WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. July 20, 2006, 12 noon E.D.T/: David Maloney, spokesperson for the Mayor's Office has just completed a tour of the hardest hit areas with power in White Plains and spoke to WPCNR about what he has found.
Mr. Maloney said he had toured the Gedney area in the vicinity of North Street, Rosedale Hotel Drive, and Murchison Place in the heart of the stricken Gedneys. He said he observed "at least" 20 Con Edison trucks and Lower Hudson Gas and Electric trucks, "and a few others, a lot of contractors, landscaping and tree contractors" working with White Plains Department of Public Works crews to clear trees: "These guys are working hard. I did see plenty of vehicles out there. There's a conserted effort to get it up and running."
What areas still have hat whole southend area from adjacent to the golf course, Ridgeway area, Maple Moor, pretty much throughout the Southend. That is the center where Con Ed is working. We're doing everything we can to facilitate Con Ed to get the power going again. Public works is doing everything we can to get it ready. There are a lot of poles down."
If Con Ed had supplied more "turn off crews," if the recovery would be farther along, did DPW have the manpower and Con Ed did not, and if more White Plains customers would have been restored quicker. Maloney said, "That I don't know because I do not know the damage to the electrical infrastructure, so I can't answer that question. But White Plains isn't the only town without power."
WPCNR pointed out that White Plains is the county seat.
Maloney said, "Various areas throughout Westchester are hard hit. It's going to take quite awhile."
Maloney suggested residents not move debris into the middle of their streets because it hampers access of the crews, because the path for vehicles is not very wide.
"There's some sections -- the side streets and deadends need to be cleared at this point. There are some huge trees that came down. We're very fortunate these came down and did not hit houses, but did take down power lines," Maloney said.
Asked if he had a handle on what the Gedneys and Rosedale could expect: "I don't think a lot of people have any idea of just how extensive the damage was. I do not know how Con Edision is working this (with the DPW), I do know there are a tremendous number of trees that are on power lines. All these trees would have to be removed before they could get power up and running again. I don't have a time feel, because I would not want to speak for Con Ed."
Asked of the weather, Maloney said, "I just got a report from the National Weather Service, Beryl will miss us staying offshore to our East. Our concern is for an approaching cold front tomorrow, the front will stall nearby over the weekend giving us a period of rain, some of which may be heavy from Friday through Sunday. Possible amounts 2 to 4 inches. It really isn't good."
Asked if Con Ed was working in tandem with the City of White Plains Public Works, Maloney reported, "Absolutely, what we're seeing a lot of is you can actually see the DPW backhoes going into the sidestreets and clearing that out. You can see Con Ed on Bryant, on North Street trying to restore power to the sidestreets. The DPW is doing an outstanding job of getting it cleared.
Asked about Soundview, Hartsdale Avenue, Midchester, Maloney said he did not see a lot of that area, that he had toured the Southend, "where the major damage has been. For now I don't know what the situation is (in the deep Highlands)." He said he would be talking with DPW to get an "overview of things."
Asked if the DPW could have cleared the White Plains streets faster had Con Edison supplied more "turn-off" crews to shut down power to get the DPW into cleanup mode faster, Maloney said he could not comment on that and that was a matter for Con Edison to address.
Maloney said that in an emergency, should contact the White Plains Department of Public Safety immediately at 422-6111. He said he knew of no deaths from the storm, and no serious injuries. He said at this time there were no plans for supplying tarpaulins and supplies for damaged houses, or opening up shelters, but he would be making phone calls about that possibility shortly He said neighbors with power have been taking in neighbors without power, citing one such neighbor-helping-neighbors situation in the Rosedale area.
What areas still have power out? Maloney said, "That whole southend area from adjacent to the golf course, Ridgeway area, Maple Moor, pretty much throughout the Southend. That is the center where Con Ed is working. We're doing everything we can to facilitate Con Ed to get the power going again. Public works is doing everything we can to get it ready. There are a lot of poles down."
If Con Ed had supplied more "turn off crews," if the recovery would be farther along, did DPW have the manpower and Con Ed did not, and if more White Plains customers would have been restored quicker. Maloney said, "That I don't know because I do not know the damage to the electrical infrastructure, so I can't answer that question. But White Plains isn't the only town without power."
WPCNR pointed out that White Plains is the county seat.
Maloney said, "Various areas throughout Westchester are hard hit. It's going to take quite awhile."
Asked if power was going to be back on by Saturday to beat the rain, Maloney said he could not speculate, that was up to Con Edison.
