It has been 12 days since Hurricane Sandy hit, and more than 850 West Islip homes and businesses are still without power.
As of 6 p.m. Friday, a total of 859 area customers were in the dark, according to the Long Island Power Authority- the lowest number since Sandy struck Long Island.
For those without electricity, it is not just the lack of lighting that is frustrating, but the loss of heat, which makes it difficult for those residents to be in their homes, especially as a snow storm brought freezing temperatures to the area this week.
The slow power restoration is frustrating Long Island Power Authority customers all over the island.
“Got the LIPA bill in the mail this morning… I burned it to keep warm,” Ashley Sannito said on Twitter.
Government officials are also putting the heat on LIPA.
“Turn the power back on now,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Thursday at a press conference at Babylon Town Hall.
Bellone said the main concern is the cold temperatures now impacting Long Island. He noted that some residents without power are using barbecues, kerosene heaters or other unsafe methods to warm their homes, further increasing the danger of fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Islip Town officials recently criticized the utility company and their lack of communication both with the town and customers.
“We have completed 8,500 assessments over the past five days,” said Inez Birbiglia, an Islip Town spokesperson. “A majority of homes that sustained damage (water, tree or other) can have power safely restored. We have given that information to LIPA, but they have done nothing with it.”
Are you still without power? Tell us where you are and how you’re dealing with it in the comments section below.
