Sandy Updates, Nov. 9: Fuel Plan, LIPA Criticized

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Nassau County Water Is Safe to Drink

A recent report from the Atlanta-based Weather Channel suggested that the public water in Nassau County was unsafe to drink due to salt water intrusion because of the recent storm. 

These reports pertain to two isolated areas and not the County as a whole.  Contrary to this report, all member Districts of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners Association had been delivering plentiful, potable, and safe water for its consumers, during and after the storm. 

The Commissioners from each of these Districts are happy to report that there have been no interruptions in water supply as a result of Hurricane Sandy and no boil water advisories were necessary.

LIPA

Update As of 9 a.m. Friday

• LIPA has restored 945,344 customers from outages caused by Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter. Over 76,000 customers were restored yesterday, many during challenging weather conditions.
• LIPA is working diligently to restore power to the remaining customers. This includes approximately 100,000 outages in flooded areas, many of which may be currently unable to safely accept power.
• More than 14,000 workers are dedicated to this effort, including more than 8,200 field crews from across the country and Canada. Another 1,200 lineman are committed to the effort, with the majority expected today.
• LIPA has restored power to 19 of 21 hospitals on Long Island. Of the two remaining in the flood area, one is on back-up generation, and the other has been evacuated.
• LIPA has restored 43 of the 50 damaged substations, with many of those remaining to be restored in flooded areas.
• All Long Island Rail Road lines have been energized, except Long Beach and Far Rockaway which were affected by severe flooding in the area.
• LIPA has a more than sufficient supply of poles, wires, transformers and all other equipment that is needed to restore service to every customer.
• LIPA and National Grid employees have been in Far Rockaway to inform customers and distribute blankets, water, dry ice and food to residents.
• LIPA is continuing to advance the inspection/survey process in Nassau, with homes and businesses from flooded areas that may be unable to receive power due to flooding. More than 120 inspectors comprised of Local 25 electrical workers, AIA Certified architects, firemen and electrical inspectors were in field yesterday in Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa, Merrick and Massapequa Park. Today they will be surveying Baldwin, Baldwin Harbor, East Rockaway, Island Park, Lynbrook, Oceanside
• Similar efforts are underway in Suffolk County and in Long Beach area. As areas are identified as safe to be energized, servicemen are following to energize.
• LIPA continues to focus on restoring any remaining critical facilities that have experienced outages as a result of yesterday's nor'easter. Focus is on remaining sewage treatment facilities, water pumping stations and nursing homes. In addition, LIPA is focusing on remaining outages that affect 40 school districts and three universities from yesterday's storm.
• LIPA will continue to execute its restoration plan – concentrating on restoring any new outages experienced by critical facilities, completing any remaining main line outages, and continuing to advance to complete branch line outages and eventually single outages.
• Concurrently, efforts advance to restore any remaining transmission line outages that must be restored to provide redundancy/back-up and to complete any outstanding repairs to substations.

Current Power Status (as of 4 p.m.)

• Nassau County: 81,953 outages

County Issues Consumer Warning

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano is advising those in need of repairs and reconstruction to protect themselves from further devastation by hiring unlicensed home improvement contractors.  Home improvement contractors who are licensed through the county’s Office of Consumer Affairs have a county-issued license number.

“We need to make it clear; contractors who refuse to get a license and seek to take advantage of our residents will face steep fines, seizure of their trucks and equipment, and even criminal arrest,” he said.

Residents or business owners can obtain contractor licensing information by calling Consumer Affairs at 571-2600 or visiting the Nassau County website at www.nassaucountyny.gov.

Odd-Even Gas Rationing Begins Friday

In a coordinated regional effort designed to better manage and ease the current fuel challenges, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone announced plans Thursday to institute a fuel management system in both Suffolk and Nassau counties that will go into effect at 5 a.m. Friday.

Click here to read more about the odd-even gas plan. Mangano Criticizes LIPA's Response to Superstorm Sandy Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano criticized the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Thursday for their communication efforts since Superstorm Sandy.

During a press conference at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford, Mangano said his office has requested from LIPA a bullet-point memo on procedures for getting power turned on in flood areas that they can distribute to residents, but so far the utility has not responded.

Mangano said many residents who live in designated flood zones south of Merrick Road have expressed frustration because of LIPA not making clear the proper process for having electrical systems inspected before power is restored.

Click here to see what else Mangano had to say about LIPA's efforts.

Hurricane Property Damage Insurance Claim Advice Available

Mangano, in partnership with New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo, announced Thursday that the New York State Department of Financial Services will be available at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. to offer residents advice on how to file an insurance claim for property damage from Hurricane Sandy.

Representatives will also be presence from several of the nation’s largest insurance companies, including: Allstate, MetLife, New York Life, Travelers and USAA.

Nassau Bar Association Announces Free Superstorm Sandy Legal Consultation Clinics to Assist Superstorm Sandy Victims

To help residents deal with the many legal issues involved in the aftermath of the devastating effects of Superstorm Sandy, Marian Rice, president of the Nassau County Bar Association, announced Thursday that the bar association is hosting a series of free Superstorm Sandy Legal Consultation Clinics for Nassau residents adversely affected by recent events.

The first two events are scheduled for Nov. 19 and Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. and will be held at the NCBA headquarters in Mineola. Residents will be able to meet one-on-one with attorneys to receive help in these areas:

• Homeowner, flood, property damage and automobile insurance claims
  • FEMA assistance and grants
  • Debt deferral
  • Bankruptcy
  • Consumer Protection issues (contractors, etc.)
  • Landlord-Tenant issues
  • Assistance in dealing with lenders to avoid foreclosure
  • Legal assistance for health/disability/personal injury/post-traumatic stress issues
  • Pro bono Alternative Dispute Resolution (mediation and arbitration) for neighbor disputes arising from the storm.

Residents are asked to please register for a convenient meeting time by calling 516-747-4070. Attorneys fluent in Spanish, Korean, Russian, Haitian Creole or other languages will be made available upon request when registering.

For attorneys whose offices have no power, NCBA is coordinating space needs with fellow attorneys who are willing to share space.

Any attorney who would like to assist in NCBA’s efforts may email officespace@nassaubar.org for further information.