Message from the Mayor: Storms Update 6-March-2018
Posted on: March 6, 2018 - 3:32pm
Fellow residents,
Con Ed continues to ramp up efforts to recover from the storm but seem to be lagging county-wide. It looks like we are losing the game of “beat the clock” against the next winter storm tomorrow, though all streets are likely to be open. This email covers the latest updates.
Storm Update
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While repairs continue throughout the entire County and another 13,000 homes have had power restored, some 28,000 home are still without power headed into this storm. We have seen activity to reopen streets here in Hastings – Buena Vista and High will likely be passable by the end of the day. There is no progress on power restoration: we have 320 homes out of power (compared to 317 yesterday – those small fluctuations are just statistical noise.) These stats are available on the Con Ed site here https://apps.coned.com/stormcenter/external/default.html) Outages includes a large cluster centered on Euclid Avenue and another large cluster in Uniontown, with smaller clusters at lower Mt. Hope and Cliff, Fairmont, and Hollywood Drive. While we have a Con Ed truck in town at this moment, the focus remains on reopening streets so they can plowed tomorrow so that first-responder vehicles (ambulances, fire, police) can get to all locations.
Con Ed continues to (irritatingly) claim that 90% of the power should be restored by Tuesday night to Hastings by 11:00PM tonight, but baring a spasm of activity, that seems very unlikely. Unfortunately, this has matched our experience during Superstorm Sandy, when we learned to treat these predictions with skepticism. We remain in contact with Con Ed through our municipal liaison and we have been on the county-wide conference calls where agitation high. Those discussions and contacts really seem to be a chance for people to vent – but moving the needle on restoration? Not so much. Heading into the storm tonight (8-12 inches of wet snow that, god forbid, may bring down more limbs), its not the best news to be able to offer.
What you need to know:
* Downed wires may be “hot” for the duration of the day. THEY REMAIN DANGEROUS. Do not approach them and make sure your dog is on a short leash. Live wires will kill instantly.
* If you haven’t registered your outage with Con Ed, do so (HERE). If you have done so, do not do so again.
* Unless that spasm of activity occurs, you should now assume you will be without power through at least Thursday night and likely into Friday. If you are still holed up at home, you should find alternate accommodations for the duration of the storm. Leave all your faucets dripping during the period that you are unheated so your pipes do not burst. If you need shelter, the Andrus Home is generously offering a limited number of rooms. Please contact the Police Department if you need shelter (914-478-2344).
* The Community Center is open as a warming center. We have free Wi-Fi as well. The library also offers free Wi-Fi. If you want to charge your phone, you can bring it to the Community Center too.
* Don’t call the Police Department for updates: they have no new information. Call only if it is a true emergency. We will put out a daily bulletin to keep you informed. It will be posted on the Community Center front door and Library front door during the duration of the emergency.
* Check on your elderly or disabled neighbors if their power is out. The temperature will remain in the 35-45 degree range and so houses have lost their stored heat.
* We do not have read yet on whether the schools will be open tomorrow. Please keep an eye out from School Superintendent Sinasis on this issue later today.
Coyote Update
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There have been no further attacks. We are going to keep the parks closed for the next eleven days and continue to trap in Hillside, Quarry and Uniontown. Do not go in the woods until the Village reopens the parks or let your dogs or cats out or off the leash during the duration of this emergency. You put your pets at lethal risk if you do so and the Village cannot be held responsible. No coyotes were snared this second night of our effort.
What’s Next…
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Tomorrow’s storm is now likely to lay potentially 8-12 inches of heavy, wet snow. The Village is preparing for that and I have declared a state of emergency, which authorizes to clear the parking off certain streets marked (CLICK HERE) as emergency routes. We ask that all residents follow suit, regardless of the street they are on, and put their cars in their driveways or garages. The plows are moving quickly and parked cars slow them down. There’s going to be a lot of snow to move, so it would be helpful if you do so. Easy on the back when shoveling, and refrain from driving during the heart of the storm on Wednesday: you not only put yourself at risk, but the first responders that then have to go deal with your accident.
More tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Peter Swiderski
Mayor