WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. October 20, 2006 UPDATED 10:45 P.M. with PiX:  WPCNR has confirmed from White Plains Police that Main Street  and Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains are closed at this hour. Residents should be advised of the danger of flying debris in the sustained 30 Mile per hour winds, gusting to 40 Miles per hour.

LIKE OLD TIMES IN WHITE PLAINS; View from Corner of Martine and Mamaroneck Ave 9 P.M. Friday night: You could shoot a cannon off and not hit somebody again. Fountain Plaza deserted as White Plains Police cordon off area due to unsecured debris being blown off the "ghostly tower" of The Ritz-Carlton skeleton center of picture. Photo, WPCNR News

WPCNR observations of the City Center-Fountain Plaza area from 8:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. have discovered that Applebee's, Legal Seafood and Zanaro's are closed. Citizens are being prevented from walking Main Street West to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and East past City Hall to E. J. Conroy Drive. They are also not being allowed to walk past Martine Avenue. Police interviewed on the scene said they had no idea what debris fell. They also had no idea how long the area would be closed, or whether it would open Saturday morning if the winds subsided. The officer WPCNR spoke with said the area was closed between 5 and 6 P.M.  WPCNR was originally told glass had fallen to the street by a person reporting the incident, but this was denied by police.

The view down an empty Main Street, 9 P.M. Seen from corner across from City Hall. Bar Building is in center of picture. The "ghost" of The Ritz-Carlton (under construction) looms top center. Photo, WPCNR News

The City Center can be entered from the City Place Court yard at Martine Avenue. Movies, retail establishments are open for business.  

In a reported television interview moments ago, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson told News 12 construction debris, including a piece of plywood had falled from the builing.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson reporting to WPCNR as of 7 P.M. E.D.T.:

Currently Main Street east of MLK ( Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard) and Mamaroneck Ave. North of Martine are closed. When the wind picked up this afternoon some debris started blowing off 221 Main Street (Ritz-Carlton Hotel). A construction worker suffered a back injury on the 32nd floor when he was blown into a stairwell. At that point the building department determined that it was unsafe for anyone to be on the construction until the wind dies down. 

No glass panels were blown out. We will have the roads closed until the wind subsides. The current wind advisory is in effect until 10 pm for the local area.