Storm Update: 1,500 Without Power; Dry Ice Available

The City of White Plains released the following statement Thursday.

Dry Ice – Dry ice will be distributed at 200 Business Park Drive in Armonk from Noon – 5:00 p.m. today by Con Edison.

Power Restoration – Con Edison has advised the City that approximately 1,500 customers in White Plains remain without power out of the approximately 12,000 who lost power as a result of the Hurricane. Eight restoration crews with 17 bucket trucks are working in the White Plains area today in addition to a Con Edison cut and clear crew, which focuses on safety issues and clearing wires that are obstructingroads.

We have heard of people being informed by Con Edison that their power has been restored when that is not in fact the case. If that has happened to you, please call 1-800-75-CONED immediately to re-report the outage.

Con Edison has informed the City that homeowners who have had damage to the service on the side of their house must contact an electrician to address the issue before Con Edison can come in and hook up the service to a power line. Con Edison will not fix the service boxes located on the outside of homes.

If your phone and/or cable service is out, please contact your provider (Cablevision, Verizon) directly toreport the outage.

Halloween Trick & Treats Re-Scheduled – The Recreation & Parks Department’s Halloween Tricks & Treats event is an annual tradition in White Plains. Although it couldn’t go on as planned due to the storm, it has now been re-scheduled for Saturday, November 9, Noon – 3:00 p.m., at Gillie Park.

Bring the kids for some belated Halloween fun courtesy of the Recreation & Parks Department!

City of White Plains Emergency Shelter – The City of White Plains emergency shelter remains open for White Plains residents who need shelter. The shelter is now located at the Community Center, 65 Mitchell Place in downtown White Plains. Cots, blankets and warm food will be provided. Please avail yourself of this shelter and speak to any elderly or frail neighbors about doing the same, as temperatures will continue to fall at night. Residents should bring with them personal care items, medications and a flashlight. Residents may also want to bring a battery operated radio, books and/or magazines, non-perishable snacks and items to entertain children.

Helping Out – Anyone who knows White Plains knows that we have a high level of volunteerism in this community. Not surprisingly, we have had a number of residents volunteer to help and want to acknowledge and thank those who have offered assistance. If you would like to assist, there are many opportunities to do so, from going door-to-door to donating food and blankets, please call (914) 422-1411 or go to the City of White Plains website, www.cityofwhiteplains.com for a listing of volunteer and donation opportunities.

Staying Updated - Those who do not have phone service at home because of lack of power may not be receiving the Mayor’s daily updates to residents. We understand that lack of information can be extremely frustrating. Here are some other options for those without phone service:

• Monitor the City’s website, www.cityofwhiteplains.com.
• Call the Storm Hotline: (914) 422-5150 (English) / (914) 422-5160 (Spanish).
• Ask your phone carrier to forward your calls to your mobile phone;Check the City’s cable channel (Cablevision Channel 75 & Verizon Channel 47)
• Go to the White Plains Public Library, where they are distributing hard copies of the updates.
• Register your mobile phone and/or email on the City’s Code Red notification system. Hard copiesof the enrollment forms are available at the Library (return to City Hall in person, by mail or fax:(914) 422-1395) or click onto the Code Red icon on the City’s homepage, fill out the enrollmentform and submit it online.
• Follow the Mayor on Twitter: @wpmayorroach.

Safety Tips –- Leave one lamp on to let you know when power has come back up;- Use flashlights or battery-powered lanterns instead of candles as much as possible, as candles area fire hazard;- Turn off major appliances. An overload could happen when the power is restored if all appliances kick back on at once;- Do not operate electrical generators indoors (this includes your garage), as it could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators in a well-ventilated area;- Never use the stove or gas range in your kitchen to heat your home;- Stay away from downed power lines. All power lines should be considered live;- If you suspect a gas leak, smell gas or hear gas escaping from pipes, shut off the main gas valve and open all doors and windows to ventilate;- Do not operate electrical generators indoors.

Showers - The following community facilities have generously opened their doors for White Plains residents without power to enjoy a hot shower. Please bring your own supplies, including towels, soap and shampoo. Also bring personal identification for registration and security purposes. Showers are available for those who need them at the following locations:

White Plains YMCA, 250 Mamaroneck Avenue. Hours: Mon-Fri 5:15 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Sat 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sun 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

White Plains YWCA, 515 North Street. Hours: Mon-Sun 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

New York Sports Club,City Center. Hours: Mon-Sun 5:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Planet Fitness, 33 South Broadway. Hours: Mon-Fri 5:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Weekends 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Hot Lunch for Seniors @ the Community Center - The City of White Plains Community Center, located at 65 Mitchell Place, will be serving hot lunches through its Nutrition Program. Please call 422-1424 to make reservations.

Library - The White Plains Public Library has returned to regular operating hours.