Suffolk County jail's Yaphank visiting area loses heat amid Long Island cold

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office was working Sunday to restore heat to the visiting area of its Yaphank jail facility amid weekend temperatures that dipped well below freezing.

Jail officials posted an advisory on their website informing families and lawyers visiting inmates that "a temporary malfunction” had knocked out the heat on Friday.

"Maintenance staff are actively working to remedy the situation as quickly as possible,” the note said. "At this time, visits are not canceled and will continue as scheduled. Visitors are advised to dress accordingly while repairs are underway.”

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Vicki DiStefano told Newsday that all of the housing units in the lockup still have heat.

"It's contained just to the visiting area of the jail,” DiStefano said. "It really wasn't even an issue Friday and Saturday, because they put in firesafe space heaters, and it didn't get below 65 degrees.”

Jail visitation runs Tuesday through Saturday, so no visitors will be affected on Sunday or Monday.

The heating malfunction comes amid an extended period of subfreezing weather on Long Island. A cold-weather advisory was in effect until 10 a.m. Sunday across the region as temperatures dipped to 10 degrees in the early morning.

Forecasters reported some areas with wind chill of minus 5 to minus 10 degrees. The temperature overnight into Monday will drop to 10 degrees with northwest winds between 9 mph and 13 mph and a wind chill between zero and 10, according to the National Weather Service.

The president of the Suffolk County Correction Officers Association, Louis Viscusi, said the frigid weather can bring the temperatures inside the jail down, but that his officers had no complaints about the cold.

"It's a little bit colder than usual right now, but it’s not unbearable,” Viscusi told Newsday, adding that officers provide jackets and extra blankets to inmates who are cold.

"I'm surprised," he said. "Some inmates still go outside to the yard right now."