Power restored to more than 945,344 customers; Crews to expand to over 9,000 this weekend
(Uniondale, N.Y.) – LIPA continues to mobilize additional resources, crews and equipment for the significant restoration efforts underway due to the unprecedented damage to its system by Hurricane Sandy and additional damage from Wednesday’s Nor’easter.
Currently LIPA and contracted crews – more than 8,200 lineman and tree trimming crews, with another 1,200 committed – have made the following progress in reenergizing homes and business on Long Island and Queens that lost power as a result of the recent storms.
Key LIPA Efforts (as of 9 a.m., November 9):
- LIPA has restored 945,344 customers from outages caused by Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter. Over 76,000 customers were restored yesterday, many during challenging weather conditions.
- LIPA is working diligently to restore power to the remaining customers. This includes approximately 100,000 outages in flooded areas, many of which may be currently unable to safely accept power.
- More than 14,000 workers are dedicated to this effort, including more than 8,200 field crews from across the country and Canada. Another 1,200 lineman are committed to the effort, with the majority expected today.
- LIPA has restored power to 19 of 21 hospitals on Long Island. Of the two remaining in the flood area, one is on back-up generation, and the other has been evacuated.
- LIPA has restored 43 of the 50 damaged substations, with many of those remaining to be restored in flooded areas.
- All Long Island Rail Road lines have been energized, except Long Beach and Far Rockaway which were affected by severe flooding in the area.
- LIPA has a more than sufficient supply of poles, wires, transformers and all other equipment that is needed to restore service to every customer.
- LIPA and National Grid employees have been in Far Rockaway to inform customers and distribute blankets, water, dry ice and food to residents.
- LIPA is continuing to advance the inspection/survey process in Nassau, with homes and businesses from flooded areas that may be unable to receive power due to flooding. More than 120 inspectors comprised of Local 25 electrical workers, AIA Certified architects, firemen and electrical inspectors were in field yesterday in Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa, Merrick and Massapequa Park. Today they will be surveying Baldwin, Baldwin Harbor, East Rockaway, Island Park, Lynbrook, Oceanside
- Similar efforts are underway in Suffolk County and in Long Beach area. As areas are identified as safe to be energized, servicemen are following to energize.
- LIPA continues to focus on restoring any remaining critical facilities that have experienced outages as a result of yesterday’s nor’easter. Focus is on remaining sewage treatment facilities, water pumping stations and nursing homes. In addition, LIPA is focusing on remaining outages that affect 40 school districts and three universities from yesterday’s storm.
- LIPA will continue to execute its restoration plan – concentrating on restoring any new outages experienced by critical facilities, completing any remaining main line outages, and continuing to advance to complete branch line outages and eventually single outages.
- Concurrently, efforts advance to restore any remaining transmission line outages that must be restored to provide redundancy/back-up and to complete any outstanding repairs to substations.
Current Power Status (as of 9 a.m., November 9):
- Nassau County: 87,465 outages
- Suffolk County: 54,798 outages
- Queens County: 31,072 outages
Customers can stay tuned to local media for updated storm information or visit LIPA’s Storm Center at www.lipower.org.
