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POUND RIDGE, N.Y. Bob Lussi stood on the front lawn of the Pound Ridge Town House Thursday afternoon gripping a bag of evaporating dry ice and a few bottles of water the picture of frustration.
Lussi lives on Cross Pond Road and when a power pole toppled during the height of tropical storm Irene on Sunday night, everyone on the street lost power. They still havent gotten it back.
When the pole came down on Sunday, I called NYSEG, Lussi said. Originally, they said it was supposed to be fixed by Thursday at 1 p.m., but its past 1 (p.m.) now and its not. I called again and the message has been changed to indefinite.
Lussi said he knows NYSEG has been overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of power outages that Irene wrought, but he said he and his neighbors are growing frustrated.
I dont know if they (NYSEG) know what theyre doing, he said.
He said not only is the power off on Cross Pond, but cars cant get through because the broken pole has left power lines draped across the road.
Pound Ridge officials are aware of the situation.
Cross Pond is a problem, said John Powers, deputy supervisor. Weve known that for a while. NYSEG is supposed to make it a priority. I had a call from a woman there who was very unhappy.
Lussi said he worries about his neighbors who are senior citizens, some of whom have medical issues.
I have a neighbor who is not well and others who are quite elderly, he said. When you dont have water or toilet facilities, its a problem.
Lussi said hes gotten by because he had the foresight to fill up jugs of water before the storm hit. Hes been showering at a friends house and eating non-refrigerated food.
But by now, everything is shot, he said.
Supervisor Gary Warshauer said that while power is slowly returning to Pound Ridge, as of Thursday afternoon, half the town was still without service.
Most will be back online by Sunday, he said. But for some, it could go into next week. A lot of people are frustrated and thats understandable. We are doing the best we can.
Warshauer said the highway, police, and fire departments, ambulance corps, town volunteers and NYSEG have been working since last Saturday to get power restored and help those with basic needs.
And we will continue to work until (power is completely restored), he said. But we owe a debt of gratitude to these people. Theyve been working round the clock.
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