WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER 

March 17, 2010:

ANGRY!

DON'T FORGET ROCKY DELL, READER IN DARK WRITES

CON ED TO WESTCHESTER: DROP DEAD

WHY NO POWER ON HAZELTON?

CON ED: OUTRAGEOUSLY LACKLUSTER, MISMANAGED UNACCEPTABLE SERVICE. ANY ONE SEEN ONE CREW IN WP?

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WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. By John F. Bailey, Interview with Bob McGee, Con Edison Director of Media Relations. March 17, 2010:WPCNR asked some questions of Robert McGee, the Director of Media Relations of Consolidated Edison to clarify the issues Con Edison faced responding to the storm one lifelong White Plains resident described this way: " I have lived in White Plains my entire live (70 years). This is without question the worst natural disaster to hit the city in my lifetime."

Mr. McGee responded to WPCNR by e-mail today, with answers to WPCNR questions about the company's response to the "Storm with No Name" that devastated New Jersey, New York, Long Island and  Connecticut this weekend, and maintains steadfastly the company did not lag in its response:

Here is the transcript of that e-mail interview.

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. March 17, 2010: Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner wants to know why Westchester is last? Many Greenburgh residents (6,386) continue to be out of service. Roads continue to be closed. The Greenburgh library was not open Monday and Tuesday. Businesses are suffering.

Con Ed should explain their priorities --every area should have been treated equally.  Why should surrounding counties have most of their power on--but Westchester has thousands of people without power?

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. March 17, 2010: As of 10:15 A.M. E.D.T., Con Edison's Storm Center reports 24,299 Westchester customers are still without power as the electric powerup continues into Day 4 with hundreds of out-of-state power crews coming to the County's rescue. Most of the out-of-state help arrived yesterday morning and more are expected today swelling the "connection force" to 675 crews.

The hardest hit communities continue to suffer, though outages have been reduced approximately 40% to 50%  in Yonkers, Greenburgh, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Scarsdale and White Plains. Yonkers currently has 7,147 customers disconnected; Mount Vernon,6,604; Greenburgh, 6,386; Scarsdale, 3,355; and White Plains, 1,626.

Running down the Con Edison list, many of the rural villages in northern Westchester are in the single digits, with the more populous areas from the center of the county to the Bronx still suffer outages in the hundreds, though down significantly from earlier in the week numbers.

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. By John F. Bailey. March 16,2010: White Plains Commissioner of Public Works,  Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti gave WPCNR a status report on the state of powering-up White Plains, giving a clearer picture of how the big power-up after the weekend “storm with no name” cut off electricity to over 7,000 White Plains residents and toppled an estimated 1,000 trees to earth in the city. That “power-up” continues at this hour with 2,588 White Plainsian Customers without power as of 10 P.M.

Nicoletti said Tuesday evening in an interview with WPCR,  that parts of the North End, Jefferson Avenue, Coolidge  and Holbrook still need to be cleared of trees and live wires on the streets – 6 streets remain out of a list of 30 streets that were unpassable due to felled trees and live wires, and another 15 to20 streets  blocked by trees did not have live voltage wires blocking them, he said when the race to power-up began Sunday morning as the storm subsided.

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. March 16, 2010: White Plains residents were coming back on as the day wore on today as reinforcement power crews convoyed into town. Power crews from Michigan and Hauppaugh, Long Island were spotted working the blacked out Gedney Farms area. By 6:30 P.M. White Plains Con Edison customers without power had been slashed to 2,837 down about 3,000 from the noon-hour.

Across the county approximately 12,000 customers had been restored within six hours according to the Con Edison Storm Center figures.

Here's the power story as of 6:30 P.M.: Of the cities hit hardest, Yonkers reports 9,021 customers without power, down 5,000 since Monday midnight; Greenburgh, 6,991; Mount Vernon, 6,870; New Rochelle,5,508; Scarsdale, 4,310; and White Plains,2,837; Harrison, 2,615; Larchmont/Mamaroneck, 2,212;  Irvington, 2,040; Rye City, 2,038.  The pace of restoring power has picked up considerably since reinforcement power crews arrived.

In other areas: Ardsley reports 108 unconnected; Briarcliff/Ossining, 556; Bronxville, 401; Dobbs Ferry, 574; Eastchester, 1,550; Elmsford, 471;  Mount Pleasant, 1,130; North Castle, 651; The Tarrytowns, 1,463; The Pelhams, 172; Port Chester, 508.

“We know how difficult this is for our customers, and we appreciate their patience,” said John Miksad, senior vice president of Electric Operations.  “With each reconnection, we focus on restoring the greatest numbers of customers possible.”

As of 4 p.m. today, approximately 43,000 customers remained without power.  The areas most affected were Westchester, where approximately 38,000 customers were out, and Staten Island, where fewer than 3,500 remained without service.

Thousands of company support personnel are continuing to work around the clock to help the over 600 crews that are addressing the most destructive rain- and windstorm to hit New York City and Westchester in decades.

Restoration crews are expected to swell to 675 by Wednesday as additional out-of-state utility crews arrive.  Utilities from Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kentucky and Massachusetts are assisting Con Edison’s crews. 

The company expects to have all storm-related outages in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx restored by Wednesday afternoon, followed by Staten Island on Thursday evening, and Westchester on Friday.

WPCNR CITY CIRCUIT. From the Mayor's Office. March 16, 2010: On the city website in an update dated March 14 (Sunday), the city provides a short solution as to why it takes so long to clear city streets of fallen trees. Incidentally, the city also reports the YMCA on Mamaroneck Avenue is offering free showers to the public until 9 P.M. The report on the DPW-Con Ed repair delay notes:

" (White Plains) DPW crews have already cleared the trees that had no power lines attached to them on Holbrook Road, Bayne Place, Barker Avenue, Bryant Avenue, Midland Avenue, Richbell Road, Alan Drive, Patricia Lane, Lake Street and North Broadway, Rosedale Avenue, Whitewood Lane, Soundview Avenue, Vermont Avenue, Chatham Place, Gedney Esplanade, Rolling Ridge Road, Ridgeway, Miles Avenue, Prospect Avenue, South Broadway, Longview Avenue, and Ridgeview.

DPW crews cannot touch trees that have high voltage wires entangled in them. It’s illegal and unsafe. Before they can clear a tree, they must get approval from a Con Edison electrical inspector because the wires may still be energized. (Editor's Note: It is unclear whether a third Con Edison crew then comes in and replaces the severed wires.)

The Prospect Park area was hard hit because all the main roads were cut off because of downed trees and power lines. 

Con Edison brought in a crew at 8am Sunday to clear the area. Two trees fell across the street from the White Plains High School, bringing down 13,000 volt lines. Those lines were disconnected by Con Edison.  There was also a downed tree blocking Old Mamaroneck Road by Hazelton Avenue, and another downed tree on Mamaroneck Avenue near the Harrison border.

Some secondary roads that have downed trees will be cleared.  They include Midland Avenue, Soundview , Gedney Esplanade,  Church Street, Westview, Leith Place, Jefferson Avenue, and Vermont Avenue. (This presumably has taken place by now, late Tuesday afternoon.)

I have received many complaints from residents who are worried about trees leaning on wires or on their homes. We are trying to respond quickly and are coordinating efforts with Con Ed. Con Ed is trying to prioritize restoration of service based on primary feeders that will impact larger areas. Secondary feeders are worked on next. The police department will provide additional services to any resident who has medical needs. We can transport residents without power to the Theodore Young Community Center which has become a warming center/shelter and can provide them with oxygen.

What’s happening today –Con Ed is cutting trees off the wires, moving the wires from the broken poles to the side and opening up the roadways. This will enable out of state crews to restore the powe

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. March 16, 2010: Con Edison crews working with out-of-state help, powered up 11,000 Westchester Customers since midnight Monday. Yonkers outages were trimmed by some 3,000 customers. Yonkers currently has 11,295 customers without electricity;  Mount Vernon, 7,024; New Rochelle, 6,975; Greenburgh, 6,905;  White Plains, 5,075; and Scarsdale, 4,667 (over 75% of the Con Ed customer base  is affected there.

In other afflicted areas of the county, 1,693 customers are without power in the Tarrytowns; Tuckahoe, 1,247; Rye City, 2,026; Port Chester, 479;  the Pelhams, 919; North Castle, 886; Mt. Pleasant, 1,355; Larchmont/Mamaroneck,1,860; Irvington, 2043; Hastings, 633; Harrison, 2,274; Eastchester, 2,198; Elmsford, 950; Bronxville, 459; Briarcliff/Ossining, 556 and Ardsley, 116.

At 8 A.M. Tuesday morning, Con Edison issued this communique,partially reproduced here:

"As of 6 a.m. today, the company had restored power to over 100,000 customers. Approximately 59,000 customers remained without power: 50,000 in Westchester County, 5,200 in Staten Island, 2,600 in the Bronx, 500 in Queens and 250 in Brooklyn.

The company expects to have all storm-related outages in Brooklyn and Queens restored by Wednesday morning, and the Bronx restored by Wednesday evening, followed by Staten Island on Thursday evening, and Westchester County on Friday.

Con Edison has approximately 600 restoration crews now in the field, in addition to other field support personnel clearing roads and trees.  The number of restoration crews is expected to grow to 675 by Wednesday as additional out-of-state crews arrive."

On Sunday evening,Con Edison told WPCNR that outside crews from other states were first called for assistance early Saturday evening.

Con Edison in a statement from John Miksad, to the New York Times, said the Con Edison weather forecasts had not indicated the storm being so powerful: "We had in-house forecasts that something was going to converge with winds and rain, but we didn't think it would be this much."

 Another Con Ed spokesperson, Allen Drury  said Sunday evening to WPCNR that out-of-state crews could not be called in, in advance because, they had to assure they were not needed in their own home service areas before they could leave.

WHITE PLAINS WELCOMES XTREME POWER FROM PORT HURON, MICHIGAN. Convoy from Port Huron, Michigan cruises into Saxon Woods, this morning. Thank you, men, for coming to Westchester's aid!

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS.  Based on information from Con Edison Media Relations. March 15, 2010: Based on a news release from Con Edison at 8 P.M Monday evening, the company reports it is restoring all of New York city outages before finishing off Westchester County restoration, even though Westchester County as of  11 P.M. has 56,538 customers out and all of New York city as of 8 P.M. has only  14,820 customers without power. Con Edison restored approximately 11,000 customers since 12 noon Monday when 67,000 in the county were without power.

At 11 P.M., 56,538 Westchester County customers are without power, with Yonkers,Greenburg, White Plains Scarsdale and Mount Vernon leading the number of outages: Yonkers has 14,095 out (up 2,000 since 12 noon Monday), Greenburgh, 8,012 of 18,702 residents, down less than 1,000 since noon; Mount Vernon,6,966, New Rochelle, 7,608 (25% of Con Ed customers there); and White Plains,5,667.  Scarsdale according to Con Edison has 80% of Con Ed customers without power, 4,728 of 6,005.

Elsewhere around Westchester County, Tuckahoe has 1,246 out; Tarrytown, 1,429; Rye City, 2,051 (33%); Port Chester, 1068; North Castle, 1,694; Mount Pleasant (County Executive Astorino's hometown), 1,212;Larchmont/Mamaroneck, 2,605; Irvington, 2,066; Hastings, 646; Harrison, 2,848; Eastchester, 3,125; Dobbs Ferry, 543;Briarcliff, 555; Ardsley, 774.

Con Edison has approximately 500 restoration crews now in the fieldas of 8 P.M. Monday , in addition to other field support personnel clearing roads and trees.  The number of restoration crews is expected to grow to 675 by Wednesday as additional out-of-state crews arrive.

The company expects to have all storm-related outages in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx restored by Wednesday afternoon, followed by Staten Island on Thursday evening, and Westchester on Friday, it said tonight.

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Paul Feiner, Town of Greenburgh Supervisor. (EDITED) March 15, 2010: Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor complained tonight that Con Ed is putting Westchester last on the list of communities that are getting their power restored.

A press release sent out by Con Ed on Monday night indicated that all of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx will get back power Wednesday. Staten Island will get back power Thursday and Westchester will get back power on Friday. This is unfair. Feiner said in a news release: Con Ed should be giving equal treatment to all counties that are impacted by the power outages.

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. March 15, 2010 (EDITED) : In the aftermath of this weekend’s devastating rain and wind storm, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today met with Gov. Paterson, FEMA representatives and Con Edison officials, as the county’s Department of Emergency Services began efforts to qualify the county for federal disaster aid.

At a meeting earlier in the day at the county’s Emergency Operations Center in Hawthorne, Astorino briefed Paterson on the damage. The two executives also heard directly from Con Edison on its ongoing efforts to restore power throughout the county. Others present were representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state police, the county’s police and department of Emergency Services and the state Department of Transportation.   

If Westchester is declared a disaster area by President Obama, it could bring grants and low-interest loans to businesses and residents. This last happened for Westchester in 2007, when torrential rains flooded parts of the county.

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. From Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. March 15, 2010: I received the following update from the police chief. I'm disappointed that progress has been so slow and will be asking Con Ed to assign more resources to Greenburgh. (6,500 are without power). We apologize for the inconveniences.

Please be advised that we are opening up the Theodore Young Community Center tonight as a shelter for those without power. The phone of the center (32 Manhattan Ave) is 989 3600.  

If you know of an elderly resident/disabled resident who you are worried about who you can't contact and who may be out of power - please advise and we'll check up on them. I am very sorry that so many Greenburgh residents are being inconvenienced during this storm and appreciate what you are experiencing.Please feel free to call me on my cell: 438 1343 (I don't have power at home so my home phone isn't working).

Here are the road closures of of 3:30 P.M. in the Town of Greenburgh: