Thousands of Northport and East Northport residents are still in the dark seven days after Hurricane Sandy, including some on LIPA's Critical Care priority restoration list.
"We are on LIPA's priority list due to my daughters medical equipment power needs," wrote Northport Patch Facebook User Cathie Josephson. "Guess that list that they confirmed me on, means nothing."
Maplewood Drive in Northport seems to have been neglected by cleanup and recovery crews, wrote Facebook user Alisa Schwulst Shea. "Trees haven't even been cleared. Looks like day zero here. Transformer in front yard. It's like we're invisible. I don't see any streets still blocked by trees anymore but ours."
Others are reporting power outages on Goldenrod, off Dogwood/Norwood, Acre View and Starlit off Norwood, Lindberg Court (off Seaview) and Scudder, Harborview Drive, and Jay Court, to name just a few. The Makamah Beach neighborhood in Fort Salonga also reports outages.
Those with prolonged outages are relying on friends, family, and neighbors for support. Some fortunate enough to have power have welcomed strangers into their home to take hot showers, eat hot food, or do laundry.
"We are coping and very grateful to have a working fireplace for heat at night and kind community and friends keeping our spirits up," wrote Facebook User Margo McCormack, whose house in Deauville Court off 25A is without power.
Another woman in Centerport said her family is getting by with some adjustments. "Boiling water on gas stove for instant coffee with powdered creamer, cooking bathing. Grilling on gas grill. Fireplace in draped room. Ice in refrigerator," she wrote.
Twitter is buzzing with tweets demanding response to prolonged power outages. "@NYGovCuomo LIPA told 5 houses in Northport on LI can't fix power as area is "fixed"- help! #outages #utilities #accountability," wrote jvolpi9. "@NYGovCuomo freezing in northport, li. Where is lipa? Help." wrote edwalsh33.
Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, demanded that LIPA "immediately remedy its poor customer service and improve its inadequate sharing of information with residents who are still without power," according to Glen Cove Patch.
"LIPA’s failure to keep customers informed of the latest information on conditions and improvements is simply unacceptable," King said. "County Executive (Edward) Mangano and I have heard so many complaints from many Long Island towns and neighborhoods about the ‘arrogant’ and unhelpful attitude of so many of LIPA employees as well as LIPA’s failure to respond to legitimate inquiries from those without power.”
LIPA says 275,000 total customers are without power, excluding customers in the most severely flooded areas. According to LIPA, tens of thousands of customers are being restored daily and 90 percent of customers will be restored by Wednesday.
