White Plains Coastal Storm Alert

The City of White Plains remains fully mobilized in advance of the coastal storm that is expected to arrive in our area by Noon today and bring with it sustained winds of 25-35 mph with wind gusts of up to 60 mph. The most damaging winds will occur between 7:00 p.m. – midnight. Residents are being asked to remain indoors this evening and to use caution if they must drive or otherwise be outside.

A notice from White Plains School District advises that schools will be let out at regular time today, Wed. Nov. 7, but that all after school and evening programs have been cancelled.

Dry Ice – There will be NO dry ice distribution by Con Edison today.

Power Restoration – Con Edison has advised the City that approximately 2,400 customers in White Plains remain without power out of the approximately 12,000 who lost power as a result of the Hurricane. Nine restoration crews with 30 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 obstructing roads.

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 to report the outage.

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 copies of 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 enrollment form 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 are a 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.

Caveat Emptor! Home Repair Contractor Scams: Be wary of home improvement contractors who may suddenly appear in your neighbourhood in the coming days and weeks. The Westchester County Consumer Department offers valuable information on their website: www.westchestergov.com/consumer for homeowners who are looking to engage a home improvement contractor. Here are some additional tips from the County’s Consumer Department:

–       If you haven’t done so, call your insurance company as soon as you can. Many insurance companies have existing relationships with home repair contractors.

–       Watch out for contractors who are suddenly in the area. Fly-by-night contractors will take advantage of homeowners in need. Don’t get rushed into signing a contract or agreeing to repairs.

–       Avoid contractors who demand payment in cash or want more than one-third of the total payment before work has begun.

–       Do not agree to an oral contract. Get everything you can in writing. Insist on a written contract that sets forth all the important details of the job. That includes a detailed scope of work, a start date, a completion date, cancellation clause, warranty information and a schedule of payments.

–       Get at least three estimates. In reviewing the estimates, don’t always go with the lowest bidder. A higher bid may be worth it if the contractor is the most experienced, uses better materials and keeps to a timeline.

–       Consumers who need to purchase essential goods and services need to take notice of what they are paying for these items and should contact the department if prices seem to be much higher than normal.

Youth Bureau – All City of White Plains Youth Bureau after school programs have been cancelled for today.

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 is open and continuing to provide additional power strips to patrons to charge their electronic devices. Library Hours: Wed – 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Gasoline –Gasoline deliveries are being made and lines are easing significantly. The Westchester County Consumer Department is monitoring gasoline prices throughout the County. Consumers may report potential price gouging to the County Consumer Department at (914) 995-2155.

Disaster Assistance to Individuals & Households – President Obama’s Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New York, issued on October 30, 2012, has been amended to include Westchester County. The disaster declaration triggers the release of Federal funds to help individuals and communities recover from Hurricane Sandy. This means that Westchester residents can register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and apply for disaster assistance. To learn more about the types of assistance available and eligibility, register with FEMA via any one of the following methods:

• Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Apply via smartphone at m.fema.gov.
• Call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

–from the office of the Mayor, City of White Plains