WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. By John F. Bailey. UPDATED 3:30 P.M. E.D.T., August 20, 2009: According to the New York State Department of Health, New York state “assisted living facilities” like the Esplanade Senior Residence in White Plains are not required to have on premises an emergency source of power in case of a power outage.

The question of a backup power source came up after the 130 tenants of The Esplanade were without power for about five hours Thursday evening as result of a burned out feeder cable beneath Mamaroneck Avenue.

According to Jeffrey Hammond, spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health, “Assisted living facilities are required to have in place and to follow an established protocol to insure the comfort and safety of the residents.” Asked if this stopped short of requiring a source of emergency power, Hammond said  that was correct.

Last night, White Plains Department of Public Safety opted not to attempt to evacuate the 130 tenants of the Esplanade, because of the difficulty and health risks involved.

Currently there are two assisted living facilities planned for construction in White Plains, the Kensington assisted living facility on Maple Avenue and Longview Avenue and the North Street Community senior condominiums and assisted living facility.

Frank Pagani of Thompson & Bender, speaking for the North Street Community  reports this afternoon that the North Street Community assisted living facility planned for the former St. Agnes Hospital site will have total emergency backup: "Regarding your inquiry, the assisted living facility planned for North Street will have 100% back up for life safety operations (sprinklers, emergency lighting, automatic doors) and the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning system. And, in about 3-4 months, building 311 (doctors' offices facility) will be 100% backed up in case of a power failure."

Damon Amadio, White Plains Commissioner of Building, advised WPCNR Thursday afternoon that the Kensington whose plans have not been finalized was required to have emergency back up for its fire pump, elevators, and lighting, and said he'd be very surprised if the building was not planning on installing a full power backup facility. Amadio said the Kensington was required to by code because of its height and number of proposed residents.

Amadio reported that nursing homes in the city were required by national and state law to have full emergency power backup systems. He said that facilities without backup systems have been known to contract with outside generator-supply companies to rent generators to keep the facilities operating during an extended power outage period. He said according to the city code, buildings were not allowed to keep buildings occupied when the temperature in them dropped below 50 degrees, but there was no city ordinance saying a building could not be occupied when it reached a maximum temperature. Amadio was checking into whether or not the Senior Armory Residence had an emergency generator.

Mr. Hammond of the Public Affairs Office of the Department of Health said that persons  as a Hotline persons can call to report concerns they have about assisted living facilities which keeps identity anonymous. That HOTLINE is 1-866-893-6772.

The Department of Communications of Westchester County told WPCNR that the Esplanade and all other assisted living facilities in the county are strictly under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Health, which regulates how those facilities are constructed and managed.