NYSEG cautioned customers in the Catskill Region on Tuesday that its efforts to restore power following Hurricane Sandy will be lengthy. According to a press release from the utility at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1,400 of its customers in Delaware County and 700 in Otsego County had no electrical service.
“NYSEG ... crews are making solid progress restoring service in the upstate region, where damage was much less severe than it could have been,” Mark S. Lynch, the utility’s president, said in the press release.
Lynch said it would be at least Wednesday morning before conditions would be safe enough for crews to begin comprehensive damage assessment in accessible areas downstate and in the Catskills.
He pointed out that the day after Hurricane Irene was warm and sunny, while this week showers are expected to continue through Friday.
Putnam County is the hardest-hit county in the utility’s service area, with 32,500 customers blacked out.
National Grid outages
National Grid was reporting scattered service losses, with about 182 customers in Schoharie County, most of them in Blenheim, without power. About 107 customers in Otsego were affected, most of them in Cherry Valley and Worcester.
Call for blood donors
The National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society at Gilboa-Conesville Central School, 132 Wyckoff Road in Gilboa, will host a blood drive on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but will extend those times if donors are available. The Red Cross is urging immediate blood and platelet donations to support the blood needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Those who are eligible in areas unaffected by the storm are asked to schedule a blood donation now.
Delaware emergency lifted
The state of emergency for Delaware County was rescinded at 6 a.m. Tuesday, but travel advisory remained in effect until further notice, according to a press release from Delaware County Chairman James E. Eisel, Sr. People are asked to travel only when necessary and to use caution when traveling because work crews are continuing to clear roads and repairing downed power lines. Residents are warned to not drive through or touch downed power lines, and to not drive through water.
Chenango emergency ends
Chenango County lifted its state of emergency at 5 a.m. Tuesday. The county reopened all of its roads and closed its emergency operations center. It warned residents to remain cautious about lingering effects from Hurricane Sandy, such as standing water in roadways and downed power lines. It reported that about 103 NYSEG customers were without power Tuesday morning.
Oneonta buses run, trick-or-treating on
Oneonta Public Transit resumed its normal schedule at noon Tuesday.
Main Street Oneonta’s trick-or-treating will be held, as scheduled, on
Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m., according to Julia Goff, program manager for MSO.
Shelter closes
St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta sheltered one person Monday night, and the church closed the shelter Tuesday morning. Anyone needing shelter as a result of the storm can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Blood drive canceled
The American Red Cross has canceled at blood drive scheduled for Wednesday from 1 to 6:30 p.m. at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. It said in a press release that it will reschedule the blood drive for a later date.
Sidney school vote delayed
Because of the weather, the vote scheduled for Tuesday on the Sidney Central School capital project was postponed, Superintendent Bill Christensen said. The board of education will reschedule it for a later date, he said.
