Update, 3 p.m., Nov. 8:
Editor's Note: The following stateement was released by Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi earlier today.
FEMA coordinators will be available at the Westchester County Center in White Plains beginning Friday Nov. 9, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. This effort is for individual homeowners and businesses.
Today is the eleventh day of this hurricane and the aftermath. It is OUTRAGEOUS that 17 percent of our town (2,056 homes) is still without power. Con Edison, the sole electric utility company in our community, is responsible for this slow response and restoration. I have told this to Con Edison and to the County officials on daily conference calls. Yesterday, I held a press conference with several other Northern Westchester Supervisors and Mayors, who were all saying the same comments that I expressed. It can be watched on your computers www.townofcortlandt.com.
Our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains open at the Town Hall.
Our town crews were out all night clearing the roads during the snowstorm.
Our State of Emergency continues and our Shelter on West Brook Drive remains open throughout the weekend.
The good news is that we did not have any more homeowners last night during the snow storm lose power.
Continue to call Con Edison at 1-800-75ConEd.
“We continue to fight for you and your families to have power restored by Con Edison. Stay safe!”
Linda Puglisi
Town Supervisor
Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.
-----------
Update, 9 a.m., Nov. 8:
Peekskill schools are also on a two-hour delay this morning.
------------
Update, 5:15 a.m., Nov. 8:
Lakeland and Hendrick Hudson schools are running on a two-hour delay Thursday morning.
Lakeland has cancelled its morning universal pre-kindergarten program, but the noon universal pre-kindergarten program will run at its regularly scheduled time.
The Town of Cortlandt had about 2,100 customers without power, while the Peekskill/Cortlandt Manor area had about 430 customers without power, according to Con Ed's estimates as of 5:15 a.m.
-------------
Update, 11 p.m., Nov. 7:
The Hendrick Hudson school district is operating a two-hour delay Thursday.
-----------
Update, 10 p.m., Nov. 7:
The following statement is from the state Police:
State Police request the PUBLIC to be aware of the difficult conditions involving todays Nor'Easter—and all are advised to AVOID ALL UNECESSARY TRAVEL.
Motorists are having difficult time navigating the snow covered roads, that have become slippery; visibility is VERY LIMITED due to the windswept snow.
All police agencies are being stretched thin, with multiple issues involving many cars off roadways, motorists stranded and tractor trailers stuck on hills in roadways, blocking traffic. All assets are being used by DOTs, tow agencies and fire and police agenices. The added traffic just continues to exacerbate the conditions, adding to the dangers to all motorists.
ALL are asked to find a safe location and refrain from driving at this time, until roadway crews are able to manage the roadways, opening them up via plows and sanding. The storm is expected to last until after midnight with snow three to six inches and winds 30-40 mph gusts. After that time we expect the road conditions to become more passable and should be in much better condition by daybreak.
Editor's note: Minor grammatical and style adjustments have been made to the above message. The content has not changed.
-------------
Update, 8 p.m., Nov. 7:
Residents have reported power outages in Peekskill and Cortlandt this evening due to the nor'easter.
Peekskill residents in the area of Maple and Hudson avenues, along with Division, Pine, and Elm streets experienced outages this evening, according to commenters on Facebook.
Another Commenter said Lafayette Avenue on Cortlandt Manor also lost power.
There are nearly 600 customers out of power in the area of Peekskill, Cortlandt Manor, according to estimates from Con Ed. Those same estimates show that the Town of Cortlandt has about 2,100 customers without power.
Cortlandt currently has an emergency shelter open at the Muriel H. Morabito Community Center, located at 29 Westbrook Dr. in Cortlandt Manor. The center is 24 hours and is staffed by town staff. The shelter also allows pets as long as they are stored in crates.
The number to call to report outages to Con Ed is 1(800)752-6633
Check back for more updates as they become available.
-----------
Update, 12:45 p.m., Nov.7:
Lakeland and Peekskil school have cancelled after school activities today because of the storm scheduled to hit the area.
Hendrck Hudson schools have already had an early dismissal today.
------------
Update, 6 a.m., Nov. 7:
About 2,100 customers in Cortlandt and a little more than 400 in Peekskill remained without power as 5:45 a.m. this morning, according to estimates from Con Ed.
Although crews are making progress, much of their work may become undone due to the emergence of a Nor'easter later today.
The storm is expected to bring rain, sleet and snow.
A wind advisory is expected to go into effect starting 1 p.m. today and ending 4 p.m. Thursday.
Sustained winds are expected to be 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts of 50 miles per hour.
--------------------
Update, 4;30 p.m., Nov. 6:
Editor's Note: The following update was sent by Cortlandt Supevrisor Linda Puglisi earlierthis evening.
Supervisor’s office is open today (Election Day) to answer calls and e-mails.
We currently still have 2,581 homes in Cortlandt (20 % of the Town) without power. There are 50,000 homes in Westchester County without power today with only 165 crews deployed by Con Edison throughout the County.
Every community in the County is experiencing our issues. For example, New Castle has 3,050 out, Briarcliff Manor 1,200 without power, Yorktown 2,400 homes with no power.
Almost all of our roads are opened or will be all opened by the end of the day, we were told today by Con Edison.
Once again, the wires must be taken care of by Con Edison. The wires legally belong to them. Then our crews along with the National Guard can cut up the branches and trees in the devastated areas.
Our shelter (9140528-1572) at West Brook Drive will remain open and supervised by Town staff. There are cots, blankets, water and three meals a day.
All polling places were able to be officially opened today by the County’s Board of Elections.
Wednesday’s upcoming storm will include heavy rain, a possible snow alert and strong winds of 35 mph according to Con Edison’s weather update at 2 P.M. today.
The Supervisor and Department Head for Highway, etc. are on Con Ed and County conference calls several times each day reporting to their officials the problems we have in our town. We tell them all of the details and information we’ve collected. However, still call Con Ed at 1- (800) – 75ConEd each day, as well.
The Supervisor will be reporting the lack of planning for the hurricane and the slow restoration response to the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) on your behalf. This is the entity that hears complaints about utility companies.
This week is a typical town holiday schedule for garbage, paper, and recyclables. Please check your schedules. For any questions contact Sanitation at 737-0100.
I told Con Edison officials today they need to go on Channel 12 News and other media outlets to inform the citizens about this serious situation.
Check FEMA website information at www.disasterassistance.gov to register.
“We are in preparation force for the upcoming Wednesday storm and will remain at the EOC (emergency operations center) at Town Hall throughout this very challenging time for our community. We will get through this together. We are fortunate to have our families, our neighbors and emergency service providers and our entire community who works together to help each other. Stay Safe!”
Linda Puglisi
------------
Update, 4 p.m., Nov. 5:
Both Cortlandt and Peekskill officials said there will be no changes to polling locations during Tuesday’s election.
Although many locations lost power last week during Sandy, they are all expected to be ready to operate tomorrow.
- The Hendrick School District announced that power has returned to the Blue Mountain Middle School and that all of its schools are expected to open Tuesday.
- Peekskill schools are expected to open Tuesday after a power outage caused the district to cancel classes today.
- There were 11 roads closed due to wires down from fallen trees at the start of today in the Town of Cortlandt. Town road crews are waiting for Con Ed to assist before they can remove all of the trees.
- Cortlandt's emergency shelter remains open on West Brook Drive and has Wi-Fi and recharging available for residents to use during the day. The shelter is supervised by town employees.
----------------
Update, 6 a.m., Nov. 5:
Cortlandt had more than 3,400 outages and Peekskill had more than 1,100, according to estimates given by Consolidated Edison at 6 a.m.
A little more than 69,000 customers are estimated to be without power throughout Westchester County. The utility expectes to have power restored by the end of this weekend.
Hendrick Hudson, Lakeland and Peekskill schools are expected to resume school today and Tuesday, during the general election.
Blue Mountain Middle School, which is in the Hendrick Hudson school district, remains closed today due to the fact that the building hasn't had its power restored.
----------------
Update, 6 a.m., Nov. 4:
Officials from the Hendrick Hudson and Lakeland school districts are expected today to make a decision on whether or not to open on Monday.
"It all depends on if we have power in all of our buildings Monday and if the roads are open for all of our buses to go through," said Brian Monahan, the interim superintendent of Hendrick Hudson Schools.
The Peekskill school district has already announced its schools will open Monday and Tuesday, during the general election.
As of 6 a.m today, Peekskill had less than 400 customers without power while Buchan had about 130 and Cortlandt had about 4,000, according to Consolidated Edison.
Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi said the town's Department of Environmental Services has been ready to work this entire week. But Con Ed only had one work crew available earlier this week, which isn't enough for a town with 32,000 people and 15,000 homes, Puglisi said.
Two additional crews were added to the town as of Friday. Puglisi said Con Ed should have had enough crews ready to work earlier this week.
"Our road crews can't remove all of the trees from the roads until the powerlines are addressed by Con Ed," Puglisi said.
------------
Update, 6 a.m., Nov. 3:
The last bit of gasoline in the Peekskill was sucked up from the Shell on North Division Street Friday afternoon and Cortlandt wasn't doing much better Friday night.
"I've never seen anything like this," said Lt. Eric Johansen of the Peekskill police department. "I vaguely remember the 1970s when my parents had to deal with the gas rations...but this is the first time I've seen anything like this since I was on the police force."
Johansen said police officers were stationed at gas stations throughough the city to make sure things were orderly. Although no serious incidents broke out, Johansen said there were times when people intentionally jumped to the front of gas lines and arguments broke out.
"I think we would have had assaults, if not more, if we didn't have a police presence at the gas stations," Johansen said.
Johansen hoped news that two million gallons of gasoline had reached Newburgh and was on its way to Weschester County meant that gas shortages will end by the beginning of next week.
He said Mayor Mary Foster and the rest of the Common Council has been in constant contact with emergency service agencies, along with state and federal politicans, in an effort to ensure that the city gets its fair share of services.
"The community needs to know that the common council has been here the whole time, giving their suggestions and communicating with us," Johansen said.
He also commended the school district, which opened and staffed an emergency shelter at the the Peekskill High School, and the American Red Cross, which shared its resources despite having to deal with storm ravaged communities further south for assisting the city during the recovery process.
"It's tribute to the dedicated efforts of all those agencies that we were able to make it through this," Johansen said.
Peekskill had less than 400 customers without power and Cortland had about 4,100 as of 6 a.m Saturday.
Update, 3:30 p.m., Nov. 2:
- In her latest update this afternoon, Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi said 4,500 homes in town are still without power and there are 32, which is down from Thursday's figure of 70. Power restoration is still expected to take 7 to 10 days. Puglisi also said she was told during a county conference call that the New York Harbor has been reopened for ships delivering fuel and that these products will be delivered to the stations in the area as soon as possible.
- Cortlandt's Town shelter will remain open in the town community center, located off Westbrook Drive. The phone number is (914) 528-1572.
- People can drop off dry goods, like cereal and crackers; canned goods, and bottled water for Sandy relief at Cortlandt Town Hall, located at 1 Heady St. Cortlandt Manor, and the Cortlandt Community Center, located off Westbrook Drive, from from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- The Peekskill school district announced that it is opening school on Nov. 5, and Tuesday, Nov. 6, which is election day. Students will not have off on Tuesday as originally planned so the district can make-up missed school days.
- Cortlandt youth and travel soccer is cancelled this weekend, but youth football is on as scheduled. The Youth Center is open today, from 3 p.m. to 11 pm; Saturday, Nov. 3, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 4, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. for youth ages 11 to 18. The Cortlandt Upper Teen Entertainment Center, located at the Cortlandt Town Center, will be open today and Saturday, from 7:30 pm to 11 p.m.
- The BeanRunner, located on 201 South Division St. in Peekskill is now open for business and is allowing people to come charge their phones. There is also free wi-fi. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for regular meals
Update, 5 a.m., Nov. 2:
Cortlandt had about 4,200 customers without power and Peekskill had a about 500, according to the latest estimates posted by Consolidated Edison as of 5 a.m. this morning.
The utility has said residents could go without power as long as Nov. 10-11.
Emergency shelters in Peekskill and Cortlandt remained open Thursday night, with Cortlandt homeless shelter remained open Thursday night as utility workers continued their restoration efforts.
Although Hendrick Hudson, Lakeland and Peekskill schools remained closed today, muncipal offices are open.
While Peekskill has rescinded its state of emergency, the Town of Cortlandt's remains in effect.
There were 70 roads closed in Cortlandt Thursday.
Check back for more updates on emergency shelter times, dry ice distribution and any other news that comes in throughout the day.
Update, 4 p.m., Nov. 1:
Editor's Note: The following update was sent by Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi.
We now have 4,500 homes without power throughout Cortlandt. That’s up from 4,200 yesterday.
Seventy roads in the Town are closed due to downed wires and trees. Yesterday that number was 76. The major problem in clearing the roads are with Con Edison, who is solely responsible for turning off the power to the fallen live wires before the town crews can come in to cut up the trees.
Jeff Coleman, Director of Highway, Sanitation, Parks and Water and I are on the Con Edison conference calls twice a day stating our case, demanding more crews and dry ice for our area.
This morning at 11 A.M., Con Edison told us the following:
-
They still have 166,000 homes and businesses without power in Westchester County; 43,000 have been restored since Tuesday morning.
-
They have 200 crews to utilize for their Westchester customers and there are 43 municipalities in the County. Cortlandt is one of the largest and I said we need to have more than two crews in our community.
-
Con Ed is still in the process of bringing in outside restoration crews as far away as Alabama, California and Maryland. I told them this operation should have occurred over the weekend not after the storm.
-
There are 122 schools throughout the County without power. Cortlandt has four without power (in two school districts – Hendrick Hudson and Lakeland). I am constantly telling them this is a priority.
All Town offices are open for business and garbage pickup continues today since there was a cancellation on Tuesday due to the severity of the storm. Paper pickup took place today, as well, and recyclables pickup is scheduled for Friday.
The Town Supervisor’s declaration of a state of emergency still remains. So please take caution when driving or being outdoors. We advise that you stay inside as much as possible, due to possible falling branches, trees or dangling wires.
The Town’s Emergency operations Center (EOC) will remain open coordinated by the Supervisor and other key staff at Town Hall. We are in communication with all emergency services and with state, county and federal officials to assist us in this restoration period and to apply pressure to Con Edison to help us!
The Town Shelter will remain open for as long as our residents need assistance. It is located off West Brook Drive and is at our Community Center.
The Community Center on West Brook Drive can be used to recharge your portable electronics. This building will be opened 24 hours per day until further notice. Conference Room 1 at the Cortlandt Town Hall (off Oregon Road) has Wi-Fi available, from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
We call in your power outages to Con Edison for you, but please call in as well to 1-(800)-75CONED.
Once again we are all doing everything we can to help our town and its residents. Unfortunately, as always, we have to wait for Con Edison to take care of the lines and the wires. We will get through this storm disaster together and I thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Linda Puglisi
Town Supervisor
----------
Update, 3 p.m.:
The Hen Hud, Lakeland and Peekskill schools will stay closed Friday.
Update, 10:15 a.m., Nov.1:
Peekskill senior programs are on as scheduled today. This includes the nutrition homebound and congregate meals and the senior club programs.
Update, 6:15p.m. Oct. 31:
Editor's Note: The following announcement was sent by Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi.
The Town of Cortlandt remains in a declared State of Emergency.
The Town’s storm shelter on West Brook Drive at the Community Center is available 24 hours and will remain open until power is restored by Con Edison for our residents.
The Town provides:
- Staff supervision
- electricity and heat
- cots and blankets
- water
- and basic food three times a day
- you can recharge electronics at this center.
Please bring pets in crates and they will be located in a safe enclosed building at this site.
The Town’s storm statistics:
- 4,200 homes are without power.
- 76 roads are closed due to fallen trees and wires.
- All Town offices are open for usual government business.
- The Town’s EOC at Town Hall is coordinated by the Town Supervisor and the Director of D.E.S. which includes highway and sanitation, etc. along with other key staff.
Announcements:
The Halloween Party is going forward at the Town of Cortlandt Youth Center at 6 P.M.
Go to the Town’s Community Center on West Brook Drive, (which is also being used as a shelter) to recharge your portable electronics. This building will be opened 24 hours until further notice. You may also use Conference Room 1 at the Cortlandt Town Hall where Wi-Fi is available 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For health and safety emergencies call 9-1-1.
The Supervisor and DES Director are on daily conference calls with the Westchester County Government and with Con Edison twice a day.
Con Edison Update:
They only have one dry ice pickup location and it is at Yonkers Raceway in the City of Yonkers. We have requested a Northern Westchester location, as well, but currently they have not opened one.
Today, the Town of Cortlandt has 76 roads closed and 4,200 homes without power throughout the Town. This is the most widespread storm damage that the Town has experienced in decades and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation and patience as the restoration is worked on and eventually completed.
Special thanks to our town crews and to all emergency service providers who are working around the clock to keep our residents SAFE!
The Town will continue to send out Code Red phone messages with key important information.
Please stay off the roads if at all possible and be very careful and alert to falling branches. DO NOT go near wires on the ground or wires dangling from trees. Assume that all of these wires are live and dangerous.
Thank you. BE SAFE!
Linda D. Puglisi
Update: 3:15 p.m., Oct. 31:
Due to the continued power outage, the Peekskill High School Gymnasium on Elm Street will be open at 5:00 p.m. as an emergency shelter. Cots will be available.
Update: 11 a.m., Oct. 31:
The Salvation Army on 117 Nelson Avenue in Peekskill will be open from noon to 2 p.m. for lunch. A warming center will open in the Nutrition Center, located at 4 Nelson, from 2pm-10pm.
--------------
Update: 8:45 a.m., Oct. 30: Peekskill City Hall Open, Senior Nutrion Program Cancelled
Peekskill's Depew Park and Park's Office will be closed on Oct. 30 due to down trees and wires. City hall will open at noon.
The city's senior club and nutrition programs are closed today.
After the storm
Hurricane Sandy has claimed four lives in the Lower Hudson Valley.
A tree crashed through a home in Pearl River at about 6 p.m. Monday, killing a 51-year-old man and placing his family in the hospital.
In North Salem, a tree came down Monday evening, killing two middle school-aged boys.
A motorist on the Sprain Brook Parkway in Greenburgh died due to storm conditions Monday evening, as well, according to state police.
The storm—an amalgam of several foul weather patterns—brought its worst rains and winds through the region between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Monday.
The National Hurricane Center was no longer labeling Sandy a hurricane as of 7 p.m. Monday, as it teetered on the edge of the northeast coastline—but the squall still held amazing power.
Nearly all municipalities in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam declared states of emergency, with evacuations in effect in Port Chester, Piermont, Yonkers and other villages and cities. Hundreds of thousands throughout the three counties will be without electricity for up to a week, power companies have said.
Roads Tuesday afternoon were populated by emergency vehicles, branches and debris; the Tappan Zee Bridge closed for several hours due to whipping winds.
For the latest on everything Sandy, stay with Patch.
--
Cancellations and rain dates
- VA Hudson Valley Health Care System – All Outpatient Clinic appointments are cancelled today, Monday, Oct. 29, at the two main campuses (Montrose & Castle Point) and the Community Based Clinics.
- The Senior Nutrition lunch program at the Neighborhood Center in Peekskill is canceled Tuesday. The Homebound meals is delivering an extra meal to cover Tuesday.
- The Field Library in Peekskill is closed Monday. Please call the main telephone number, 914-737-1212 and listen to the voicemail concerning library hours on Tuesday.
- Section 1 High School Playoff Games Cancelled Monday & Tuesday
- Monday's Peekskill Senior's Club is Cancelled
- Peekskill Schools Closed Monday
- Lakeland Schools Closed Monday and Tuesday
- Hendrick Hudson School Closed Monday
- Cortlandt Cancels Monday Budget Press Conference
- Peekskill Officials Reschedule Monday's Budget Meeting
- Westchester County: Because of the threat of inclement weather, the regular meeting of the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) scheduled for Oct. 29 has been changed from 7 PM to 11 AM.
- Westchester County: The scheduled celebration of Italian Heritage Month planned for Monday evening before the BOL meeting has been postponed. A new date for the celebration has not been decided yet.
- Westchester County: The veterans town hall scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 30 is cancelled. It will be rescheduled for a later date.
- Hudson Valley Hospital Center Cancels Tuesday's Farmers Market
- The Trio Trio dinner engagement at the Quiet Man in Peekskill, NY on Sunday October 28, 6 p.m. to 9 pm. has been cancelled.
- Peekskill Officials Reschedule Monday's Budget Meeting
--
Patch's full coverage
- Peekskill Police Advise Residents to Evacuate Flood Prone Areas
- Cortlandt Will Open Shelter Tonight
- Residents Prepare for Sandy's Onslaught [PHOTOS]
- How You Can Prep For Hurricane Sandy [VIDEO]
- Cuomo Declares State of Emergency for New York
- UPDATE: NWS Updates Rockland And Municipal Officials On Hurricane Sandy
- NYS Thruway Preps for Hurricane Sandy
- Video: MTA Prepping for Storm
- O&R Prepares For Storm As Severe As Irene
- Storm Preparation: Do You Have A Checklist?
- O&R Declares Storm Watch As Severe Weather Approaches
- Cortlandt Prepares for Hurricane Sandy
- Residents Prepare for Sandy's Onslaught [PHOTOS]
- How You Can Prep For Hurricane Sandy [VIDEO]
- Peekskill Officials: Make Sure Catch Basins are Clear for Hurricane Sandy
- Cuomo Declares State of Emergency for New York
- NYS Thruway Preps for Hurricane Sandy
- Video: MTA Prepping for Storm
- O&R Prepares For Storm As Severe As Irene
- Storm Preparation: Do You Have A Checklist?
--
Do you know of an event cancellation? Please add it to the comment section attached to this article and update the event in our free Patch calendar to notify the community.
