the next largest storm in Con Edison history, Hurricane Irene, which hit in August 2011. The company has gone through a year’s worth of some materials since Hurricane Sandy struck. Con Edison and thousands of mutual aid and contractor personnel replaced 60 miles of electric cable and responded to tens of thousands of locations.

Customers can use their mobile devices, as well as computers, to report power interruptions or service problems at www.conEd.com. They also may call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).

The company is working closely with the New York City Office of Emergency Management, the Westchester Office of Emergency Services and other emergency officials to monitor and respond to the effects of Hurricane Sandy and the Nor’easter

Con Edison’s Army Out In Force Restoring Power To Customers – ConEd Alert 19 Thursday Nov. 8 6:51 PM

Con Edison, aided by utility workers from across the United States and Canada, continues to replace utility poles, string wires and install transformers to restore service to those affected by Hurricane Sandy and this week’s Nor’easter.

As of 5:30 p.m., Con Edison reported approximately 28,000 customers out of service. There were about 12,600 customers out of service in Westchester County; 8,700 in Queens; 5,100 in Brooklyn; 1,400 in the Bronx; 400 in Staten Island; and fewer than 100 in Manhattan.

Con Edison has restored service to more than 1 million customers since Hurricane Sandy, which was by far the most destructive storm in company history, struck the New York area. Crews are working around the clock to restore the remaining customer outages this weekend.

Many of the outages still left in the company’s service area involve small groups of customers.

It’s been a massive job. Crews have replaced 60 miles of electrical wiring and gone to tens of thousands of locations to make repairs or tend to emergencies.

The company is also working with the New York City Buildings Department to expedite the restoration of an additional 35,000 customers in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens whose electrical equipment may have been damaged by flooding and cannot be safely re-energized without repairs by an electrician.

The customers requiring inside-the-premises electrical work are not listed on the Con Edison Outage Map or included in the total number of outages reported by the company. Con Edison and the New York City Buildings Department are collaborating to guide customers through the process of repairing their own equipment. For information, click here: http://www.coned.com/es/Energy-Services-Flyer.pdf.

The safety of customers and workers remained Con Edison’s highest priority, as crews responded to thousands of downed wires and hundreds of blocked roads.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company urges customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Important information will be posted on www.conEd.com.. For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5.

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· Never operate a portable electric generator indoors or in an attached garage. Be sure to place the generator outside where exhaust fumes will not enter into enclosed spaces. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home. The generator should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow.

· Use extreme caution before going into a flooded basement. Know whether there are electrified services or unsanitary conditions and wear high rubber boots. Also, know how deep the water is and probe it with a wooden stick, if necessary, to gauge the depth. Keep children out of basements where there is water.

· Do not go near downed wires. Treat downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

· Report downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials. Con Edison is also getting strong assistance from numerous state and federal agencies.

City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy Update 11-9-12 – New Ro Alert 14 Thursday Nov. 9 3:00 PM

This is an update from the City of New Rochelle regarding power restoration and the presence of FEMA and the Red Cross on site this weekend.

There are still approximately 1,800 households without power. Restoration efforts are proceeding, with areas prioritized according to the number of residents. If you have lost power, you must contact Con Edison directly at 1-800-75-CONED.

The Red Cross shelter at Albert Leonard Middle School has closed. However, the Red Cross will be distributing food and comfort kits at the City Hall parking lot, 515 North Avenue, on Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 4PM.

Representatives from FEMA will be at the New Rochelle Public Library on Saturday from 9AM to 5PM, and on Sunday and Monday from 1PM to 5PM. Additionally, assistance is available at the Westchester County Center, with representatives from FEMA, the Red Cross and Con Ed from 8AM to 8PM, 7 days a week, until further notice.

The City will continue providing updates as needed, but will not necessarily do so on a daily basis moving forward.

City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy Update 11-8-12 – New Ro Alert 13 Thursday Nov. 8 10:54 AM

This is an update from the City of New Rochelle. There are still approximately 3,000 households without power. Restoration efforts are proceeding, with areas prioritized according to the number of residents, and the City continues to press Con Ed forcefully for more assistance.

If you have lost power, you must contact Con Edison directly at 1-800-75-CONED.

Con Ed will distribute dry ice today at 100 Business Park Drive, Armonk.

A FEMA Assistance Center will open tomorrow at the Westchester County Center, and will remain open from 8AM to 8PM, 7 days a week, until further notice.

Please report any new downed trees to 740-6118 or 654-2300.

An emergency shelter remains open at Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane.

Con Edison To Continue Dry Ice Distribution For Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 18 Thursday Nov. 8 8:58 AM

Con Edison will distribute dry ice at four locations starting at 12 p.m. today to customers who are without power due to Hurricane Sandy. Distribution will continue until 5 p.m. or until supplies run out. The company will also have personnel at the locations to answer customers’ questions.

These are the locations:

Brooklyn
2865 West 19th Street – two blocks from MCU Park (Cyclones Stadium)

Queens
155 St. and Baisley Blvd. (Baisley Pond Park, South Jamaica)

Staten Island
Father Capadano Blvd. and Hunter Ave. (parking lot near the Staten Island Parks Department)

Westchester County
In Armonk at the IBM Complex/Town Park at Business Park Dr. Parking Lot. Set GPS for 200 Business Park Drive

Instructions for safe handling and disposal of dry ice are printed on the bag for residents who pick up dry ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.

Westchester County Remains On Full Alert For Nor’easter – WestCo Alert 15 Wednesday Nov. 7 4:35 PM

Westchester County remains on full alert as it braces for the nor’easter arriving Wednesday. The nor’easter storm is expected to bring strong gusty winds, snow and rain. The county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains fully activated, as it has been since Oct. 29 in response to Hurricane Sandy.

“The same rules that applied to Sandy apply to this storm,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “I urge residents to use common sense and err on the side of caution. Sandy claimed three lives in Westchester and every precaution should be taken to ensure public safety. It’s best to stay indoors tonight. Any residents who remain without power should consider taking shelter with friends or relatives or in their local community warming shelter.”

Astorino added that the presidents of Con Edison and NYSEG have assured him the increased manpower from outside of the county that is working on restoring power will remain in Westchester during this latest storm.

Officers from the Department of Public Safety remain on 12-hour shifts to increase the manpower available to respond to emergencies on county parkways and to assist local municipalities as needed.

City of New Rochelle Storm Update, State of Emergency Continues; City Working with Con Edison to Restore Power; Polling Sites Open – New Ro Alert 12 Wednesday Nov. 7 3:35 PM

This is an update from the City of New Rochelle. This morning there were fewer than 3,000 households without power, but there have been significant new outages in the last few hours, most likely as a result of storm conditions. If you have lost power, you must contact Con Ed directly at 1-800-75-CONED.

We are urging Con Ed in the strongest terms to direct additional assessment and repair resources to New Rochelle as quickly as possible.

And we will continue pressing Con Ed to prioritize residents who have been without power continuously since Hurricane Sandy.

Con Ed has suspended dry ice distribution for today.

Please report any new downed trees to 740-6118 or 654-2300.

An emergency shelter remains open at Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane.

Additional bulletins will follow as warranted.

Con Edison Restores 900,000 Customers; Working To Help Customers With Damaged Equipment – ConEd Alert 17 Wednesday Nov. 7 3:19 PM

With a Nor’easter bearing down on Con Edison’s service area today, thousands of company and out-of-state utility workers battled to restore thousands of customers without power from Hurricane Sandy.

While more than 90 percent of the nearly 1 million customers affected by Sandy have been restored, the company continued efforts to restore the approximately 70,000 customers whose equipment can be safely re-energized. In addition, the company is working with the New York City Buildings Department to expedite the restoration of about 20,000 customers in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens whose own electrical equipment was damaged by flooding and cannot be safely re-energized without repairs and an inspection by an electrician.

Customers requiring inside-the-premises electrical work are not listed on the Con Edison Outage Map or included in the total number of outages reported by the company. Con Edison and the New York City Buildings Department are collaborating to guide customers through the process of repairing their own equipment. For information, click here: http://www.coned.com/es/Energy-Services-Flyer.pdf

Con Edison’s army of employees, mutual aid workers and contractors have restored service to about 910,000 customers since Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge flooded underground electrical equipment and fierce winds toppled trees into power lines. As of 1 pm., the company reported these customer outage numbers: 12,500 in Queens, 10,400 in Brooklyn, 4,200 in the Bronx, 3,500 in Staten Island and 450 in Manhattan.

In Westchester, there were about 39,000 customers out of service and some communities were hit particularly hard by tree damage, downed wires and road closures.

The company is also bracing for another storm. A Nor’easter packing rain and heavy winds is expected to hit the Greater New York region. It could knock trees into power lines, causing more outages. The new storm could delay Con Edison’s customer restorations. Crews repairing overhead equipment cannot work safely in high winds.

Con Edison continues to urge customers in Mid- and Lower Manhattan who were affected by Hurricane Sandy outages to conserve energy as much as possible while crews work to reinforce the underground electric system. Customers can help by refraining from using non-essential appliances such as washers and dryers. Con Edison is in contact with building owners to encourage limiting use of certain elevator banks or other electrical equipment.

The safety of customers and workers is Con Edison’s number one priority. Crews have been responding to more than 100,000 downed wires and are working with emergency services personnel to open blocked roads.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company urges customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Important information will be posted on www.conEd.com.. For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· Never operate a portable electric generator indoors or in an attached garage. Be sure to place the generator outside where exhaust fumes will not enter into enclosed spaces. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home. The generator should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow.

· Use extreme caution before going into a flooded basement. Know whether there are electrified services or unsanitary conditions and wear high rubber boots. Also, know how deep the water is and probe it with a wooden stick, if necessary, to gauge the depth. Keep children out of basements where there is water.

· Do not go near downed wires. Treat downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

· Report downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· If you have power, charge your cell phones, lap tops and other mobile devices, so that they’ll work if you do lose power.

· If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

· Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are working. Also, make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials. Con Edison is also getting strong assistance from numerous state and federal agencies.

The College of New Rochelle Reopens After Hurricane Sandy – CNR Alert 11 Monday Nov. 5 4:00 PM

The College of New Rochelle reopened on Monday, November 5, 2012 following Hurricane Sandy. The College sustained little physical damage from the storm but had been closed all of last week due to power outages. Classes have resumed and all offices are open on the Main Campus as well as four of the College’s city campuses – Brooklyn Campus, Co-op City Campus, John Cardinal O’Connor Campus (South Bronx) and Rosa Parks Campus (Harlem). The College’s DC-37 Campus in lower Manhattan remains closed due to the lack of power.

While power has been restored, there is limited inbound and outbound phone service at the Main Campus. To reach the Main Campus, please dial (914) 654-5000 or (914) 632-5300. Direct dialing to all other (914) 654-5XXX extensions from outside the College is not functioning at this time. Phone systems at the city campuses with the exception of DC-37 appear to be functioning. The College can also be reached via email at sandy@cnr.edu.
There is also no access to library services from off-campus. The Library has prepared an emergency cloud-based information site on accessing Library resources at http://libraryguides.cnr.edu/sandy.

Rescheduled dates for events cancelled last week will be announced as they become available.

City of New Rochelle Storm Update, State of Emergency Continues; City Working with Con Edison to Restore Power; Polling Sites Open – New Ro Alert 11 Monday Nov. 5 4:00 PM

The State of Emergency continues for the City of New Rochelle. There are still about 4,000 households without power, down from roughly 6,000 yesterday. Restoration efforts continue, prioritized according to the number of households affected. If your neighborhood comes back on line, but you still do not have power, you must re-register your address with Con Ed at 1-800-75-CONED or www.coned.com. As a precaution against surges when power is restored, unplug all appliances and electronics now.

Please continue to use caution while traveling as some intersections still do not have power and streets may still be closed due to downed trees and limbs. Downed wires should be considered live and avoided at all costs.

A Red Cross Emergency Shelter remains open at Albert Leonard until further notice. The Doyle Senior Center will be open Monday through Friday. Seniors needing assistance can call the Center at 235-2363. Dry ice will be distributed again by Con Edison today at Yonkers Raceway and the Westchester County Center. The New Rochelle Public Schools will be open this week including Tuesday, Election Day. Regarding Election Day, all polling sites are open. Parking regulations near polling sites will be suspended, but please DO NOT block hydrants or driveways.

For non-emergency issues related to the storm, call 654-2300 or 2-1-1. To report downed trees, call 740-6118

Alternate Side enforcement remains in effect.

The federal government has now declared Westchester a disaster area, which makes our region eligible for federal aid. To qualify, you must register with FEMA at www.disasterassistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362. There is no FEMA office on site as yet.

Customers who have experienced a loss of Cablevision service or damage to equipment should contact Cablevision within 30 days of service being restored to request credit for those days when service was unavailable. Call the local Cablevision service number or e-mail the company through the contact pages at Optimum.net or Cablevision.com.

The City of New Rochelle issues updates through the City website www.newrochelleny.com; Facebook and Twitter; NRTV Cable Channel 75 and FIOS Channel 28; and automated phone and email messages. Residents can subscribe to receive these emergency alerts directly through the City’s website at www.newrochelleny.com.

The following Storm Recovery Update was sent citywide today through the City’s emergency communications network.

This is a recovery update from the City of New Rochelle. There are still about 4,000 households without power, down from roughly 6,000 yesterday. Restoration efforts continue, prioritized according to the number of households affected. For tomorrow, Election Day, all polling places will be open. Parking regulations near polling sites will be suspended, but please do not block hydrants or driveways. Keep in mind that schools will be open.

The remainder of this message repeats information offered in previous bulletins. Con Ed is once again distributing dry ice at Yonkers raceway and at the Westchester County Center. If your neighborhood comes on line, but you still lack power, be sure to re-register your address with Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED. To register for FEMA assistance, visit www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. An emergency shelter remains open at Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane.

City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy 11-3-12 – New Ro Alert 10 Monday Nov. 5 2:57 PM

This is a recovery update from the City of New Rochelle.

There are still about 4,000 households without power, down from roughly 6,000 yesterday. Restoration efforts continue, prioritized according to the number of households affected.

For tomorrow, Election Day, all polling places will be open. Parking regulations near polling sites will be suspended, but please do not block hydrants or driveways. Keep in mind that schools will be open.

The remainder of this message repeats information offered in previous bulletins.

Con Ed is once again distributing dry ice at Yonkers raceway and at the Westchester County Center.

If your neighborhood comes on line, but you still lack power, be sure to re-register your address with Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED.

To register for FEMA assistance, visit www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.

An emergency shelter remains open at Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane.

City of New Rochelle Polls Open in New Rochelle for Election Day – New Ro Alert 9 Monday Nov. 5 2:37 PM

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK: All polling sites in the City of New Rochelle are operable. Please go to your normal polling location to vote tomorrow. Westchester County Board of Elections will have Judge Walker in the New Rochelle City Hall Council Conference Room from 9 am to 9 pm for persons whose poll records are missing and who believe they are eligible to vote.

FOR TODAY:
1. Voting Hours for In-Person Voting at the Board of Elections located at 25 Quarropas St., White Plains, NY 10601 has been extended until 7 PM TONIGHT
2. Absentee Ballots that are being mailed will have to be postmarked by today, November 5th or hand delivered to the Board of Elections on Election Day, November 6.

Any questions and/or concerns should be directed to the Westchester County Board of Elections at (914)995-5700.

New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce FEMA Information – NRCoC Alert 1 Monday Nov. 5 11:37 AM

County Executive Rob Astorino has released notification that the President has declared Westchester a disaster area due to Hurricane Sandy making this region eligible for federal disaster aid. You can register online or by phone.

Those businesses within Westchester County should register online with FEMA at
www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1 800-621-FEMA (3362), as quickly as possible.

President Obama has directed the Small Business Administration to expedite relief assistance.

Financial assistance includes:

1. Loans up to $2 million to repair disaster damage or destroyed real estate, machinery,
equipment, inventory and other real estate assets. Financial assistance in combination
with property loss, cannot exceed $2 million;

2. Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and many not-for-profit organizations are eligible for the Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster (SBA) Loans which provide working capital assistance;

3. Interest rates for not-for-profit organizations are three (3%) percent and four (4%) percent for businesses, both with terms up to 30 years;

4. Applicants may apply online using the electronic loan application via the Small Business Administration website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov.ela.

5. The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is
December 31, 2012; the deadline to return economic injury applications is July 31, 2013.

Con Edison Monitoring New Storm Forecast For Later In Week 84% Of Customers Hit By Hurricane Sandy Restored – ConEd Alert 16 Monday Nov. 5 11:37 AM

Con Edison crews, working around the clock, have restored electric service to more than 800,000 customers, or nearly 84 percent of all those who lost their power from Hurricane Sandy’s fury.

As of 10 a.m. today, Con Edison said approximately 156,800 customers were without electricity, out of an estimated 950,000 affected. That includes 3,500 out in Manhattan, 40,800 in Queens, 22,800 in Brooklyn, 15,000 in Staten Island and 6,700 in the Bronx.

In Westchester County, the company reported 68,000 customers out of service. Approximately 150,700 customers had their service restored.

Con Edison expects to have the vast majority of those impacted by the storm restored by the weekend.

While Con Edison continues to return electricity to customers since Hurricane Sandy moved out, the company is monitoring the rain and wind forecasted for later this week. The company said high winds and heavy rains could delay work on homes and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy and could cause additional outages.

Con Edison continues to urge customers in the areas of Mid- and Lower Manhattan that were affected by outages during Hurricane Sandy to conserve energy as best as possible while crews work to reinforce the company’s underground systems.

The company says customers can help by refraining from using non-essential appliances, such as washers and dryers. The company is also in contact with building owners to limit their use of certain elevator banks or other equipment.

More than 2,400 utility workers from as far away as California are working in New York City and Westchester County to assist in restoration efforts. More than 200 additional outside utility workers are arriving in New York today and tomorrow. Since Friday, Con Edison has been building two new base camps in FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights and at the Queens Hall of Science to host the out-of-town crews. Con Edison has camps and staging areas at Rye Playland in Rye, Citifield in Queens, and Miller Field in Staten Island.

The safety of customers and workers remains Con Edison’s No. 1 priority. Crews have been responding to more than 100,000 downed wires in New York City and Westchester County. The company is working closely with emergency services personnel to open blocked roads and streets.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Important information will be posted on the company’s website, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· Never operate a portable electric generator indoors or in an attached garage. Be sure to place the generator outside where exhaust fumes will not enter into enclosed spaces. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home. The generator should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow.

· Use extreme caution before going into a flooded basement. Know whether there are electrified services or unsanitary conditions and wear high rubber boots. Also, know how deep the water is and probe it with a wooden stick, if necessary, to gauge the depth. Keep children out of basements where there is water.

· If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

Con Edison To Continue Dry Ice Distribution For Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 15 Monday Nov. 5 11:30 AM

Con Edison will distribute dry ice at five locations starting at noon today to customers who are without power due to Hurricane Sandy. Distribution will continue until 6 p.m. or until supplies run out. The company will also have personnel at the locations to answer customers’ questions.

These are the locations:

Brooklyn
MCU Park (Cyclones Stadium) – 1904 Surf Ave. (Between West 17th and West 19th streets), parking lot section 1B

Queens
Baisley Pond Park at 155th Street and Baisley Boulevard in South Jamaica

Staten Island
Father Capodanno Boulevard and Hunter Avenue (Parking lot near the Staten Island Parks Department)

Westchester County
Westchester County Center at 198 Central Ave. in White Plains
Yonkers Raceway – 810 Yonkers Ave. in Yonkers

Instructions for safe handling and disposal of dry ice are printed on the bag for residents who pick up dry ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.

Con Edison Restores 80% Of Customers Hit By Hurricane Sandy – ConEd Alert 14 Sunday Nov. 4 10:13 AM

Con Edison has restored service to more than 770,000 customers, or approximately 80 percent of all those who lost electricity from the ravages of Hurricane Sandy.

As of 10 p.m., Con Edison said approximately 180,000 customers were without electricity, out of an estimated 950,000 affected. That includes 5,000 out in Manhattan, 45,000 in Queens, 22,000 in Brooklyn, 16,000 in Staten Island and 10,000 in the Bronx.

In Westchester County, the company reported 79,000 customers out of service. County wide, approximately 140,000 customers had their service restored.

Con Edison expects to have the vast majority of those impacted by the storm restored by next weekend.

More than 2,000 utility workers from as far away as California are working in New York City and Westchester County to assist in restoration efforts. More than 300 additional outside utility workers arrived in New York today. Since Friday, Con Edison has been building two new base camps in FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights and at the Queens Hall of Science to host the out-of-town crews.

Con Edison already had camps and staging areas at Rye Playland in Rye, Citifield in Queens, and Miller Field in Staten Island.

The safety of customers and workers remains Con Edison’s No. 1 priority. Crews have been responding to more than 100,000 downed wires in New York City and Westchester County. The company is working closely with emergency services personnel to open blocked roads and streets.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Important information will be posted on the company’s website, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· Never operate a portable electric generator indoors or in an attached garage. Be sure to place the generator outside where exhaust fumes will not enter into enclosed spaces. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home. The generator should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow.

· Use extreme caution before going into a flooded basement. Know whether there are electrified services or unsanitary conditions and wear high rubber boots. Also, know how deep the water is and probe it with a wooden stick, if necessary, to gauge the depth. Keep children out of basements where there is water.

If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

· Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

Con Edison To Distribute Dry Ice To Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 13 Sunday Nov. 4 10:13 AM

Con Edison will distribute dry ice at six locations starting at 10 a.m. today to customers who are without power due to Hurricane Sandy. Distribution will continue until 4 p.m. or until supplies run out. The company will also have personnel at the locations to answer customers’ questions.

These are the locations:

Brooklyn
MCU Park (Cyclones Stadium) – 1904 Surf Ave. (Between West 17th and West 19th streets), parking lot section 1B

Queens
Baisley Pond Park at 155th Street and Baisley Boulevard in South Jamaica

The parking lot at the Kissena Park Velodrome near Booth Memorial Avenue in Flushing

Staten Island
Father Capadano Boulevard and Hunter Avenue (Parking lot near the Staten Island Parks Department)

Westchester County
Westchester County Center at 198 Central Ave. in White Plains
Yonkers Raceway – 810 Yonkers Ave. in Yonkers

Instructions for safe handling and disposal of dry ice are printed on the bag for residents who pick up dry ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.

Con Edison Restores 75% of Customers Hit by Hurricane Sandy – ConEd Alert 12 Sunday Nov. 4 9:53 AM

Con Edison has repowered more than 727,000 customers, or more than 75 percent, of all those who lost electricity since Hurricane Sandy pounded New York five days ago.

As of 9:30 a.m. today, Con Edison said approximately 210,000 customers were without electricity, out of an estimated 940,000 affected. Con Edison expects to have the vast majority of those impacted by the storm restored by next weekend.

“The men and women of Con Edison, along with thousands of utility workers from around the country, are working with determination and professionalism to put our customers back in service,” said Craig Ivey, president of Con Edison. “We are running an aggressive, coordinated restoration campaign in response to the worst storm ever to hit New York. We will continue working around the clock until every home and business owner whose equipment was not damaged by the storm has power.”

More than 2,000 utility workers from as far away as California are working in New York City and Westchester County to assist in restoration efforts. More than 300 additional outside utility workers are scheduled to arrive in New York today. Since Friday, Con Edison has been building two new base camps in FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights and at the Queens Hall of Science to host the out-of-town crews.

Con Edison already had camps and staging areas at Rye Playland in Rye, Citifield in Queens, and Miller Field in Staten Island.

The safety of customers and workers remains Con Edison’s No. 1 priority. Crews have been responding to more than 100,000 downed wires in New York City and Westchester County. The company is working closely with emergency services personnel to open blocked roads and streets.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Important information will be posted on the company’s website, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· Never operate a portable electric generator indoors or in an attached garage. Be sure to place the generator outside where exhaust fumes will not enter into enclosed spaces. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home. The generator should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow.

· Use extreme caution before going into a flooded basement. Know whether there are electrified services or unsanitary conditions and wear high rubber boots. Also, know how deep the water is and probe it with a wooden stick, if necessary, to gauge the depth. Keep children out of basements where there is water.

· If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

Astorino Provides Hurricane Sandy Update – WestCo Alert 14 Saturday Nov. 3 12:08 PM

Novz spoke to NYSEG CEO Mark Lynch.

“Our biggest priorities are our schools. We want all schools open on Monday,” Astorino said. “After that, our priority is our voting places, which in many cases are in schools. Let me assure our residents they will have a place to vote on Tuesday. We are getting generators for some places. And if a poll does not have power by Monday evening, we will have an alternative, nearby place to vote.”

If a poll location is changed, the county will use its paratransit fleet to transport paratransit riders.

There are 380 polling sites in the county, of which 92 were without power as of 2 p.m. Saturday. In Con Ed territory, there are 142 schools total, of which 107 still were without power at this same time. Con Ed anticipates that number will be down to 55 by Saturday evening.

As of 3:30 p.m. on Saturday about 108,469 Con Ed Westchester customers were without power, down from 120,374 Friday afternoon. In addition, there are about 21,200 NYSEG customers without power, down from 25,499 Friday afternoon. That compares with 1.5 million customers in New Jersey and 750,000 customers on Long Island who are without power.

As to gasoline supplies, Astorino expressed the hope that things will return to normal and urged residents who do not need gasoline not to top off their tanks.

The county’s Emergency Operations Canter continues in operation around the clock to oversee the recovery and coordinate efforts with local governments. After requests for police support came in, the county Department of Public Safety activated its Sheriff’s Emergency Force to supplement local police operations. In addition, all county police offices have been placed on 12-hour shifts to maximize officers for deployment to assist municipalities.

On a daily basis, the county EOC has conference calls with municipalities.
Astorino’s phone conversations Saturday were just the latest with Con Ed and NYSEG about power restoration. He pledged to keep pressing them.

City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy 11-3-12 – New Ro Alert 8 Saturday Nov. 3 12:08 PM

This is a recovery update from the City of New Rochelle. Restoration efforts continue with additional crews working throughout the weekend. There are still 9,000 customers in the City without power. Power restoration will be prioritized according to the number of customers affected by any particular repair. We recommend that you disconnect electronic devices, so that they will not be damaged by a power surge when electricity is restored.

If your neighborhood comes back on line, but you still do not have power, then it is very important for you to re-register your address with Con Ed at 1-800-75-CONED or www.coned.com. By re-registering your address, you can ensure that Con Ed is aware that problems in your neighborhood persist.

Westchester has been officially declared a disaster area, which makes our region eligible for federal aid. To qualify, you must register with FEMA at www.disasterassistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362.

Con Ed will again distribute dry ice today at Yonkers Raceway and at a new location – the Westchester County Center.

A shelter remains open at Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane and the New Rochelle Public Library has extended its weekend hours to Saturday and Sunday from 9AM to 5PM to accommodate those who need a warm place or wish to recharge personal electronic devices. The Hugh Doyle Senior Center will be open next week for normal business hours, and the New Rochelle Public Schools will open again on Monday and have a full class day on Tuesday, Election Day.

For further updates, visit the City website at www.newrochelleny.com.

Con Edison To Distribute Dry Ice To Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 11 Saturday Nov. 3 10:22 AM

Con Edison will distribute dry ice at seven locations starting at 10 a.m. today to customers who are without power due to Hurricane Sandy. Dry ice will be distributed until 4 p.m. or until supplies run out. The company will also have personnel at the locations to answer customers’ questions.

These are the locations:

Brooklyn Walgreen’s, 532 Neptune Ave. (between W. 5th & 6th Streets)

Bronx PS 83 at 1846 Radcliff Avenue (Between Morris Park Avenue & Rhinelander Avenue) Bronx, NY 10462

Queens Baisley Pond Park at 155 St and Baisley Blvd. in South Jamaica

Flushing in the parking lot at the Kissena Park Velodrome near Booth Memorial Avenue

Staten Island Great Kills – Gateway National Park at Hylan Blvd & Buffalo Street

Westchester County

Westchester County Center at 198 Central Avenue in White Plains
Yonkers Raceway – 810 Yonkers Avenue

Instructions for safe handling and disposal of dry ice are printed on the bag for residents who pick up dry ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.

Con Edison Restores 70% Of Customers Hit By ‘Worst Storm’ – ConEd Alert 10 Saturday Nov. 3 9:33 AM

Con Edison crews have restored electricity to more than 645,000 customers, or approximately 70 percent of all those who lost power since Hurricane Sandy slammed through New York.

The hurricane is the worst natural disaster to strike Con Edison’s customers in the company’s history.

Safety remains the No. 1 priority for customers, Con Edison employees, and contractors. Crews are facing thousands of downed wires in New York City and Westchester County. The company is working closely with emergency services personnel to open blocked roads and streets.

Weekend goals for Con Edison and out-of-town crews are to restore electricity to schools for Monday, and polling places for Tuesday. Those restorations are nearing 100 percent for accessible buildings. Some cannot be re-energized since they are in flood zones with damage that bars the safe re-introduction of electricity.

The company expects to make significant progress restoring electricity over the next seven days by planning work and sharing it with hundreds of overhead crews from around the country.

Also restored on Friday night and early today are the majority of Manhattan areas knocked out when the East River swept through Con Edison’s East 13th Street substation.

The utility said although it has restored power to some areas of Manhattan, more than 100 buildings may still be without electricity due to basement flooding or damage to local equipment.

As of 7 a.m. today, Con Edison reported approximately 280,000 customers out of service. That included 5,800 in Manhattan, 81,000 in Queens, 31,000 in Brooklyn, 31,000 in Staten Island and 25,000 in the Bronx.

In Westchester County, the company reported 107,000 customers out of service. Originally, 206,000 were affected by the hurricane.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Con Edison will continue to provide updates through the media as the storm moves closer. Important information will be posted on the company’s website, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· Use extreme caution before going into a flooded basement. Know whether there are electrified services or unsanitary conditions and wear high rubber boots. Also, know how deep the water is and probe it with a wooden stick, if necessary, to gauge the depth. Keep children out of basements where there is water.

· If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

· Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· If you still have power, charge your cell phones, lap tops and other mobile devices, so that they’ll work if you do lose power.

· If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are working. Also, make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

· Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

Message from New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli – NYOSC Alert 1 Saturday Nov. 3 9:02 AM

Like millions of New Yorkers, I spent a sleepless Monday night listening to howling winds and rattling windows as Hurricane Sandy hit our state.

While I was among those without power, I was fortunate to have escaped damage to my home, unlike many of my Long Island neighbors and residents throughout the boroughs and suburbs of New York City, who felt the storm’s devastating impact.

This historic natural disaster brought unprecedented damage to countless New York communities. Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones, and to those most affected by this storm.

Against the harrowing images of damage and loss, we have also witnessed the heart and strength, determination and human concern of our great state. As the storm raged, our brave first responders risked their lives, selflessly running into harm’s way to save their fellow New Yorkers. And as we have begun to clean up, we are seeing the people of New York coming together.

As I visited the Emergency Management Center and an Emergency Shelter in my community, I was struck by the resilience and compassion of New Yorkers in the midst of this calamity. From a helping hand and a warm embrace to food, supplies and shelter – the care offered, neighbor to neighbor, has been truly inspiring.

These acts of good will, through gestures large and small, are further proof of what we already know: when New Yorkers face adversity, we run towards one another, not away. During the most trying times, we step up for our neighbors and communities. Day by day, we are recovering. I have no doubt that New York will not only rebuild what we have lost, but become stronger.

City School District of New Rochelle Will Re-Open Monday, Full-Day Tuesday – NRBoE Alert 5 Friday Nov. 2 3:40 PM

This is an important message from the City School District of New Rochelle. 

With power expected to be fully restored to our schools in the next couple days, we will resume school for all staff and students on Monday, November 5th.  In addition, Tuesday, November 6th, originally scheduled to be a holiday for Election Day, will now be a full day of instruction for staff and students.

At this time, we do not know the full impact that the multiple school closings will have on snow days and the calendar going forward.  We will communicate those updates when they are available.
 
Finally, for all students who are scheduled to take the SAT exam this Saturday, the test has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 17th.  
 
Thank you for your patience. 
 
We look forward to seeing everyone next week!

Westchester County Department Of Health: Generator, Stove And Chain Saw Safety Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – WestCo Alert 13 Friday Nov. 2 3:18 PM

The Westchester County Department of Health is alerting residents and businesses with generators, camp cook stoves, and chain saws to only operate them out of doors. They produce carbon monoxide and can be a source of CO poisoning. During a power outage, generators can be dangerous if not used properly. Using a generator indoors can kill you in minutes!
Never use a generator inside your house or in partly enclosed areas such as garages, basements, porches, crawlspaces, or sheds, or in partly-enclosed spaces such as carports or breezeways – even if windows are open.
Generators should only be operated outside, away from open windows. Carbon monoxide in the generator’s fumes can build up and cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can lead to death.
Place generators outside, far away and downwind from any buildings. One study demonstrated that 15 feet was not far enough to prevent a build-up of CO inside the home.

Do not exceed the rated capacity of your generator. Overloading your generator can damage it and any appliances connected to it. Fire may result.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Fuel spilled on a hot generator can cause an explosion.
If your generator has a detachable fuel tank, remove it before refilling. If this is not possible, shut off the generator and let it cool before refilling.
Alternate Heating/Cooking Sources
· If you plan to cook on a barbeque grill or camp stove, remember these also produce carbon monoxide and are for outdoor use only.
· If you use a fireplace, wood stove, or portable kerosene heater to stay warm, be sure there is adequate ventilation to the outside. Without enough fresh air, carbon monoxide fumes can build up in your home.
· Never use a natural gas or propane stove/oven to heat your home.
· If you use a kerosene heater, use 1-K grade kerosene only. Never substitute with fuel oil, diesel, gasoline or yellow (regular) kerosene.
· Open a window to provide ventilation when a portable kerosene heater is in use to reduce carbon monoxide fumes inside the home.

Tools and Equipment
· Fuel-powered tools and equipment, such as lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, and pressure-washers, emit CO. Never start or operate these devices in an enclosed space such as a garage.

Fire safety
· When adding fuel to a space heater, or wood to a wood stove or fireplace, wear non-flammable gloves and clothing.
· Never add fuel to a space heater when it is hot. The fuel can ignite, burning you and your home.
· Keep the heater away from objects that can burn, such as furniture, rugs or curtains.
· If you have a fire extinguisher, keep it nearby.
· Be careful with candles—never leave them burning if you leave the room.
· Keep children away from space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves to avoid accidental burns.

Governor Cuomo Announces Enhanced Commuter Rail and Subway Service – Metropolitan Transit Authority Alert 4 – Friday Nov. 2 3:02 PM

Enhanced service is available on Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and the NYC Subway today, providing commuters with additional travel options as the current transportation state of emergency continues. All commuter rail, bus and subway service is fare free until midnight. Access-A-Ride service is also fare free and operating regular service, both advanced reservation and subscription will be delivered, with the exception of areas in Zone A, including the Rockaways, City Island, Lower Manhattan and Staten Island.

Metro-North is operating close to regularly scheduled service on the Hudson Line between Croton-Harmon and Grand Central Terminal and close to regularly scheduled service on the Harlem Line between Southeast and Grand Central Terminal. On the New Haven Line close to regularly scheduled service is being provided between New Haven and Grand Central Terminal.The added service made possible by continued progress by Metro-North crews to clear tracks of debris, inspect critical infrastructure and repair damaged components.

The LIRR is providing hourly service on its four busiest branches, the Port Washington Branch, the Port Jefferson Branch from Huntington to Penn Station, the Ronkonkoma Branch and the Babylon Branch. A check of the map will show LIRR service is now available on the North Shore in Nassau and Suffolk, down the center of Long Island through to Ronkonkoma and and along the South Shore through to Babylon. The recovery work by LIRR crews, while taking place throughout the LIRR system, focused on returning service to the LIRR’s four largest branches – Port Washington, Ronkonkoma, Babylon and Huntington.

The 5 Shuttle began operating this morning between E. 180th St and Dyre Ave in the Bronx, joining the roster of available limited subway service. M service is running from 34th St/Herald Square to Jamaica Center/Parsons-Archer, marking yet another step on the road to recovery in the wake of “Superstorm” Sandy. “As we have said from the beginning, we will bring service back on a gradual basis as we are able to do so. The subway system will be a shifting landscape for some time to come,” said MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota. “But we are making steady progress toward some level of normalcy.”

Additionally, partial 7 train service is in operation, running between Main Street and 74th-Broadway, where customers can transfer to Queens Boulevard F and M trains for the trip into Manhattan. The additional subway service will take some of the strain off the MTA bus network, which was the first service to be restored, but has been slowed by street conditions and heavy use. Until full service is restored to all subway lines, customers should expect delays and crowding on trains. If possible, customers should stagger their travel times.

More work needs to be done to restore normal rail and subway service, work that will take several weeks in some areas to fully complete. Downed trees and wires are still being removed from tracks of both the Long Island and Metro-North Railroad. Crews must repair washed out sections of track, and pump water out of several under river subway tunnels and at both the Hugh L. Carey and Queens-Midtown tunnels. We are working around the clock, and appreciate your patience.

County Executive Commends Local Food Industry For Professionalism – WestCo Alert 12 Friday Nov. 2 1:36 PM

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, as of noon today, Westchester County health department inspectors have visited and evaluated more than 1,400 Westchester county restaurants, delis and ice cream shops that are operating with auxiliary power from generators in areas of the county where power is out. The inspectors’ mission during this emergency is to protect public health by helping business owners ensure that the food they serve is safe to consume and that their establishments are safe to work in.

“We appreciate the difficulties that our local food industries face, both at home and at work as a result of Superstorm Sandy and I want to commend these small business owners for their professionalism and efforts to function and serve the public safely with the help of county government as we move forward together on the road to recovery,’’ said County Executive Robert P. Astorino.

In one case, inspectors spotted a generator left running inside a closed shop to power a freezer. The inspectors called police and fire officials, who detected lethal levels of carbon monoxide inside both the shop and the offices above. Thankfully, no one was inside. The generator was shut down; the owner moved the food that the health department determined was safe for consumption to another location and a tragedy was prevented.

“I am extremely pleased with the cooperation of the local food service industry and the dedication and professionalism of my staff,” said Sherlita Amler, MD, Westchester County health commissioner. “Other than a few extraordinary incidents, the vast majority of the businesses we inspected were found to be following the sanitary code and their owners, managers and employees followed our inspectors’ guidance to either open to the public or remain closed until power is restored.”

Food service businesses that do not have power or hot water can only open to the public to provide prepackaged foods that do not need to be refrigerated and will be eaten elsewhere.

To recover losses, business owners should contact their insurance carriers and photograph their damaged goods/locations. Further directions will be announced and available at www.westchestergov.com.

City of New Rochelle Hurricane Sandy 11-2-12 – New Ro Alert 7 Wednesday Oct. 31 12:23 PM

This is a recovery update from the City of New Rochelle. 12:48 PM

Con Edison has restored power to roughly 7,000 customers, but about 14,000 are still out. Additional crews are in the city today, and we expect slow but steady progress.

Power restoration will be prioritized according to the number of customers affected by any particular repair.

We recommend that you disconnect electronic devices, so that they will not be damaged by a power surge when electricity is restored.

President Obama has now declared Westchester a disaster area, which makes our region eligible for federal aid. To qualify, you must register with FEMA at www.disasterassistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362.

Con Ed will again distribute dry ice today at Yonkers Raceway and at the IBM Complex, 200 Business Park Drive in Armonk from noon until supplies run out.

A shelter remains open at Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane and the New Rochelle Public Library has extended its weekend hours to Saturday and Sunday from 9AM to 5PM to accommodate those who need a warm place or wish to recharge personal electronic devices. The Hugh Doyle Senior Center will be open next week for normal business hours, and the New Rochelle Public Schools will open again on Monday and have a full class day on Tuesday, Election Day.

Continue reporting power outages to Con Edison at 1-800-75 CONED. For further updates, visit the City website at www.newrochelleny.com.

City of New Rochelle Warns of Phony Con Edison Employees – New Ro Alert 6 Wednesday Oct. 31 12:21 PM

This is the New Rochelle Police Department with an important safety message. All Con Edison employees are directed to wear their ID cards and present them to customers upon request. We urge you to not open you door to anyone purporting to be a Con Ed employee without first checking for his/her ID. You can report all suspicious persons to the New Rochelle Police Department by calling 654-2300.

Astorino: President Has Declared Disaster For Westchester Due To Sandy – WestCo Alert 11 Friday Nov. 2 12:02 PM

Makes individuals and governments eligible for disaster aid; Register online or by phone

President Obama this morning declared Westchester a disaster area due to Hurricane Sandy, making the region eligible for federal aid, County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced.

The declaration means that individuals and governments may be eligible for help. Further information about aid for businesses will be announced shortly.

To qualify, individuals who have unreimbursed losses must first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Individuals should do so in one of the following ways:

www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
· Apply via smart phone at m.fema.gov.
· Call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

“This is important information for all of those in our county who have been devastated by Sandy,” said Astorino. “We will continue to share information as we get it. In the meantime I urge people to register with FEMA.”

On Thursday night, Astorino was part of a conference call with President Obama, Gov. Cuomo and other regional county executives where they shared information about Sandy and the cleanup.

Further information will be posted at www.westchestergov.com as it becomes available.

New Rochelle Public Library Extends Hours To Assist Residents Without Power – NRPL Alert 2 Friday Nov. 2 9:53 AM

To assist residents who are still without power due to Hurricane Sandy, the New Rochelle Public Library is extending its hours this weekend. The main library, located on Lawton Street between Main and Huguenot Streets, will open at 9:00 am on Sunday rather than the usual time of 1:00 pm. Since the storm, hundreds of residents have found the library a warm, welcoming place to spend time reading, catching up on the news, utilizing computers and WiFi, and charging phones and laptops. As outages are anticipated to continue for several days, the library will continues to maximize its resources to meet the needs of the entire community.

Astorino To Announce Operation Hot Shower at Club Fit and New York Sports Club Locations – WestCo Alert 10 Friday Nov. 2 9:23 AM

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino today will announce that Club Fit and New York Sports Club, two major health club chains in Westchester, will open their facilities to accommodate those who are without power and need a place to take a warm shower. The announcement will be made at 11:30 a.m. today at Club Fit of Briarcliff, located at 584 North State Road.

“We know this has been a long week and that something as simple as a hot shower goes a long way,” Astorino said. “We are reaching out to other area health clubs, colleges, universities and other sports and recreational facilities to answer the call and help out our neighbors in need.”

Club Fit has facilities in Briarcliff Manor and Jefferson Valley. Visit them online at HYPERLINK “http://www.clubfit.com” www.clubfit.com for location information and operating hours. New York Sports Club has facilities in Carmel, Croton, Dobbs Ferry, Hartsdale, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Scarsdale, Somers and White Plains and is open to adults 18 and over. Visit them online at HYPERLINK “http://www.mysportsclubs.com” www.mysportsclubs.com.

To use any of these shower locations, management asks the public to please bring an ID and your own towels. It is recommended that you please call in advance to make sure power and hot water are still available.

Astorino And United Way Of Westchester And Putnam Announce Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund – WestCo Alert 9 Thursday Nov. 1 6:33 PM

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino today announced that the Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund has been set up in partnership with the United Way of Westchester and Putnam to help provide recovery assistance to residents and families affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The announcement was made after Astorino toured the United Way 2-1-1 call center and thanked the staff and volunteers who have helped more than 3,000 callers in need of assistance since the hurricane hit.

“The Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund will be an important tool in helping our residents rebuild after the destruction of Hurricane Sandy,” Astorino said. “This is a neighbors helping neighbors fund. The money people donate will stay right here in Westchester.”

The fund – which will address longer-term needs that are either not covered by insurance, other not-for-profit agencies or government programs, such as FEMA – will be administered by the United Way of Westchester and Putnam. Grants will be awarded to local not-for-profits after review by a 10-member board of professionals and community members from various fields of expertise. The county will serve in an advisory capacity only, and will not have any fiscal responsibility.

“This recovery is going to take a long time and we are very happy to partner with the county in forming the Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund,” said Naomi Adler, president and CEO of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam. “The hope is that this fund will help get people back on their feet in the weeks and months to come. It is very humbling being on the United Way 2-1-1 lines right after a disaster, listening to the needs of Westchester residents.”

Meanwhile, the United Way 2-1-1 helpline has fielded more than 3,000 calls and counting since Sunday. In addition, the affiliated website – Hudson211.org – has tallied nearly 220,000 searches. The top areas of need have been power outages, dry ice, shelters and road closures, according to the United Way.

The calls continued to flood in as Astorino individually thanked each of those who have been working day and night to man the phones.

“The United Way 2-1-1 helpline has been a vital resource for thousands of people over the past few days,” Astorino said. “There are so many great services available throughout Westchester, but many times people don’t know about them. 2-1-1 helps to connect residents with these resources. 2-1-1 is also important because it cuts back on calls to 9-1-1, which frees up police to respond to more urgent situations.”
To make a donation or to learn more, visit www.UWWP.org, click on the “GIVE” button, and select “Disaster Fund.” Checks can be made out to “United Way of Westchester and Putnam – Disaster Recovery Fund” and mailed to the United Way of Westchester and Putnam at 336 Central Park Ave., White Plains, NY, 10606.

Con Edison Assures Astorino That No Resources Are Being Diverted From Westchester – WestCo Alert 8 Thursday Nov. 1 5:17 PM

In an effort to ensure that Con Edison is doing everything possible to restore power to its customers in Westchester, County Executive Robert P. Astorino spoke directly today with the company’s President Craig Ivey.

“We certainly understand that Con Edison is dealing with an unprecedented amount of storm damage and power outages in our county and in the region,” Astorino said. “The county is offering whatever help it can, but we are also pushing to make sure Con Edison is doing everything possible on its end to restore power in Westchester as quickly as possible.”

Astorino described his conversation with Ivey as candid and direct and he urged the utility to do more to communicate with municipal officials and its customers, particularly with respect to the extent of the challenges faced and the steps being taken to restore power.

As of 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, about 183,000 customers in Westchester were without power – 154,762 Con Edison and 29,000 New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). That compares with 1.5 million customers in New Jersey and 750,000 customers on Long Island who are without power.

Both Con Edison and NYSEG have said that before power can be restored to individual customers , it must repair the damage to its transmission stations that supply the power. Both utilities said it would be next week before the vast majority of customers have power restored.

To cope with the outages in Westchester, Astorino said Ivey told that Con Edison was bringing in crews – some by air – from as far away as California. He said Ivey also assured him that Con Edison was not diverting resources from Westchester to New York City.

Astorino said Ivey explained that the utility’s response in New York City and Westchester were completely separate because the circumstances were so different: In New York City, Con Edison’s main task is to restore a single transmission center that is underground and underwater. In Westchester, it is dealing with 5,600 separate issues spread across the county that are above ground. The equipment and expertise needed are different in both cases. For example, New York City has no need for extra bucket trucks to repair utility poles because the city’s lines are underground.

“In the clearest terms I was told that Con Edison was adding to its Westchester resources, not subtracting from them,” Astorino said. “My job is to make sure Con Ed follows through on its assurances.”

Astorino has offered Con Edison multiple properties around Westchester, including Rye Playland and Saxon Woods Park, as staging areas for equipment and supplies needed in the recovery effort.

Astorino’s meeting with Ivey comes a day after he met with NYSEG President Mark Lynch to express concerns about a lack of progress in six northern Westchester communities served by the utility. Following that meeting, NYSEG appointed liaisons to work personally with municipal leaders in each town.

Astorino said Con Edison’s immediate priorities include restoring power to hospitals, schools, nursing homes and municipal water and sewer systems – many operating currently on generators.

The utility, he said, is also working to ensure there is power at locations being used as polling places in next week’s presidential election.

Con Edison also told Astorino that it had reopened 200 roads that were blocked by trees that took down power lines and has 600 more to do in Westchester. The county also has 132 schools without power that are served Con Edison. The utility’s goal is to get power back to those schools so they can reopen by Monday, local road conditions permitting.

Con Edison To Distribute Dry Ice To Customers Affected By Hurricane

Con Edison will distribute dry ice at seven locations starting at Noon today to customers who are without power due to Hurricane Sandy. Dry ice will be distributed until supplies run out. The company will also have personnel at the locations (except the IBM Complex in Westchester County) to answer customers’ questions.

These are the locations:

Brooklyn Walgreen’s, 532 Neptune Ave. (between W. 5th & 6th Streets)

Bronx 1840 Bogart Avenue

Queens 121-10 Rockaway Blvd.

Staten Island The entrance to Great Kills Park on Buffalo Street

Westchester County

IBM Complex/Town Park at Business Park Dr. parking lot. Set GPS for 200 Business Park Drive.

Yonkers Raceway – 810 Yonkers Avenue

Manhattan Union Square Park – 14th Street and Union Square West (South Side)

Instructions for safe handling and disposal of dry ice are printed on the bag for residents who pick up dry ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.

Con Edison Expects To Restore Vast Majority Of Customers By Next Weekend – ConEd Alert 8 Thursday Nov. 1 12:01 PM

Con Edison said today that based on an assessment of the unprecedented damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, it expects to restore the vast majority of customers who lost power by the weekend of Nov. 10 and 11. The remaining customer restorations could take an additional week or more.

About 900,000 customers served by underground and overhead electrical distribution equipment in New York City and Westchester County lost power due to the superstorm that walloped the area.

Con Edison crews have restored power to about 250,000 customers who were affected by the storm. As of 11 a.m., the company was working to restore power to about 650,000 customers still out of service.

Customers served by underground networks in Mid- to Lower Manhattan who lost power during the storm will have service by this Saturday.

Crews restoring service in those underground areas have pumped massive amounts of water out of the facilities. They must also clean all components of the seawater from the equipment. Equipment must be dried, repaired or replaced, and inspected before it can be safely put back into service.

In areas served by overhead electrical distribution equipment, crews have had to contend with more than 100,000 downed wires, as well as blocked roads and flooding.

But Con Edison is marshaling resources from near and far to conduct the largest customer restoration in its history. The company has commitments from more than 1,600 external contractors and mutual aid workers from as far west as California.

Most of these contractor and mutual aid crews have already arrived and the rest are expected to arrive in the next few days. Crews specialize in tree cutting, repairing overhead lines and underground equipment, as well damage assessments.

Customers should use extreme caution before going into a flooded basement. Know whether there are electrified services or unsanitary conditions and wear high rubber boots. Also, know how deep the water is and probe it with a wooden stick, if necessary, to gauge the depth. Keep children out of flooded basements.

Con Edison has assigned 1,000 site safety workers to monitor areas where there may be hazards.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Con Edison is providing updates through the media as the storm restoration continues. Important information will be posted on the company’s website, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· Do not go near downed wires. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water. Report downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately.

· If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

Governor Cuomo Announces Free Transit For Thursday and Friday Because of Transportation Emergency – Metropolitan Transit Authority Alert 3 Thursday Nov. 1 8:49 AM

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the MTA’s subway, bus and commuter rail services will be free for today and tomorrow, to encourage the use of mass transit as the region slowly recovers from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy.

The free service will last until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, and will allow for free rides on the NYC Subway and Bus network, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad. Free travel will also be available on Access-a-Ride.

“The gridlock we experienced yesterday shows that the New York metropolitan region is in a transportation emergency,” Governor Cuomo said. “To get people out of their cars and onto mass transit, I immediately authorized the MTA to suspend transit fares through the end of the work week.”

The fare free days coincide with the restoration of limited subway service today along segments of roughly half of the system’s 23 lines. With no electricity to power the third rail or to operate signals south of 36th Street, there will be no service between 34th St in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. Service will operate from the Bronx, Queens and Upper Manhattan to Midtown and from Queens and parts of Brooklyn to Downtown Brooklyn. Shuttle Buses will operate from Jay St-MetroTech, Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn and Hewes St in Williamsburg to 57th St & Lexington Ave via 3rd Ave.

Limited service on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad was restored on Wednesday, with the Long Island Rail Road providing service between Jamaica and Penn Station while Metro-North offered hourly service on the Harlem Line between North White Plains and Grand Central Terminal.

Both commuter rails are offering additional service today. Metro-North is operating close to regular service between Mount Kisco and Grand Central Terminal on the Harlem Line and on the New Haven Line between Stamford and Grand Central Terminal. The Long Island Rail Road is offering limited hourly service on the Ronkonkoma Branch and on the Port Washington Branch from Great Neck for the morning rush.

The MTA began restoring service Tuesday night, when limited bus service began to roll across the five boroughs, followed by a near normal schedule Thursday. Bus service will be at near normal levels on Thursday on all local, limited and express bus routes.

With limited service in operation, customers are advised to give themselves extra time for their commute, and if possible change their routine by traveling later in the morning or in the evening. We are working to restore service as quickly and as safely as possible.

Astorino Continues To Assess Storm Damage, Meets with Cuomo, Schumer and Gillibrand, Con Ed and NYSEG – WestCo Alert 67Wednesday Oct. 31 4:55 PM

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino joined Gov. Cuomo and Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today (Wednesday) on a helicopter tour of the New York metropolitan area to continue to assess the damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy.

The regional flyover included a bird’s-eye view of Westchester County, where substantial storm damage and power outages were caused by Sandy’s ferocious winds. The federal officials saw flood-damaged areas along the Long Island Sound and communities littered with fallen trees.

“The devastation is widespread, especially on Long Island and in Breezy Point, Queens,” Astorino said after the helicopter tour. “While other communities suffered more substantial flood damage, Westchester was hardest hit by downed trees that are blocking hundreds of streets in our county.”

Astorino has spoken personally with Con Edison CEO Kevin Burke and NYSEG CEO Mark Lynch about the recovery effort that is underway in Westchester.

“Our biggest priority is working with Con Edison and NYSEG to get power restored and to assist our municipalities in removing the fallen trees,” Astorino said.

Astorino also said he received assurances that Westchester is getting a full complement of resources from the utilities.

“We have been assured that Con Edison is not diverting any resources from Westchester to New York City or other parts of the region. We will hold the company to its promise,” he said.

Con Edison and NYSEG officials told Astorino that critical substations and transmission lines were damaged by the storm. Repairs to those must be completed in order to permit Westchester homes and businesses to have power restored.

An immediate priority, Astorino said, had been getting power restored to several hospitals, more than a dozen nursing homes, and other critical-care facilities that were operating on generators.

Con Edison reported that about 176,000 customers were without power on Wednesday – down from about 183,000 a day earlier. NYSEG reported 31,555 customers without power in the county – a drop of a few hundred from the day before.

Astorino also met with FEMA officials on Wednesday to begin the effort to obtain federal reimbursement for the costs of the storm. He said the county is coordinating the effort to document the costs of the storm to the county and its municipalities.

In order to qualify for FEMA funding, Westchester must document about $3.2 million in storm damage. New York State requires about $25 million in damages.

“There’s no doubt we will be able to meet that threshold for a disaster declaration,” Astorino said. “We are working with our municipal partners to assemble the information we need.”

Astorino noted that the county’s Emergency Operations Center was still fully activated around-the-clock to assist communities trying to recover from the storm. Daily conference calls with all municipalities continue to be held to share information and determine what resources each community needs.

The county executive urged parents to exercise common sense and caution this Halloween night, saying some neighborhoods might have too many hazards to ensure their children’s safety.

See www.westchestergov.com for updated developments.

New Rochelle Schools Closed Entire Week, Back on Monday 11/5 – NRBoE Alert 4 Wednesday Oct. 31 3:32 PM

New Rochelle schools and offices are closed for Thursday and Friday.(11/1 & 11/2). School resumes Monday 11/5/12. Also, the previously scheduled superintendent conference day on Tuesday, 11/6/12 has been changed to a regular school day. All students will be expected to report to school.

Con Edison To Distribute Dry & Wet Ice To Customers Affected By Hurricane – ConEd Alert 7 Wednesday Oct. 31 3:30 PM

Con Edison will distribute ice at six locations starting at 4 p.m. today to customers who are without power due to Hurricane Sandy. The company will also have personnel at the locations to answer customers’ questions.

These are the locations:

Brooklyn (dry ice) Walgreen’s, 532 Neptune Ave. (between W. 5th & 6th Streets)

Bronx (dry ice) 1200 Waters Place at the entrance to the Hutchinson Metro Center

Queens (dry ice) 121-10 Rockaway Blvd.

Staten Island (dry ice) The entrance to Great Kills Park on Buffalo Street

Westchester County (dry ice) Yonkers Raceway, 810 Yonkers Ave., Yonkers

Manhattan (wet ice) Union Square Park, Union Square East and East 17th Street.

Instructions for safe handling and disposal of dry ice are printed on the bag for residents who pick up dry ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.

A.G. Schneiderman Provides Guide To Property Owners As They Recover And Rebuild From Hurricane Sandy – NYSOCS Alert 2 Wednesday Oct. 31 1:59 PM

Attorney General Issues Important Information Victims Should Know As They Repair Their Homes & Businesses; Calls on New Yorkers To Report Potential Scams

Schneiderman: I Will Not Allow New Yorkers To Be Victimized Again By Unscrupulous Individuals

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued a guide to New Yorkers recovering and rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy, including tips on how to avoid scams as they restore and rebuild their homes and businesses. The Attorney General’s guide includes tips to protect consumers from scams related to home repair, clean up services and tree removal and he’s urging individuals who believe they have been scammed to contact his office at 800-771-7755.

“New Yorkers have already suffered tremendous losses as a result of Hurricane Sandy and I will fight to make sure they are not victimized again by unscrupulous individuals,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “As hurricane and flood victims work to get their lives and property back in order, it’s important to know how to identify, avoid and report scammers.”

Recovering from the Storm: Property Cleanup and Repair

Repairing buildings and driveways, clearing downed trees — you may need to hire professionals to complete these jobs. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Check with your insurance company.

Before making any decisions, be clear about what will be covered and any steps you will need to take.

Ask for references, check for licenses.

Ask about local work contractors have done. Talk to the people who hired them; look at the jobs if you can. Make sure the contractor has any license required by your local government.

Estimates are important: get it in writing.

Ask that all estimates for work be in writing and include a description of the material to be used. Be clear that you will not pay for work done that is not agreed upon in writing. Verify that the material used is the same as described in the estimate. Make sure any changes to the estimate are in writing.

Know your rights

Home improvement contractors are required by law to establish to an escrow account to hold the homeowners’ un-disbursed funds when a contract is in excess of $500. Also, a homeowner has a three-day right to cancel a contract unless during an emergency, the homeowner has waived the three-day rule in writing.

Use a contractor with an address you can verify.

If your contractor is “here today and gone tomorrow,” you may find it difficult to enforce the guarantee.

Never pay the full price up front.

Establish a payment schedule and adhere to it. Withhold final payment until the entire project is completed to your satisfaction and all required inspections and certificates of occupancy are finalized.

Always be sure the contractor has valid insurance.

If a worker is injured, or damage is caused on your property, you could be held liable if your contractor does not have the required insurance.

Check with your town or city for required permits.

Don’t let a contractor work without the necessary permits. Failing to get approvals can delay your project, or prevent you from occupying a completed building.

Price Gouging: New York State law forbids those selling essential consumer goods and services — like food, water, gas, generators, batteries and flashlights, and services such as storm clean-up and disposal — from charging excessive prices during an abnormal disruption of the market. If you believe you are a victim of price gouging, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Helpline at 800-771-7755 or find a complaint form online at: www.ag.ny.gov.

Long Recovery Period Ahead: Hurricane Sandy Status Report from Noam Bramson – New Ro Alert 5 Wednesday Oct. 31 1:35 PM

During emergencies, the City distributes messages broadly via automated phone calls, emails and texts. For this reason, I haven’t independently sent information about Hurricane Sandy through my own website or Facebook posts. But recent email exchanges with a couple of friends remind me that some residents are not receiving the City’s automated bulletins and so, at the risk of duplication, I am sharing through this format the latest emergency news.

Get Connected!

First, if you are a New Rochelle resident and do not receive the City’s automated messages, sign up to get connected. To do so, log on to the City’s website at www.newrochelleny.com, click on the “Connect-CTY Sign Up Now” icon in the lower right, and then follow the prompts. Folks with listed phone numbers are already included, but if you have an unlisted number, then you must affirmatively opt-in to the system. Also, even if you are already receiving automated phone calls, you should sign up now to receive messages via email and text. That way, if you lose power or landline service, you will still receive timely news.

Storm Aftermath: The Good News

As of Tuesday morning, we have no reports of serious injury or loss of life as a result of the storm here in New Rochelle.

Inland flooding has been minimal, thanks to low rainfall totals.

The coastal storm surge was dramatic, but the topography of our shoreline, which gains altitude quickly from the water’s edge, limited the scope of damage, by which I mean the damage was serious, but not catastrophic.

Storm Aftermath: The Bad News

About two-thirds of New Rochelle has lost power, and about 800,000 customers have lost power throughout Con Ed’s service area.

Many trees have fallen, and many roads are presently impassable.

While we don’t yet have any comprehensive handle on property damage, the storm’s toll is likely to be extensive. Our marina and waterfront parks were hit especially hard.

What’s Happening Now

City Police and DPW workers are engaged in constant field inspections to catalogue locations that require attention. We are attempting to identify and secure locations that pose immediate safety hazards. And we are exchanging information with Con Edison. When trees and branches are entangled with power lines, then Con Ed must act first. When power lines are not involved, then we can act on our own.

The federal government has declared Westchester County a disaster area.

What Will Happen Going Forward

Predictions at this point are inherently uncertain, but we should all expect a long slog. A huge swath of the nation has been severely impacted by the storm. As a result, utility resources are spread thin, and the pace of repairs may be slower than all of us would like.

As a general matter, here is how clean-up efforts will be prioritized: (1) ensure public safety with respect to immediate hazards, (2) clear roadway obstructions, beginning with major roads that provide access to essential community facilities like schools, (3) restore electrical service, beginning with repairs likely to restore power for large numbers of people and then moving on to relatively smaller outage clusters.

The City will do everything it can to advocate for a swift and efficient response to conditions, but we do not have the authority to issue orders to utility companies. For this reason and because of the general circumstances referenced above, I advise people to expect the worst. If you don’t have power, you should anticipate being out for several days at least, and you should plan accordingly.

We do not yet have information from Con Ed on dry ice distribution, but it is likely that dry ice will be available this week. The City will publicize details once they are set.

Advice & Contact Information

Report Power Outages: It is essential to report power outages to Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED or via the Internet at www.coned.com. Don’t assume that your location has been reported. Be sure to get your address registered on Con Ed’s system.

Report Downed Trees & Power Lines: To report downed trees or other hazardous conditions, please call the City’s Emergency Operations Center at 914-740-6118. In the event that you do not reach anyone at this number, then call our Police Desk at 914-654-2300. (The Police Desk is staffed 24/7.)

Use Common Sense: Assume downed power lines are live and stay clear of them! Don’t travel more than necessary. If you must trick-or-treat on Halloween, do so in daylight hours only, make sure all children are accompanied by adults, and exercise extreme caution near potential hazards.

Be Neighborly: Please remember to check in on neighbors who may have special needs or challenges.

In Conclusion

I will be relying on the City’s official bulletin system to distribute information, rather than posting additional storm news on my website. So I will close as I began by urging you to sign up for our municipal emergency communications.

That’s about it for now. It’s going to be a long week. Stay safe.

Astorino Urges Extreme Caution For Trick Or Treaters – WestCo Alert 6 Wednesday Oct. 31 12:40 PM

Neighborhoods may be unsafe for Halloween activities

With widespread power outages and downed wires due to Hurricane Sandy, Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino urged parents to use extreme caution with respect to letting their children trick or treat for Halloween today.

“While Halloween is a night that kids always look forward to, this year it is especially important for parents to exercise extreme caution due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy,” Astorino said. “Anyone living in neighborhoods where power lines and trees are down and electricity has not been restored should not go out to trick or treat. In places where things have started to return to normal, parents should exercise careful judgment and common sense. Parents should also be guided by any orders or restrictions issued by their local municipalities. The safety of our children and families comes first.”

Con Edison Crews Battling Downed Wires, Trees To Restore Power To Customers – ConEd Alert 6 Wednesday Oct. 31 12:05 PM

Con Edison crews have restored electrical service to 109,000 customers who lost power due to the unprecedented destruction of Hurricane Sandy.

As of 11 a.m., crews were working to restore power to about 786,000 customers still without service. That included approximately 237,000 customers in Manhattan, 115,000 in Staten Island, 109,000 in Queens, 108,000 in Brooklyn, 40,000 in the Bronx, and 176,000 in Westchester County.

Customers in Manhattan and Brooklyn who are served by underground electric equipment should have power back within three days. Restoration to all customers in other areas served by overhead power lines will take at least a week.

Restoring service to customers affected by a storm as destructive as Sandy is arduous and, if not done properly, dangerous. The storm knocked down more than 100,000 primary electrical wires in overhead areas. There are also thousands of secondary wires down.

In addition, some roads were blocked by trees or flooding.

In areas served by underground electrical equipment damaged by the largest storm surge in New York City history, the equipment must be cleaned of seawater, dried, inspected and tested before it can be safely placed back in service.

Con Edison has secured assistance from 1,400 external contractors and mutual aid workers from utilities as far west as California.

Downed electrical wires pose a hazard at any time, but particularly on Halloween when youngsters will be trick-or-treating. Here are some safety tips:

· Avoid any downed electrical wires or equipment. Treat any wire that’s in the street or on lawns as if it’s carrying electricity, which can carry painful shocks. They also should avoid any puddles or standing water, which can conduct electricity.

· Be careful crossing streets, especially at corners with no red lights. Hold on to younger brothers, sisters and friends when crossing the street. Be sure to look both ways. Carry a flashlight when walking even if the street is lighted, but definitely if Hurricane Sandy snuffed out street lights.

· Wear a safety vest. They not only are cool but keep little trick or treaters visible to drivers and others.

· Never go into a stranger’s house. Make sure mom or dad, a guardian, or an older sister or brother, is within sight.

· Children should always let their parents know where they are going.

· Children are urged to be careful near Con Edison work sites in their neighborhoods.

Astorino: Follow Consumer Department Tips On How To Select A Contractor And Avoid Being Gouged In Aftermath Of Sandy – WestCo Alert 6 Wednesday Oct. 31 11:30 AM

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today advised homeowners and businesses needing repairs to use caution when selecting a contractor to avoid scams and being gouged.

“Common sense is a consumer’s greatest asset,” said Astorino. “Use it. People who have had their homes damaged are upset and very vulnerable. Opportunistic individuals can and will take advantage of this.”

John Gaccione, the acting director of the county’s Consumer Department, said that the county will enforce any laws against gouging.

“Taking advantage of consumers in need and raising prices without any justification will be investigated by the department,” he said.

Home improvement contractors working in Westchester must be licensed. A licensed contractor will have the necessary contractor insurance. To find out if a contractor is licensed you can check online at www.westchestergov.com/consumer.

Here are other tips from the county’s Consumer Department:
If you haven’t done so, call your insurance company as soon as you can. Many insurance companies have existing relationships with home repair contractors.

· Watch out for contractors who are suddenly in the area. Fly by night contractors will take advantage of homeowners in need. Don’t get rushed into signing a contract or agreeing to repairs.
· Avoid contractors who demand payment in cash or want more than one-third of the total payment before work has begun.
· Do not agree to an oral contract. Get everything you can in writing. Insist on a written contract that sets forth all the important details of the job. That includes a detailed scope of work, a start date, a completion date, cancellation clause, warranty information and a schedule of payments.
· Get at least three estimates. In reviewing the estimates, don’t always go with the lowest bidder. A higher bid may be worth it if the contractor is the most experienced, uses better materials and keeps to a timeline.
· Consumers who need to purchase essential goods and services need to take notice of what they are paying for these items and should contact the department if prices seem to be much higher than normal.

The Department of Consumer Protection can be reached by e-mail at conpro@westchestergov.com, or by phone at (914) 995-2155. You may also visit the department’s Web section at www.westchestergov.com/consumer.

City of New Rochelle 10-31-12 Recovery Update – New Ro Alert 4 Monday Oct. 29 11:11 AM

This is a recovery update from the City of New Rochelle. Road clearance work continues, but about 2/3 of the community is still without power and Con Edison does not yet have a restoration timetable. We advise residents to plan for the worst.

A shelter remains open at Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane.

Con Ed will distribute dry ice today at Yonkers Raceway from 12-6PM.

Regarding Halloween, use common sense and put safety first. Families who insist on trick or treating should exercise extreme caution, as wires and debris still create hazardous conditions. At a minimum, all children should be accompanied by adults and stick to daylight hours only. The toddler Halloween event at the Hugh Doyle Senior Center is cancelled.

Please continue reporting power outages to Con Edison at 1-800-75 CONED or www.coned.com. Report downed trees to 740-6118. Report other matters to the New Rochelle Police Department at 654-2300.

For further updates, visit the City website at www.newrochelleny.com.

New Rochelle Schools Closed Wednesday 10/31 – NRBoE Alert 3 Tuesday Oct. 30 5:12 PM

Due to ongoing electrical outages and downed trees across the city, all New Rochelle schools and offices will be closed again on Wednesday, October 31st.

Please check our website and local media for further updates.

Thank you and good luck with the storm recovery.

Astorino Gives Update On County In Aftermath Of Sandy – WestCo Alert 4 Tuesday Oct. 30 12:00 PM

Astorino Announces Buses And Paratransit To Resume Wednesday Morning

Some detours expected due to blocked roads

Airport flights expected to resume tonight on a limited basis

The county’s Bee-Line buses will begin rolling again Wednesday morning – but riders should be patient with delays and detours, County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced this afternoon.

Bus service was suspended by Astorino effective Sunday night, before the start of Hurricane Sandy. The buses will begin service at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

“We know so many of our residents depend on our buses to get to work and other places, so it is imperative to restore service as quickly as we can,” Astorino said.” I ask that our riders be patient with delays and detours.”
Information about expected detours will be listed on the county’s Web site tonight: www.westchestergov.com/beelinebus. People without Internet access may call 813-7777.
Paratransit service will also resume.
In a separate transportation matter, the county Airport is expected to have some flights resume tonight. People should check with their carriers.

Con Edison Assessing Damage From Sandy, Making Repairs To Restore Power – ConEd Alert 5 Tuesday Oct. 30 3:02 PM

Con Edison is assessing damage and restoring service after Hurricane Sandy toppled trees and flooded underground equipment in the most devastating storm in company history.

The company estimates that customers in Brooklyn and Manhattan served by underground electric equipment should have power back within four days. Restoration to all customers in other areas served by overhead power lines will take at least a week.

As of 11 a.m., the company reported approximately 780,000 customers without electrical service. That included about 250,000 customers in Manhattan, 180,000 in Westchester County, 108,000 in Queens, 109,000 in Staten Island, 87,000 in Brooklyn, and 45,000 in the Bronx.

The outages were roughly split between the company’s underground and overhead systems. The company has already restored power to approximately 140,000 of the 930,000 customers impacted at some point by the storm.

In overhead areas, many roads are blocked by fallen trees or flooded. Restoring electrical service to underground equipment demands cleaning all components of sea water, drying and testing to make it safe to restore power.

The previous record number of storm outages in Con Edison territory occurred last year, when Hurricane Irene caused about 203,000 customers to lose service.

In addition to the 250,000 electric customers without electricity in Manhattan, every steam customer south of 42nd Street lost service. In some cases, Con Edison disconnected steam customers to protect the system from flooding conditions. The restoration times of those customers is still being evaluated.

To report outages, Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Con Edison will continue to provide updates through the media as the storm moves closer. Important information will be posted on the company’s website, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

· Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· If you still have power, charge your cell phones, lap tops and other mobile devices, so that they’ll work if you do lose power.

· If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

· Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are working. Also, make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

· Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

City of New Rochelle General Hurricane Information, Dry Ice Info – New Ro Alert 4 Tuesday Oct. 30 12:16 PM

This is the City of New Rochelle with a storm update. A state of emergency continues. Almost 2/3 of the community is without power and many streets are blocked. Assume all downed wires are live and stay clear.

Report all power outages directly to Con Ed at 1-800-75-CONED or www.coned.com. Report downed trees and wires to 740-6118. Other non-emergency storm issues can be reported to 654-2300.

Recycling will be picked up tomorrow as scheduled, and garbage will be picked up as usual on Thursday and Friday. Alternate side parking enforcement is suspended for the rest of the week.

We will provide details on dry ice distribution when we receive them from Con Edison.

The City will advocate for quick and efficient repairs, but given the scope of damage, utility resources are spread thin, and we advise residents that electricity may be out for many days, and you should plan accordingly. First priority will be given to immediate safety hazards, followed by clearance of major roads, then power restoration.

Please visit www.newrochelleny.com for more information. And please check in on neighbors who may have special challenges.

Astorino Gives Update On County In Aftermath Of Sandy – WestCo Alert 3 Tuesday Oct. 30 12:00 PM

In the continuing aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today gave an update on  the county’s status and urged residents to use extreme caution as they begin to clean up.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those who were killed by this storm, which is still underway,” said Astorino.
“The county is fully mobilized and working to get back to normal as quickly as possible.”

There were three storm-related fatalities in the county, two in North Salem and one on the Sprain Brook Parkway.
He added: “Residents should do their part by staying off the roads, if possible, and avoiding any downed electric lines. Use common sense in all cleanup activities.”

The county’s Emergency Operations Center is fully operational, and the county continues to work with local governments and the state and utilities. Astorino thanked the many people who worked through the night to keep the county safe.
If you have lost power, call Con Edison or New York State Electric & Gas directly. The phone numbers are: Con Ed power outage or gas and electrical service problems: (800) 75-CONED; NYSEG electricity power outage: (800) 572-1131; NYSEG gas power outage: (800) 572-1121. Stay away from downed wires, but report them to police.

Go to www.westchestergov.com for further updates during the day.

Here is an update on other storm matters as of 11 a.m.:

Bee-Line bus and paratransit services remains suspended until further notice.
Con Ed reports about 179,000 outages. NYSEG reports about 31,00. The utilities initial effort will be to remove trees and deal with electric lines to open roads for emergency vehicles. Full restoration to customers will only begin after that is completed.
13 shelters were opened overnight, which served 252 people Monday night. Currently, there are 324 people in a shelter.
Partial closures remain of the county parkways due to widespread debris. There was limited flooding..
Astorino said he expects that Westchester will get a presidential declaration of an emergency, which will make the county eligible for federal aid. In the meantime, the county is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Flights were cancelled at the county airport on Tuesday.
Indian Point 3 was shut down as a precaution due to electrical issues off site. The other reactor, Indian Point 2, is operating normally.
County parks remain closed. Playland suffered substantial damage on the Boardwalk and at the Ice Casino
The Tappan Zee Bridge has been reopened by NYS.
The county closed its Yonkers sewage plant Monday night as a pre-emptive measure. Treated sewage is going into the Hudson River as a result.
Water is safe to drink. At this time, there is no “boil water” alert.

Call 9-1-1 only for emergencies.

Residents looking for further non-emergency information should call 2-1-1. United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline offers information about shelters, evacuation routes, road closures, recovery services, power outages, donations, volunteer opportunities, and other disaster-related services. Call specialists can communicate in more than 250 languages. The line is available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week with expanded hours possible during emergencies.

Con Edison Reports 68,700 Customers Without Electrical Service Due To Hurricane Sandy – ConEd Alert 4 Monday Oct. 29 4:53 PM

The wrath of Hurricane Sandy has knocked out electrical service to 68,700 Con Edison customers and the number is likely to grow, as heavy winds knock trees into overhead wires.

At 4:45 p.m., the company reported 21,800 customers without service in Westchester County, 18,500 in Staten Island and 18,200 in Queens, as the Hurricane has struck the New York metropolitan area with more destructive force than previously anticipated.

The company is also monitoring flooding conditions that could be at their most severe tonight. Con Edison has notified Manhattan customers from 36th Street south that the company may have to shut off their electrical service if the underground electrical equipment becomes inundated with water.

The company has provided the same message to certain customers in flood-prone areas of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

Seawater can damage underground electrical equipment. Shutting the equipment down can help to limit the damage. That means the company would be able to restore service to customers faster.

Con Edison has also cut steam service to 140 customers in Manhattan. If steam pipes become inundated in water on the outside, the difference in temperature can make them dangerous.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Con Edison will continue to provide updates through the media as the storm moves closer. In addition, important information also will be posted on the company’s Web site, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

· If you still have electrical power, be sure to fully charge your cell phone, lap top and other mobile devices, as well as any extra batteries, so that you will still be able to communicate in the event that you do lose power.

· Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

· Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are working. Also, make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

Sound Shore Medical Center Inclement Weather Alert/Disaster Plan Activated – SSMC Alert 1 Monday Oct. 29 2:30 PM

With the threat of severe weather associated with Hurricane Sandy, Sound Shore Health System Administrators want the public to know that we have implemented our Disaster Plan. This action ensures our readiness to meet potential increased community healthcare needs. As a result of the System’s ongoing Emergency Preparedness – not only within the hospital, but throughout Westchester County and the Hudson Valley, plans are in place to provide uninterrupted care.

In the event of power outages, the System has backup generators; staffing is assured with onsite housing and food and potential increase demand on supplies has been addressed.

As a NYS designated Trauma Center, with specially trained staff available around-the-clock, Sound Shore is equipped to manage individuals with multiple, life-threatening injuries. “All of our patients will continue to receive the highest quality of care by SSHS’ highly qualified and
dedicated staff.

The following actions have been taken, as of 10/29/12

1. Have opened incident command center – part of our system to manage disasters and maintain safety for all
2. Redeployed staff
3. SSHS’s Outpatient Department (including our Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) Federal nutrition Program) has been closed and all appointments cancelled
4. Pharmacy is fully stocked
5. Extra supplies are stocked
6. Staff has been alerted to the possibility of being called into service
7. Local EMS has secured and stationed extra ambulances in the area
8. SSHS is prepared to actively participate in our Hudson Valley Mutual Aid Agreement

The following actions have been taken, as of 10/30/12

1. All elective surgeries have been cancelled
2. All screenings have been cancelled

Weather conditions will be continuously monitored and appropriate actions will be instituted as needed.

New Rochelle Schools Closed Tuesday – NRBoE Alert 2 Monday Oct. 29 2:02 PM

Schools Closed Today & Tomorrow

Due to Hurricane Sandy and the weather predicted for today and tomorrow, all New Rochelle schools as well as the district office will be closed on Monday, October 29th and Tuesday, October 30th.

Tappan Zee Bridge Update: Speed Limit Reduced To 35, Mph Empty Tractor Trailers Banned, Bridge Closing Possible If Conditions Warrant – – NYSThru Alert 1 Monday Oct. 29 12:24 PM

The speed limit on the Tappan Zee Bridge has already been reduced to 35 miles per hour, empty tractor trailers have been banned from the crossing and high winds may lead to closing of the bridge due to weather conditions related to Hurricane Sandy, the New York State Thruway Authority announced this morning.

“As always, our top priority is motorist safety, and if conditions warrant we may close the Tappan Zee Bridge to all traffic at any time,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Thomas J. Madison. “In any case, if sustained winds or gusts reach 60 mph the bridge will be closed to traffic in both directions.”

Madison noted that Tappan Zee and Thruway customers can stay informed by visiting the Thruway website, www.thruway.ny.gov or the state Department of Transportation traffic information site, www.511ny.org. Customers can also sign up for TRANSalert email updates at http://www.thruway.ny.gov/tas/index.shtml.

If the Tappan Zee Bridge is closed, southbound traffic on the New York State Thruway will be required to leave the roadway at or before exit 13, Palisades Interstate Parkway. Northbound traffic will be required to leave the roadway at exit 8, I-287 Cross Westchester Expressway.

Motorists will be advised regarding alternate routes. Variable message systems and highway advisory systems radio broadcasts will be activated to notify motorists, and blast email TRANSalerts will be sent to those who have signed up to receive them.

To receive TRANSalerts, emails that provide real-time information on Thruway traffic conditions, go to: http://www.thruway.ny.gov/tas/index.shtml .

City of New Rochelle General Hurricane Information – New Ro Alert 3 Monday Oct. 29 11:11 AM

A state of emergency is in effect in New Rochelle as of 11:00am this morning. Highest winds are expected between 5:00pm and 11:00pm tonight, continuing through Tuesday evening. Several inches of rain may produce inland flooding. And a storm surge poses significant risks for coastal areas.

Residents who choose to evacuate should do so as soon as possible, before conditions worsen. Staying with friends and family is best. Otherwise a Red Cross shelter is now open at Albert Leonard Middle School. We advise you to avoid travel for any reason other than evacuation.

For emergencies, call 9-1-1. City services will respond to calls regarding life, safety and health. Please do not call for assistance with flooding or other property damage.

For other storm-related issues, please call 654-2300 or 2-1-1. To report a power outage call 1-800-75-CONED. And remember to stay clear of any downed power lines.

All non-emergency City operations are closed today, as are all waterfront parks.

More information at www.newrochelleny.com and additional bulletins will follow as needed.

Con Edison On High Alert As Sandy Heads Toward New York – ConEd Alert 3 Monday Oct. 29 10:38 AM

As Hurricane Sandy charges toward New York, Con Edison is closely monitoring its path and is preparing for electrical outages.

As of 10 a.m. today, the utility reported just over 3,600 customers without electrical power, mostly in Brooklyn. Company crews are working to restore power outages for as long as wind conditions remain safe to do so.

The company is also preparing for the possibility that it will have to shut down underground electrical equipment if the storm surge floods low-lying areas, such as parts of lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Shutting down underground equipment may avoid extensive damage to company and customer equipment, and allow company crews to restore power to customers more quickly.

In the event of major flooding, the company would have to wait for flood waters to recede before workers could enter some facilities to begin assessing damage. As equipment is inspected and determined safe to energize, the highest priority for restoration will be given to critical customer facilities that have an impact on the general public such as mass transit, hospitals, police and fire stations, and sewage and water-pumping stations.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Con Edison will continue to provide updates through the media as the storm moves closer.

In addition, important information also will be posted on the company’s Web site, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

Be sure to fully charge your cell phone, lap top and other mobile devices, as well as any extra batteries, so that you will still be able to communicate in the event you lose power.

· If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

· Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

· Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are working. Also, make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

· Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

A.G Schneiderman Warns Against Price Inflation Of Necessary Goods And Services During Hurricane Sandy – NYSAG1 Alert 1 Monday Oct. 29 7:43 AM

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued an open letter to vendors in areas forecast to be affected by Hurricane Sandy to warn against price gouging, the inflation of the price of necessary goods and services. General Business Law prohibits such increase in costs of essential items like food, water, gas, generators, batteries and flashlights, and services like transportation, during natural disasters or other events that disrupt the market.

“While most vendors understand that customers are also neighbors, and would never think of taking advantage of others during such disruptive times, these circumstances always require an extra sense of vigilance and preparation,” Attorney General Schneiderman wrote. “As Attorney General, it is my responsibility to enforce the price gouging law, and while my hope is that I will not need to do so, my office is certainly prepared.”

New Yorkers may contact the Attorney General’s office to file complaints about potential price gouging activity online here: www.ag.ny.gov/questions-comments-attorney-general-eric-t-schneiderman

“New Yorkers have always been at their best when facing adversity, and I am confident that we will live up to that standard throughout this hurricane,” Attorney General Schneiderman added.

The open letter is addressed to New York State vendors, retailers and suppliers, including but not limited to supermarkets, gas stations, hardware stores, bodegas, delis, taxi and livery cab drivers. A full copy of the letter is available below.

October 28, 2012

This open letter is addressed to anyone selling necessary consumer goods and providing essential services in the region to be affected by Hurricane Sandy.

New Yorkers have and will continue to rely upon you for the items needed to prepare for the storm, as we all stock up on water, food, batteries and other essentials. It can be a thankless responsibility, and we all owe you our gratitude.

While most understand that customers are also neighbors, and would never think of taking advantage of others during such disruptive times, these circumstances always require an extra sense of vigilance and preparation.

This notification should serve as a reminder to vendors and their consumers that state law prohibits price gouging at times when nature demonstrates its disruptive fury. The New York General Business law forbids those who sell essential consumer goods and services from charging excessive prices during what is clearly an abnormal disruption of the market. Those who do so will ultimately see a reduction in their profits, faced with penalties, fines and directives to set up reimbursement funds.

As Attorney General, it is my responsibility to enforce the price gouging law, and while it is my hope that I will not need to do so, my office is certainly prepared. We will review pricing data, and take such complaints filed with office seriously, as we do with any matter.

New Yorkers have always been at their best when facing adversity, and I am confident that we will live up to that standard throughout this hurricane.

Astorino Suspends Bee-Line Bus Service – WestCo Alert 1 Sunday Oct. 28 6:58 PM

In response to the expected arrival of Hurricane Sandy, Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino today took a number of actions to safeguard the public in the days ahead, including suspending Bee-Line bus service as of 9 p.m. tonight.

Astorino’s order suspends all Bee-Line and Para-Transit service until further notice. The county executive also ordered that:

· All Westchester County Parks close as of tonight and remain closed on Monday and Tuesday. This includes the County Center in White Plains and the Playland Ice Casino in Rye.

· The county-owned Bronx River Parkway will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday. Other parkways in Westchester are under the jurisdiction of New York State.

“During Hurricane Irene, early closures of these parkways turned out to be one of the best decisions we made to protect the public,” Astorino said. “I have ordered the closure of the entire length of the Bronx River Parkway and all other parkways are subject to closure at any time.”

The Westchester County Airport remains open, however virtually all flights have been canceled for Monday and Tuesday. Travelers should keep in touch with their airlines for updated information.

Astorino said the county has been in close contact with all Westchester municipalities throughout the weekend. A series of conference calls was held to share information and receive requests for assistance.

In communities along the Long Island Sound, Westchester has provided 2,000 sandbags, Astorino said. In addition, another 3,000 sandbags were provided to Yonkers and 1,000 to Cortlandt. In Lewisboro, the county provided Variable Message Signs and Mount Kisco was provided with a generator.

Astorino noted that municipal officials in Mamaroneck and Rye had recommended that people in flood-prone areas leave tonight. Shelters in those communities and several others were being opened tonight.

“Let me reiterate that this is a very powerful storm and I urge residents to take all necessary precautions and stay inside. People should have several days of water, food and other emergency supplies on hand in the event of extended power outages,” he said.

County office buildings will be open tomorrow, Astorino said, though staffing might be limited.

Astorino said information will be updated regularly on westchestergov.com, including details on municipal shelters that open in response to the storm. He also urged residents seeking non-emergency information to call the 2-1-1- Help Line operated by United Way.

“I also urge people to keep an eye on their neighbors and neighborhoods,” Astorino said. “Together we can get through this.”

New Rochelle Public Library will be closed on 10-29-12 – NRPL Alert 1 Sunday Oct. 28 1:47 PM

Due to forecasted weather conditions, the New Rochelle Public Library will be closed Monday, October 29, 2012.
Before visiting the library on Tuesday, October 30th, patrons should call the library (914) 632-7878 to hear the recorded message.

Con Edison Bracing For Hurricane Sandy – NRBoE Alert 1 Sunday Oct. 28 1:47 PM
Con Edison Bracing For Hurricane Sandy

Storm Could Damage Overhead and Underground Equipment

Con Edison continues to monitor Hurricane Sandy and is bracing for the possibility the storm will damage overhead and underground equipment.

Con Edison will have thousands of company employees and field crews working around the clock ready to respond to any problems that occur with electric, gas, and steam systems. The company has secured over 700 external contractors, including line workers, tree crews and damage assessors, to assist with storm restoration.

Customer outages may occur because of high winds that may topple trees into overhead lines and transformers.

The company is also preparing for the possibility that it will have to shut down underground electrical equipment if the storm surge floods low-lying areas, such as parts of lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Shutting down underground equipment may avoid extensive damage to company and customer equipment, and allow company crews to restore power to customers more quickly.

In the event of major flooding, the company would have to wait for flood waters to recede before workers could enter some facilities to begin assessing damage. As equipment is inspected and determined safe to energize, the highest priority for restoration will be given to critical customer facilities that have an impact on the general public such as mass transit, hospitals, police and fire stations, and sewage and water-pumping stations.

Con Edison is also in the process of shutting down steam service to some buildings in areas of Manhattan that may be prone to flooding. If the steam pipes were to get inundated with flood water externally, the temperature difference could make the pipes dangerous.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Con Edison will continue to provide updates through the media as the storm moves closer. Important information will be posted on the company’s website, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5

In the event the hurricane hits our area, Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.

· Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

· Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are working. Also, make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

· Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

New Rochelle Schools Closed Monday – NRBoE Alert 1 Sunday Oct. 28 1:47 PM

Schools Closed Tomorrow

Due to Hurricane Sandy and the weather predicted for tomorrow, all New Rochelle schools as well as the district office will be closed on Monday, October 29th. A decision will be made about Tuesday by mid-afternoon tomorrow. In the meantime, please check our website and local media for further updates.

City of New Rochelle Alert 2 Sunday Oct. 28 1:16 PM

Wind and rain are expected to begin tonight, reaching peak intensity Monday evening, and continuing through midday Tuesday.

On Monday and Tuesday, garbage collection will be cancelled and alternate side of the street regulations will be suspended.

The Red Cross will open an emergency shelter at Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane, beginning at 3:00 pm today.

Residents of flood prone areas are advised to exercise special caution. If evacuation becomes necessary, be sure to move before conditions make travel hazardous.

Cars in flood prone areas should be relocated to higher ground.

Please call 911 for emergencies and report other matters to 914-654-2300. Report all power outages to Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED.

During the storm, emergency services will respond to calls concerning life, safety and health, as conditions permit. Please do not call for assistance with property damage or flooding.

The City will continue providing updates as needed. Additional information is available at www.newrochelleny.com or www.ready.gov. And you can sign up from the City website to receive emergency bulletins via email, text or cell phone.

New York State Governor Cuomo Alert 3 Sunday Oct. 28 9:43 AM

Governor Cuomo Announces MTA to Suspend Service in Advance of Hurricane Sandy

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin the orderly suspension of all subway, bus and commuter railroad service at 7 p.m. Sunday to protect customers, employees and equipment from the approach of Hurricane Sandy. The New York City subway system will begin to curtail service after 7 p.m., and the New York City bus system within the following two hours. Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road will start their final trains by 7 p.m. Subway and railway stations will be closed after the last trains. Customers who need to travel today should do so as soon as possible and not wait until the last train or bus is departing. Anyone who does not leave for their destination before 7 p.m. runs the risk of being stranded when service is suspended. New York City Transit, Metro-North and the LIRR will cross-honor each other’s passes today to speed the process of returning customers to their homes. “The transportation system is the lifeblood of the New York City region, and suspending all service is not a step I take lightly,” Governor Cuomo said. “But keeping New Yorkers safe is the first priority, and the best way to do that is to make sure they are out of harm’s way before gale-force winds can start wreaking havoc on trains and buses.” The MTA Hurricane Plan calls for suspending service hours before the approach of winds of 39 mph and higher. That gives MTA crews time to prepare rail cars, buses, tunnels, yards and buildings for the storm, then return to safety. Winds of 39 mph and higher are predicted to reach the metropolitan region during the predawn hours Monday. “The MTA proved it can suspend service in an orderly manner when it did so last year for Tropical Storm Irene, and we have refined our Hurricane Plan since then to help us prepare for Hurricane Sandy,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota. “This storm will batter the MTA, but the precautions we take now will allow us to recover much more quickly.” The MTA has for days prepared for the possibility that conditions would require a service suspension by readying recovery equipment, clearing drainage areas, moving vehicles from low-lying areas in bus and rail yards and sealing some tunnel access points. The duration of the service suspension is unknown, and there is no timetable for restoration. Service will be restored only when it is safe to do so, after careful inspections of all equipment and tracks. Even with minimal damage this is expected to be a lengthy process. Metro-North Railroad’s special “Train to the Game” for today’s Jets game in the Meadowlands has been cancelled. Customers who return promptly to Penn Station after the conclusion of the game will be accommodated on MTA services leaving by 7 p.m. Outbound Access-A-Ride trips are being scheduled only until 12 p.m. today, and return trips will continue until 5 p.m. Any previously scheduled trips after that time, including subscription trips, are cancelled. The Staten Island Railway will attempt to continue to operate until the Staten Island Ferry suspends service, in order not to strand any customers in the ferry terminal. However, the railway will not operate if conditions are deemed unsafe. Customers and the media should monitor the mta.info website or call 511 for the most current service information.

New York State Governor Cuomo Alert 2 Sunday Oct. 28 9:43 AM

Governor Cuomo Directs New York Army and Air National Guard to Mobilize for Hurricane Sandy

Up to 1,175 Troops Will Respond in NYC, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Southern Tier

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed the New York Army and Air National Guard to mobilize in response to Hurricane Sandy, and as a result, the Guard will deploy up to 1,175 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen. Troops are reporting to duty at their assignments starting today.

“Last year, the New York Army and Air National Guard played a significant role in our State’s immediate response to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee,” Governor Cuomo said. “They will provide vital assistance to various regions of the State, and it is essential that they are positioned to be ready to serve wherever they are called. These troops, along with critical equipment, vehicles and aircraft, are ready to answer at a moment’s notice.”

The Soldiers will be available to aid local authorities in responding to storm damage in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and the Southern Tier. The New York National Guard has stocks of equipment set aside specifically for storms and is also prepared to deploy aircraft and satellite communications systems as needed. The following vehicles, aircraft and equipment are also available:
The New York National Guard has more than 900 high axle trucks and Humvees which can negotiate flooded areas, as well as long-distance transportation assets and engineering equipment which can be used as necessary.
The New York Army National Guard has 11 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, two UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopters equipped with night vision equipment, and one CH-47 heavy lift helicopter available to respond.
The New York Air National Guard has C-130 cargo aircraft ready to fly if required.

Today, 200 New York Army National Guard Soldiers will go on duty in New York City, operating from the Lexington Avenue Armory in Manhattan and the Jamaica Armory in Queens. In addition, the headquarters for Joint Task Force Sandy, which includes assets from both the Army and Air Force and other services, will stand up at Camp Smith Training Site north of Peekskill.

Troops are also being deployed starting today to Long Island to respond to the storm. The New York Army National Guard will mobilize 50 Soldiers from Latham and 15 Soldiers from Auburn, who are assigned to the 102nd Military Police Battalion in Auburn, to the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center to act as a response force in Suffolk County. Also today, the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing will have 50 Airmen on duty at the Gabreski Air National Guard Base to handle missions on eastern Long Island and provide National Guard liaison officers to work with emergency management officials in Suffolk and Nassau counties. By 6 p.m. on Monday, a total of 250 Soldiers will be assigned to the Center in Farmingdale and 150 Airmen assigned at the Gabreski Air National Guard Base.

Another 200 Soldiers, mainly from the New York Army National Guard’s 204th Engineer Battalion will go on duty Monday at armories in Binghamton, Walton, and Horseheads to respond to incidents in the Southern Tier. The 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse will provide 50 Airmen who will also be in place Monday evening.

Statewide, another 150 Soldiers and Airmen, who will not be armed, will be mobilized to provide command and control and logistical support to the troops assisting state and local agencies.

If necessary, more troops can be called upon to respond to the storm. The New York Army and Air National Guard have a combined strength of 16,000 members. About 2,300 Army and Air National Guardsmen are currently deployed overseas. In addition, the State can also call on members of the New York Naval Militia. The 2,200-member force operates a fleet of patrol boats and can provide troops who are also members of the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve. The 750-member New York Guard, the state’s volunteer defense force, can provide volunteers to augment the New York National Guard when needed.

In August and September 2011, more than 4,400 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard responded when Tropical Storms Irene and Lee caused devastating flooding in the Catskills, Adirondacks, and Southern Tier.

Metropolitan Transit Authority Alert 2 Saturday Oct. 27 4:44 PM

East Coast “Superstorm” Prompts Governor Cuomo to Direct MTA to Prepare for Service Suspensions

Eyeing the possibility that Hurricane Sandy will continue on its path toward the New York City metropolitan area, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to begin planning for an orderly suspension of all subway, bus and commuter railroad service.

Director of State Operations Howard Glaser, Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah, MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Pat Foye gave an update on preparations this afternoon at the Governor’s New York City Office.

A final decision on whether to suspend service will be made by Sunday, but due to the logistics and the sheer size of the system, the MTA must begin preparing immediately for a possible suspension to protect its customers, its employees and its equipment.

If a decision to suspend service is made by Sunday, New York City subways and buses would begin an orderly suspension of service at 7 p.m. Sunday. Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road would suspend service at 7 p.m. Sunday. Some lines may be curtailed over a period of several hours before all service is suspended, but no one would be able to rely on any MTA service after 7 p.m. Sunday.

All customers leaving the Sunday afternoon Jets game in New Jersey would be accommodated before service is suspended. However, the special through train from New Haven to the Meadowlands has been cancelled.

“I have directed the MTA to put its Hurricane Plan into action to help New Yorkers prepare for the storm and protect the vital assets of the region’s transportation system,” Governor Cuomo said. “New Yorkers need to take action now to protect themselves, and as the transportation system prepares to possibly suspend service, no one should wait until the last minute to prepare.”

The MTA Hurricane Plan is designed to secure equipment and protect employees before dangerous sustained winds of 39 mph or higher and storm surges of 4 to 8 feet reach the area. This process must begin hours in advance of the storm’s arrival, as thousands of rail cars, subway cars and buses must be pulled from service and stored safely.

“Suspending the largest transportation system in North America is a monumental effort, and it is imperative that we start the process before we make a final decision, and before the worst of Hurricane Sandy reaches us,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota. “That means all of our 8.5 million daily customers need to prepare for the storm and be ready to complete their travels by 7 p.m. Sunday.”

Before any final decision on suspending service, MTA crews will follow the Hurricane Plan by moving rail cars, locomotives, subway cars and buses from low-lying yards to higher ground; preparing recovery equipment and clearing drainage areas; and deploying sandbags and other protective materials at tunnel entrances, station entrances and other locations vulnerable to flooding. Taking these pre-emptive measures before the full brunt of the storm arrives will help in the MTA’s recovery efforts after the storm passes.

Mass transit services would be restored following the storm only when it is safe to do so, after careful inspections of all equipment and tracks. There is no timetable established for restoration. Customers and the media should monitor the mta.info website or call 511 for the most current service information.

New York State Governor Cuomo Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 1:43 PM

Governor Cuomo Directs MTA to Begin Planning for Possible Orderly Suspension of All MTA Service in Advance of Hurricane Sandy

Subways, Buses and Commuter Railroads Will Prepare to Suspend Service Sunday Evening to Protect Customers, Employees and Equipment; State Preparations Continue for Department of Health

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to begin planning for an orderly suspension of all subway, bus and commuter railroad service, if Hurricane Sandy continues to bear down on the New York City metropolitan area. In addition, the Governor continued oversight of state preparations for the storm, including actions taken by the State Department of Health (DOH).

Department of State Operations Howard Glaser, DOH Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah, MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota, and PANYNJ Executive Director Pat Foye gave an update on preparations at the Governor’s Office in New York City today.

A final decision on whether to suspend service will be made by Sunday, but the MTA must begin preparing immediately for a possible suspension to protect its customers, its employees and its equipment.

If a decision to suspend service is made by Sunday, New York City subways and buses would begin an orderly suspension of service at 7 p.m. Sunday. Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road would suspend service at 7 p.m. Sunday. Some lines may be curtailed over a period of several hours before all service is suspended, but no one would be able to rely on any MTA service after 7 p.m. Sunday.

All customers leaving the Sunday afternoon Jets game in New Jersey would be accommodated before service is suspended. However, the special through train from New Haven to the Meadowlands has been cancelled.

“I have directed the MTA to put its Hurricane Plan into action to help New Yorkers prepare for the storm and protect the vital assets
of the region’s transportation system,” Governor Cuomo said. “New Yorkers need to take action now to protect themselves, and as the transportation system prepares to possibly suspend service, no one should wait until the last minute to prepare.”

The MTA Hurricane Plan is designed to secure equipment and protect employees before dangerous sustained winds of 39 mph or higher and storm surges of 4 to 8 feet reach the area. This process must begin hours in advance of the storm’s arrival, as thousands of rail cars, subway cars and buses must be pulled from service and stored safely.

“Suspending the largest transportation system in North America is a monumental effort, and it is imperative that we start the process before we make a final decision, and before the worst of Hurricane Sandy reaches us,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota. “That means all of our 8.5 million daily customers need to prepare for the storm and be ready to complete their travels by 7 p.m. Sunday.”

Before any final decision on suspending service, MTA crews will follow the Hurricane Plan by moving rail cars, locomotives, subway cars and buses from low-lying yards to higher ground; preparing recovery equipment and clearing drainage areas; and deploying sandbags and other protective materials at tunnel entrances, station entrances and other locations vulnerable to flooding. Taking these pre-emptive measures before the full brunt of the storm arrives will help in the MTA’s recovery efforts after the storm passes.

MTA subway and railroad stations are not designated shelters and would be closed in the event of a service suspension. Those in need of assistance would be directed to designated shelters nearby.

Service would be restored following the storm only when it is safe to do so, after careful inspections of all equipment and tracks. There is no timetable established for restoration. Customers and the media should monitor the mta.info website or call 511 for the most current service information.

Details of each agency’s suspension plans are provided below.

New York City Transit

If a decision is made to suspend service, all New York City subway and bus service would need to be suspended by early Monday morning to allow crews to secure stations, tracks and tunnels before the onset of sustained winds of 39 mph or higher.

On the subway system, where the orderly suspension of service takes eight hours, service would begin to be curtailed after 7 p.m. Sunday. While some trains may continue to run for several additional hours, there would be no guarantee of any subway service after that time, so all customers who rely on the subway would have to plan to complete their travel by 7 p.m. Sunday.

The bus system requires six hours for the orderly suspension of service, so buses would be able to remain on their normal routes for as much as two hours after 7 p.m. Sunday. There would be no guarantee of any bus service after that time.

The MTA would run normal service until those times, with sufficient capacity to allow customers to leave vulnerable areas and reach safe destinations before service is suspended. Those who use the MTA to evacuate would be allowed to carry pets. Dogs must be leashed and, if possible, muzzled. Cats should be in carriers.

Subway stations in flood-prone locations such as lower Manhattan would be evacuated and secured. Critical track-level components would be removed from tunnels under rivers so they will not suffer the corrosive effects of salt water if they are flooded. Workers would secure all elevated stations to protect against damaging winds.

There would be no Access-A-Ride trips scheduled after 12 p.m. Sunday. Customers will be able to schedule trips until then.

Metro-North Railroad

If a decision is made to suspend service, Metro-North Railroad would run its final trains at 7 p.m. Sunday to prepare for the arrival of high winds and heavy rain. Customers are urged not to wait for the last trains when making their travel plans.

Grand Central Terminal, including its shops and restaurants, and all outlying Metro-North station buildings would be closed for the duration of the service suspension. In preparation, train equipment is being moved out of low-lying locations known to be prone to flooding, such as the Highbridge and Mott Haven yards in the Bronx.

As the storm approaches, Metro-North has secured its infrastructure by moving trucks and equipment such as backhoes, cranes and bulldozers, to higher ground.

Parking lots that usually flood, such as the ones at White Plains and Beacon, would be barricaded. Connecting ferry service at Beacon and Ossining would be suspended. The Hudson RailLink that serves Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale would be suspended.

Metro-North has asked many employees to shelter during the storm at a Metro-North facility, so they will be immediately available to begin recovery efforts when the worst of the storm has passed.

Long Island Rail Road

If a decision is made to suspend service, Long Island Rail Road would run its final trains at 7 p.m. Sunday. Service would be suspended earlier on some outlying parts of the system because crews would be required to secure or remove 690 gates at 295 railroad crossings across Long Island to prevent them from being damaged by wind. Customers are urged not to wait for the last trains when making their travel plans.

This process takes approximately 12 hours and must be completed prior to forecasted sustained winds of 39 mph or higher. Crews would begin by removing gates east of Ronkonkoma on the Main Line to Greenport, where weekend service does not operate at this time of year. Additionally, crossing gates would start being removed on the Montauk Branch east of Speonk beginning Sunday morning, so train service would be replaced with buses from 9 a.m. Sunday until the full service suspension takes effect at 7 p.m.

Long Island residents, pedestrians and drivers need to be aware that the third rail remains electrified even during a service suspension and equipment trains may be operating. Please act in a safe manner in and around tracks.

In order to restore service, train equipment and crews must be repositioned, all crossing gates re-installed and fully tested and power to the crossing gates restored. In addition, any debris, such as fallen trees, must be removed from tracks and the right of way inspected.

Preparations by State Department of Health

Based upon the latest weather models, the greatest risk to the New York City metropolitan area and the entire state, due to rain and strong winds, will be prolonged power outages. These prolonged outages may last at least 48-72 hours beginning as early as Sunday evening. This could also lead to flooding, which is a chief concern.

Statewide, the Department of Health has released general guidance for all health care facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, and adult care facilities, to be prepared for a prolonged power outage and to check generators, fuel levels, food and water levels, etc. Health care facilities should focus on planning for patients who are dependent upon electrical equipment such as ventilators, dialysis patients, oxygen concentrators, etc. Dialysis facilities statewide should consider staying open on Sunday and dialyzing as many patients due for dialysis Monday through Wednesday as possible. Facilities should report power outages to their local county/NYC Emergency Operations Center and to DOH. Facilities needing assistance due to prolonged power outages should make requests through their local EOC who will then request state assistance if needed.

In the New York City metropolitan area, with the MTA closure possibly planned for 7 PM Sunday, DOH has required all adult homes and nursing homes to bring staffing levels to 150% of standard shifts by 5 PM Sunday. Staff should be prepared to stay for 48-72 hours. The State Human Services Task Force is responding to a request for 700 volunteers for pre-landfall deployment and 2,500 for post-landfall deployment to staff shelters.

DOH has designated a “Slosh Zone” which includes Zone A, the Rockaways, northeast Queens and eastern shore of the Bronx. All nursing homes in these areas are required to move ventilator dependent patients to facilities outside of the Slosh Zone by 5 PM Sunday. Ambulances are currently at home stations awaiting directives to support the movement of vent patients.

DOH is in regular contact with hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities in Slosh Zones, county health commissioners and local health directors statewide. DOH staff is also deployed in the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Healthcare Facility Evacuation Coordination Center (HEC).

To get the latest updates on the storm, follow the Governor on Twitter and subscribe to our Storm Watch list. You can also visit www.governor.ny.gov or connect with the Governor on Facebook for more information.

Visit www.dhses.ny.gov/aware-prepare/ for safety tips from DHSES on how to be prepared.

City of New Rochelle Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 3:44 PM

City of New Rochelle Readies for Storm
Residents urged to prepare for potential flooding, high winds

The City of New Rochelle is preparing for Hurricane Sandy, predicted to affect our area early next week. While the direct path and intensity of the storm is yet to be determined, heavy rains and high tides may result in significant flooding and high winds could knock out electricity.

Residents are urged to prepare now. In advance of and during the storm, the City will issue updates to local media and through the following communications channels:
Internet: The City’s website www.newrochelleny.com will have the latest News Flash and Emergency Alerts, as well as our Facebook page and Twitter feed
TV Bulletin: NRTV Cable Channel 75 and FIOS Channel 28
Citywide Emergency calls will be made as necessary. NOTE: Residents can subscribe to receive these emergency alerts directly through the City’s website at www.newrochelleny.com.

As with any disaster or emergency, residents are encouraged to Get a Kit and Make a Plan. Make a kit – specifically, a go-bag for use in an evacuation and a household disaster kit to enable a family to survive at home for several days without electricity. Have a plan – A family emergency plan should include deciding where to go in the event you have to leave your home. Don’t forget to make plans for your pets as well. A complete list of action steps can be found on the City of New Rochelle website www.newrochelleny.com/emergencyprep ; www.westchestergov.com and www.ready.gov.

To prepare specifically for a tropical storm or hurricane:
· Frequently monitor TV, radio and the web for official bulletins on the progress of the storm
· Fuel and service family vehicles. Service stations may be unable to pump fuel because of flooding or loss of electrical service.
· Moor small craft or move to safe shelter.
· Check on supplies, including flashlights and batteries; a three-day supply of water and non-perishable foods; first aid and medications; and an extra supply of cash.
· Consider the special needs of young children, disabled or elderly family members.
· Secure or bring inside lawn furniture and other loose, lightweight objects, such as garbage cans and garden tools
· Homeowners with active building permits should make sure all materials secured or stored indoors. Roofing projects should secure all loose materials and scaffolding should be lowered or removed. Soil erosion control measures should also be maintained.
· Print out a list of important phone numbers and insure the safety of important documents.
· Should a power outage occur, contact Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED. To report downed trees, call the Department of Public Works/Streets and Highways 235-4029. To report sewer backups call DPW/Sewers and Drains at 235-3567.

Westchester County Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 2:42 PM

With Hurricane Sandy moving up the east coast, County Executive Robert P. Astorino on Friday urged Westchester residents to take some steps now to ensure they are prepared in case Westchester is affected by flooding, high winds or other events associated with hurricanes and tropical storms.

“All relevant county departments are preparing in case this storm seriously impacts us,” Astorino said. “We hope we will not be severely affected by Sandy, but we must be prepared.”

The county’s Office of Emergency Management will partially staff the Emergency Operations Center throughout the weekend to monitor the storm and where and when it is expected to make landfall.

County departments involved include: Emergency Services, Public Safety, Communications, Health, Public Works, Transportation, Information Technology, Senior Programs, Environmental Facilities, Social Services and Parks and Recreation.

Astorino reminded residents to take their own steps to prepare for the possible impact of the storm. A list of practical suggestions can be found at www.westchestergov.com.

Highlights include:

Have a plan – A family emergency plan should include deciding where to go in the event you have to leave your home. Check in with family members that have special needs. Don’t forget to make plans as well as your pets.
Make a kit – specifically, a go-bag for use in an evacuation and a household disaster kit to enable a family to survive at home for several days without electricity. Suggestions for items to include in each can also be found on the county’s web site.
Stay informed – Keep up-to-date on the progress of any storm and the protective actions being recommended by government agencies in response.
Check on supplies – Make sure you have flashlights and batteries on hand as well as at least a three-day supply of water and non-perishable foods.
Make sure to have an ample supply of any medications you may be taking.
Print out a list of important phone numbers.
Residents with oil tanks should top off their tanks and tighten the cap to prevent spills. Above-ground tanks should also be strapped to a secure fixture to prevent tipping in case of flooding or powerful winds.
If the power fails, keep your refrigerator closed as much as possible to keep food from spoiling.
If you lose power, call Con Edison or New York State Electric & Gas directly. The phone numbers are: HYPERLINK “http://coned.com/” o “Link opens a new window” t “_blank” Con Ed power outage or gas and electrical service problems: (800) 75-CONED; HYPERLINK “http://www.nyseg.com/Outages/” o “Link opens in a new window” t “_blank” NYSEG electricity power outage: (800) 572-1131; NYSEG gas power outage: (800) 572-1121.
Secure or put away any items outside your home that could be blown away or damaged by high winds.

Residents looking for further non-emergency information should call 2-1-1. United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline offers information about shelters, evacuation routes, road closures, recovery services, power outages, donations, volunteer opportunities, and other disaster-related services. Call specialists can communicate with callers in more than 250 languages. The line is available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week with expanded hours possible during emergencies.

Metropolitan Transit Authority Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 2:14 PM

MTA Prepares for Hurricane Sandy
Service Shutdowns Possible as Forecasts Develop; Subways, Buses, Railroads, Bridges and Tunnels Preparing for High Winds and Heavy Rain; Monitor mta.info, Media Outlets and Call 511 for Latest Transportation Information

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is monitoring the progress of Hurricane Sandy and taking necessary precautions to protect its transportation network. The storm is tracking toward New York and holds the potential for high winds and heavy rain that could make it unsafe to operate subway, bus and railroad lines, as well as to allow vehicles on the MTA’s seven bridges and two tunnels.

The MTA is working closely with the Governor’s office, the Mayor’s office and state and local Offices of Emergency Management to prepare for the storm and respond in a coordinated manner.

“Our first priority is always safety, and the MTA is taking no chances with the safety of our customers, our employees and our equipment,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota. “We are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Whatever happens, we’ll be ready.”

The MTA Hurricane Plan calls for an orderly shutdown of service before the arrival of sustained winds of 39 mph or higher. No decision has been made whether to suspend some or all service in advance of the storm, but ample notice will be provided of any suspension. Customers and the media should monitor the mta.info website, which is updated continuously with service information as it becomes available. Customers can also call 511 for service information.

The MTA last suspended service during Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011, when it successfully helped people get to safety before the storm, then shut down its transportation network in an orderly manner to protect employees and equipment.

The Hurricane Plan also contains detailed protocols for New York City Transit, Metro-North Railroad, the Long Island Rail Road, Bridges and Tunnels and Capital Construction to prepare for the onset of a storm by moving equipment such as rail cars and buses from low-lying storage areas or vulnerable outdoor tracks; by staging recovery equipment such as generators and chainsaws near areas where they would be needed; by clearing catch basins and sewer lines; and by installing protective barriers to keep floodwaters out of buildings, tunnels and storage yards.

Details of each agency’s storm planning are provided below.

New York City Transit

Most scheduled weekend subway service changes for construction projects have been cancelled, with the exception of changes planned for the 7 and J lines, which are now scheduled through Saturday only. Crews are inspecting and clearing main drains and pump rooms throughout the subway system. Personnel are checking and cleaning all known flood-prone locations and these areas will continue to be monitored.

Extra workers and managers are prepared to staff New York City Transit’s Incident Command Center, situation room, satellite desks, depot operations and facility operations as necessary. The Incident Command Center will be activated starting at 8 a.m. Sunday. Among those present in the ICC throughout the duration of the storm will be Customer Advocates, who will ensure that all decisions made during the event will reflect a focus on customers. They fill a position created after reviews of the agency’s performance during Tropical Storm Irene.

Trains will be removed from outdoor yards prone to flooding and moved to more secure locations. Subway ventilation grates vulnerable to flooding will be sandbagged and tarped over. Many station entrances and ventilation grates in low-lying areas have been successfully modified in recent years to raise them above street level, making it more difficult for floodwaters to enter the system.

All portable pumps and emergency response vehicles will be checked, fueled and made ready for service. Outside contractors have been asked to prepare their work sites for heavy weather.

Bus operators are ready to move buses that normally park in low-lying depots to areas of higher ground.

Metro-North Railroad

Metro-North Railroad

Metro-North personnel are stockpiling material in preparation for possible washouts or bank erosion, and are securing road crossing gates when necessary.

Much of Metro-North’s territory runs along rivers and the Long Island Sound With nearly 800 miles of tracks to take care of, Maintenance of Way workers have already begun preparing for Sandy at known trouble spots.

Culverts are being cleared of fallen limbs and other debris. Ditches and swales are being cleaned out. Pumps are being tuned up and put in place at known low spots such as New Haven Yard and Mott Haven Yard, while generators at all rail yards are being fueled and tested.

Cranes and excavators and back hoes are being positioned along the tracks, and a tree service contractor is on call to respond rapidly if needed.

Long Island Rail Road

Long Island Rail Road is preparing facilities and infrastructure by clearing drains, securing work sites against possible high winds, fueling equipment, stocking supplies and making plans to move equipment and supplies away from low-lying areas. Chain saws, generators and pumps are ready for use as well.

The LIRR’s scheduled track work between Jamaica and Queens Village, and the resulting bus service for westbound Queens Village and Hollis customers, has been suspended for this entire weekend due to preparations for Hurricane Sandy. Westbound customers at Queens Village and Hollis should anticipate normal westbound train service Friday night and throughout Saturday, 10/27.

Extra personnel will be assigned to report for duty before the storm is forecasted to make landfall on Long Island.

Crews will be prepared to remove crossing gates from LIRR crossings in advance of the storm if necessary, to protect them from high winds and assist in a quicker recovery. Service must be suspended if crossing gates are removed.

Bridges and Tunnels

All roadway and drainage systems at Bridges and Tunnels facilities are being checked and cleared of debris. Construction areas will be secured, backup generators are in place, and wrecker trucks and other response vehicles are readied to help motorists who may become stranded. In addition, staffing levels were checked and emergency personnel have been put on standby.

Motorists are advised to reduce speeds when winds are between 40 and 49 mph in dry conditions, and 30 to 49 mph in windy and wet conditions.

When the winds are 50 mph or more in dry or wet conditions, certain vehicles will be barred from using MTA crossings. These include motorcycles, tractor trailers, step vans, mini buses, trucks with open backs, cars pulling trailers, motor homes and vehicles carrying plate glass.

If there are sustained winds of 60 mph or above, the MTA may close one or more bridges to all traffic.

Capital Construction

All contractors at Capital Construction projects – East Side Access, the Second Avenue Subway, the 7 Line Extension and Fulton Center – will secure all materials and equipment, including cranes, to prepare for high winds and flooding.

Con Edison Alert 1 Friday Oct. 26 7:57 AM

Con Edison is closely monitoring Hurricane Sandy and is preparing for possible damage in the company’s service area.

Forecasts show that tidal surges associated with this storm on Monday, and especially Tuesday, could be worse than Hurricane Irene’s last year.

All company personnel and field crews are preparing for high winds, heavy rains, and flooding conditions that could wallop electric, gas and steam systems when the storm moves into New York City and Westchester County.

Customers can report downed power lines, outages, and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They also can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, it is helpful if customers have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to reports from city and municipal officials. Con Edison will continue to provide updates through the media as the storm moves closer.

In addition, important information also will be posted on the company’s Web site, www.conEd.com.

For instructions on how to report an outage, click here: http://bcove.me/6sx1yox5
In the event the hurricane hits our area, Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

• If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.
• Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

• If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

• Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are working. Also, make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

• Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.

The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.