Irene: What you need to know on Thursday

A Long Island Power Authority lineman works to restore power... — A Long Island Power Authority lineman works to restore power in South Huntington (Aug. 30, 2011) Credit: Kevin P Coughlin

August 31, 2011

UTILITIES

LIPA

Officials said 189,472 customers remained without power Wednesday, and electricity might be cut off sporadically in some areas today to allow work crews to make repairs.

Television, phones, Internet

Cablevision service was out in areas that were without electric power, spokesman Jim Maiella said. "Our crews are in the field and we are making steady progress in restoring service interruptions that were primarily related to the loss of electrical power," he said. "Our efforts are focused in the areas hardest hit by the storm, including parts of Long Island."

Verizon said that "overall, our network is doing well." FiOS services were out in areas that were without electric power, Verizon spokesman John Bonomo said. He said customers whose land-line telephone is out do not automatically call Verizon any more because they now have means of communications: cellphones, email and instant messaging. "So they report outages or problems more at their convenience," Bonomo said.

BEACHES

Suffolk

Huntington Beach Community Association in Centerport, and Broadway Beach and Friendship Drive Beach in Rocky Point are closed to bathing because bacterial levels exceed acceptable criteria. Tanner Park Beach in Copiague remains closed to bathing.

For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach Hotline at 631-852-5822, contact the Health Department's Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 during normal business hours.

Nassau

Check with each individual beach to determine if it is open to the public. Nassau County Department of Health has determined that all regulated beaches operating for the 2011 season now have water quality that is acceptable for bathing. These beaches had been closed due to the impact of coastal storm Irene. For up-to-date recorded information on beach closings and openings, call 516-227-9700

HEALTH ISSUES

West Nile virus

Nassau plans to spray and use other mosquito-control measures to combat the spread of West Nile virus after the storm. Officials urged residents to remove standing water on their properties -- including water in gutters, swimming pool covers and flowerpots -- to help eliminate mosquito breeding and prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease. The spraying timeline has not been determined. To report mosquito activity, stagnant water or drainage problems, call 516-571-6900. Information on West Nile virus is available at www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/westnile.html

Restaurants

Food inspectors have fanned out to restaurants throughout Long Island checking on meats and produce that must meet specific temperature requirements. Inspectors have not tabulated data to determine how many restaurants were forced to discard food deemed unsafe for consumption, officials said. Inspectors in Nassau and Suffolk are receiving information from LIPA to determine which food establishments lost electrical service, and which ones are still without it.

Blood donations

The New York Blood Center, which serves the metropolitan area, said the blood supply is under two days for three critical negative blood types: O-negative, B-negative and A-negative.

To find out how to donate, call 800-933-2566.

TRANSPORTATION

Long Island Rail Road

The Long Island Rail Road has restored full service to the Ronkonkoma branch Thursday for the morning rush, bringing the system back to normal after a complete shutdown for Tropical Storm Irene. Visit mta.info for service and schedule updates.

Roadways

Nassau and Suffolk police are urging motorists to use caution at intersections because an unspecified number of traffic lights are still not working.

On state routes on Long Island, 53 traffic signals were not working as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. The state has 1,100 signals on the Island. Thirty nonworking signals were in Suffolk and 23 in Nassau, said Eileen Peters, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

Suffolk officials said there were nine county intersections without working traffic lights and 15 county officers were at the intersections to direct traffic.

As of Wednesday, 48 lights were reported to be malfunctioning, without power or on flash, in Nassau, according to Mike Martino, spokesman for Nassau County Department of Public Works. The number is changing rapidly as LIPA deals with each outage.

Also, drivers should check the state Department of Transportation website, informny.com, for road and traffic conditions.

Airports

All area airports have reopened, but travelers should check with their airlines for updated information on specific flights.

Bridges and tunnels

All area bridges and tunnels have returned to normal. Updated info can be found at mta.info

Fire Island ferries

Ferries to Fire Island have resumed full service.

Bus service

Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses, which include Long Island Bus in Nassau, were expected to be running close to normal, officials said. Check service and schedules at mta.info or call 516-228-4000. For Suffolk County Transit info, check sct-bus.org or call 631-852-5200 for updates.

PROTECTING YOURSELF

Insurance

Suffolk residents will be able to receive assistance with filing homeowners insurance claims. Officials with the New York State Insurance Department will be in the Plaza at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday answering questions about filing claims and finding temporary housing and food vouchers.

Residents should bring copies of their homeowners insurance documents, said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.

Nassau residents can meet with representatives of the state Insurance Department at Cedar Creek Park's Administration building in Seaford Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said.

Officials will offer help to residents and advice on how to file an insurance claim properly for property damage from Irene.

Also, representatives from the Salvation Army will be there along with the county executive's mobile office.

Farmers in both counties who might be eligible for agricultural relief programs can visit the New York Farm Bureau website at nyfb.org. The Farm Bureau represents farmers and is not a government agency.

Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue a disaster declaration and expedite disaster assistance for areas of New York hard hit by Tropical Storm Irene, from Long Island through the Hudson Valley and Upstate.

Price gouging

Suffolk County is investigating at least two instances of price gouging, including a gas station and a supermarket, said County Executive Steve Levy. The allegations, he said, have not been substantiated. Residents can call the county's Department of Consumer Affairs at 631-853-4600 with complaints.

OTHER SERVICES

Shower facilities

In Nassau, shower facilities will be available at two county pools free of charge, County Executive Edward Mangano said.

Shower facilities at North Woodmere Park will be available daily from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. The park is on Branch Boulevard at Hungry Harbor Road in North Woodmere. For more information, please call 516-571-7801.

At Cantiague Park in Hicksville, showers will be open from 8 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Cantiague Park is located on West John Street in Hicksville. For more information, please call 516-571-7057.

Movie nights

Nassau residents who need a break from the cleanup can enjoy a free movie in Eisenhower Park Thursday. "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" will be shown at the Lakeside Theatre, as the final movie of Nassau County's Family Movie Night series. All residents are welcome.

For further information, call the Nassau County Parks Public Information Office at 516-572-0200