WPCNR THE POWER NEWS by Peter Katz Special to WPCNR – March 14, 2010 UPDATED 11:15 P.M. E.D.T.- A Con Edison Emergency Planner was making no promises to White Plains officials on Sunday as to when power will be restored to all areas of the city which were knocked out during the weekend storm. He told a meeting at City Hall that took place at 3 P.M. that he's doing his best to get the electric company to double the number of line crews assigned to repairing wires in White Plains -- from one crew to two crews.

The Con Edison press office is checking to see as of 11 P.M. for WPCNR if another crew is to be assigned to White Plains. At 11 P.M., the Con Edison Storm Center reports 7,388 White Plains customers without power. According to Con Edison news released issued at 7 P.M. Con Edison has 210 repair crews working through the metropolitan area as of today; they expect that number to grow to 310 by Monday, and 425 by Wednesday.

The Con Edison spokesperson was asked by WPCNR why, in view that gale force winds were forecast as early as Thursday of last week (the storm with no name arrived Saturday), why hadn't Con Ed called in emergency crews from other states earlier. The spokesperson said he'd try and get an answer.

City Power Conference, Sunday Afternoon. Left of picture, front to back: Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti, Commissioner of Parking, Al Moroni, Communications Director, Antoinette Biordi. Right side of table back to front: Commissioner of Building Damon Amadio, Chief of Staff, John Callahan; White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley (in black cap), and Commissioner of Public Safety, David Chong. Photo, Peter Katz.

Mayor Bradley and Public Works Commissioner Bud Nicoletti both stated that the city's clean-up crews can't remove fallen trees and reopen streets until Con Ed workers have at least cut off power to downed lines, even if they can't immediately repair the broken wires. They noted that getting into and out of some neighborhoods has been like trying to get through a maze. While explaining that the Con Edison official with whom he's been in frequent phone contact has been pleasant to deal with, Bradley said it's not a substitute for getting crews into White Plains to hang wires and make any other necessary repairs.

Nicoletti was one of the commissioners who met in the Mayor's office to assess the state of the storm clean-up and plan additional actions. In addition to uniformed fire and police personnel, commissioners David Chong of Public Safety, Al Moroni of Parking/Recreation, Damon Amadio of the Building Department, Chief of Staff John Callahan, and Public Information spokesperson Antoinette Biordi attended.

Chong reported that at least seven houses were substantially damaged by falling trees, and there were numerous fender benders and cars struck by falling branches. He said there were no significant fires, but fire units had been very busy dealing with sparking wires and pumping out basements which flooded when sump pumps failed due to power outages.

Police units were assigned to intersections where traffic signals were out. Chong pointed out that during the height of the storm, they couldn't even put out portable stop signs because the wind would just blow them away. Mayor Bradley declared that the police and fire response was “fabulous.”

Amadio reported that his building inspectors will be taking a look at houses which were damaged, to help determine the extent of needed repairs. His department also will be trying to learn details about debris which was blown off the roof of the Ritz-Carlton high rise complex on Main Street.

It was believed that at least one retailer's plate glass window at street level was smashed by what looked like rocks, similar to a type of roofing material. Commissioner Nicoletti noted that wind generally increases as altitude increases, which prompted Mayor Bradley to ask Amadio to start developing new ideas to decrease the risk of debris being blown off tall buildings, whether under construction or occupied.

Moroni reported that the storm did not cause significant damage to the city's parking lots and structures. He said that some of his workers could be assigned to help the DPW clean-up crews, an offer which was accepted by Nicoletti.

Mayor Bradley said priorities include helping people who were affected by the storm, restoring full access to neighborhoods, ensuring that major roads can handle Monday's morning rush hour, and surveying school buildings to determine whether they all have electric service.