Power Outages Put a Damper on Labor Day Weekend Plans

Most holidays, Laura Miller hosts parties at her home on Glenn Drive -- but the get-together she planned for Labor Day Weekend will not happen this year because she has been without power since Hurricane Irene hit Sunday night.

"I feel like a man without an island," she said. "I can't see and I have failed to see anyone working on the problem since Tuesday."

Miller said that she has called the Long Island Power Authority many times and has not gotten a straight answer.

"I have called a million times already," she said. "They said that 95 percent of Long Island will have their power back by Friday. That is not an answer."

According to the LIPA website, just less than 90,000 people were still without power Thursday night. Miller said she is getting frustrated with the amount of time it has taken.

"The first day was fun, like camp, but now it's getting old," she said. "I had to throw out three refrigerators of food."

Barbara Bart of Bart Cleaners on Merrick Road has been without power since 5:30 p.m. Sunday. But regardless of the lack of power, Bart was actually happy with the job LIPA had been doing.

"We had power back here quickly, so that is good," she said. "LIPA is doing a good job as far as I am concerned. I am really pleased with them. They have a big job to do and they are doing a great job."

Bart said that she would usually visit her son in Massachusetts for the holiday, but this year she will stay in Bellmore.

Miller said that she is grateful that things were not much worse for her, but she is tired of living in the dark.

"I am right near the water, so I am lucky I did not lose my house, but I want my power back," Miller said. "It's the holiday weekend and the end of the summer and it's supposed to be a nice weekend too. All my plans are out the window."