As another heat wave descends on New York on Monday, thousands of people still have no power over the region a week after Tropical Storm Isaiah power lines and trees battled 70 miles-per-hour wind.
Con Edison announced Monday that 19,000 customers were still powerless – 15,000 in Westchester, 2,800 in Queens, 650 in the Bronx, and 400 in Brooklyn. As of 9:45 p.m. Sunday, another 25,000 had no power on Long Island, according to an update from electricity company PSEG.
The prospect of suffering from a heat wave without air conditioning has shrunk some residents to find temporary alternative housing. Shavana Wong, a South Ozone Park resident of Queens, moved to her brother’s house late last week for work, and was left without power about a week later.
“We lost power last Tuesday,” said Wong, who works in advertising technology and needs to stay connected for her job, Gothamist said. “We did not show ConEd until the next day until the area.”
“We had to throw hundreds of dollars worth of groceries and we have a Siberian Husky who is freaking out because of the heat,” Wong said.
Wong said they blocked off the street from cars because of downed power lines, which were still hanging in front of their house. She has struggled to even fill out an initial report via text, website and the phone, and has since received four updates telling her her power would be restored.
The latest text update says they will see the lights back on Monday at 11am.
Business spokesman Robert McGee said 99 percent of NYC customers had regained power. Con Ed president Tim Cawley said at the NY1 restorations would be full Monday morning.
In Westchester, most customers are expected to have power restored at 11 a.m. Monday.
Dilip Mohabir, a 69-year-old South Ozone Park resident, said he had to throw away $ 275 worth of meat purchased for a family reunion they had planned before the storm struck.
“The sun is so hot – at night sometimes, it’s so hot, you have to try to leave the windows open,” Mohabir told Gothamist. “They do not share much, so we do not understand what is happening. If we get the power back, yes, we will be nice and happy, but then again, look. [at] the losses [that] everyone was dry. “
His two grandchildren are constantly asking him about power.
“I have to tell her, ‘Listen kids, I can not tell you right now,'” Mohabir said.
Refrigeration centers across NYC will open at noon in the wake of an advice on heat and temperatures are expected to drop to 97 degrees Wednesday.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity can cause heat sickness,” warns the adviser. “Seniors and those with chronic health problems like mental health conditions have an increased risk. Homes without air conditioning can be much harder than outside temperatures.”
“The hot weather is back,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a news conference on Monday. “Take these advisors seriously.”
In a press release on Monday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo dismissed ConEd and PSEG for doing an “angry job” in restoring power to their customers, and again threatened the possibility of revoking their licenses to do business in the state of New York.
“I want the utilities to know that we do not stick to the concept in New York that everything is too big to fail. Your franchise can be withdrawn. I do not bluff. I do not bluff. Your franchise can be withdrawn. Con Edison, you franchise can be withdrawn, “Cuomo said.
Last week, the governor ordered the state Department of Public Service to investigate how the utilities responded to the tropical storm. Those investigations usually end up in the utility companies that pay nominal fines and continue to do business, because the franchise of a company would probably start almost a complex and lengthy legal battle.
“I do not want to prejudge the PSD investigation … But this is not our first rodeo,” Cuomo said. “We will get these facts, we will get that report. But this was in my opinion completely unacceptable.”
Another 150 workers join the 3,800-member team that removes trees and repairs equipment for months.
Con Edison customers whose food or medication was damaged during the outages can also submit a claim form here for a fee.
Here is a map of the cooling centers.
This story has been updated to reflect reactions made by Cuomo after publication, as well as an interview with a resident of South Ozone Park.
