Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell is blasting NYSEG for its poor performance and lack of communication during a windstorm that left thousands of residents without power and without word as to when it would be restored.
NYSEG reported to the state Office of Emergency Management that only 5 customers were out in Putnam County. Odell says there were actually 2,700 customers without power as of 11am Friday. Odell added that the company is obligated to let residents – their ratepayers -- know where the power is out and when it will be restored.
She says even Putnam’s Bureau of Emergency Services couldn’t reach NYSEG during the height of the windstorm Thursday evening. They, and 911 operators, have a special number of outages, and they weren’t answering it.
In Lake Carmel and Patterson, the fire houses were without power, as were the Patterson Library and much of the Carmel schools. Several emergency responders throughout the county had to guard downed wires for hours during the storm before NYSEG responded.
