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RIC SWIERAT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
ARC WESTCHESTER
RETIRING AFTER 35 YEARS
ON
THE STATE OF CARE OF THE DISABLED
THE STATE OF PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT FOR THE DISABLED
HOW CARE FOR THE DISABLED HAS IMPROVED–WHERE IT NEEDS WORK
THE CRISIS IN HOUSING FOR THE DISABLED
ISSUES FACING THE PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVING ORGANIZATIONS TODAY.
THE CRISIS OF PAYING DISABLED WORKERS FAIR WAGES AND KEEPING THEM
JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS MR. SWIERAT
ON HIS OBSERVATIONS AS HE RETIRES
TONIGHT AT 8
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COUNTIES DEVASTATED BY ANOTHER BIG STORM; 154,000 WITHOUT POWER AS of 1:30 PM
| County | Outages |
|
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 290 | |
| Dutchess | 22,988 | |
| Lewis | 268 | |
| Monroe | 1,219 | |
| Nassau | 179 | |
| Orange | 47,765 | |
| Putnam | 30,612 | |
| Queens | 131 | |
| Rockland | 2,041 | |
| Sullivan | 20,105 |
WPCNR THE POWER STORY. From the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, May 16, 2018 1:30 PM EDT.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today toured storm damage in Putnam County and delivered a recovery update in response to several severe thunderstorms that occurred throughout Tuesday. At the height of the storm, over 200,000 utility customers were without power, mainly in the Mid-Hudson Region.
The severe weather felled trees and power lines, damaged vehicles and homes, and resulted in at least twofatalities. As part of the recovery effort, the Governor has deployed 125 members of the New York National Guard and to further assist communities with recovery efforts. Currently, thousands of state and local personnel are on site in the affected areas with pre-deployed equipment to clear transportation corridors of debris and assess damage throughout the affected areas.
“As these extreme weather events continue, New York is committed to stepping up our preparedness and ensuring that all impacted New Yorkers receive the assistance they need to recover and clean up after the storm,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’re on the ground and are working tirelessly to restore power and help the affected communities recover as quickly as possible.”
New York National Guard
The National Guard deployment began this morning with 125 members out of Camp Smith in Westchester County. They will be assisting state, county and local personnel with efforts ranging from debris clearance to traffic control.
State Agency Response Efforts
Currently, state officials from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, State Police, and Department of Public Service, have been deployed to the region to assist with recovery operations. 33large generators from the state’s ten regional stockpiles have been sent to Dutchess, Orange and Westchester Counties to support traffic operations and power generation at key facilities in the region, as well as ten pallets of bottled water to Putnam County. Additionally, 125 members of the National Guard and 25 personnel from the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Office of Emergency Management are currently assisting localities with damage assessments and emergency operations support. A mobile command center is also en route that will be staffed by Department of Financial Services personnel to assist Putnam Valley residents with insurance claims.
Department of Transportation
558 DOT personnel are available for storm response in the Mid-Hudson Region and an additional 424 staff available for storm response in Sullivan County. In addition, the Department has deployed more than 120 maintenance staff and supervisors from the Capital Region, the Mohawk Valley, Central New York and the Southern Tier to help the region dig out from the storm, including four tree crews, 14 brush/chipper crews, and four traffic signal crews that have been deployed to the region to assist in recovery efforts.
The following assets are prepared for deployment as needed: 386 large dump trucks, 102 larger loaders, 27 excavators, 23 chippers, 11 traffic signal trucks, 8 graders, 7 water tanker trucks, 5 vacuum trucks, 4 bucket trucks, one bulldozer, and one water pump.
In addition, the Department has Variable Message Signs up on state roads in the affected regions warning motorists of road severe weather conditions. Motorists are also reminded to check 511NY by calling 511 or by accessing www.511ny.org before traveling. The free service allows users to check road conditions and transit information.
Motorists are reminded that State Law mandates that if an intersection is “blacked out” and the traffic signal is not operational, the intersection is automatically a “four way” stop. In the event of closed or blocked roadways due to flooding, downed power lines or debris, motorists are advised to exercise caution and obey all traffic signs or barricades in place, regardless of whether a roadway looks clear.
Mobile users can download the updated, free 511NY mobile app from the iTunes or Google Play stores. The app now features Drive mode, which provides audible alerts along a chosen route while a user is driving, warning them about incidents and construction. Users can set a destination prior to departing and receive information on up to three routes.
New York State Thruway Authority
Currently, New York State Thruway Authority maintenance crews are in the process of removing trees and debris from the shoulders of the Thruway system in the Hudson Valley region. The Thruway Authority stands at the ready to assist as called upon.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway, here. For real-time updates, motorists can follow @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter or visit www.thruway.ny.gov to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways.
New York State Department of Public Service
New York’s utilities have added 650 line, tree, and service workers to their existing base of 4,300 workers for restoration efforts. Crews are being moved to the areas that have had the greatest storm damage, including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan and Westchester counties. Department staff will continue to monitor the utilities’ efforts during the storm restoration period.
The Department of Public Service has extended Call Center Helpline hours starting today, Wednesday, May 16, until 7:30 p.m., to assist consumers in their storm restoration efforts. The Department of Public Service Call Center Helpline can be reached by calling 1-800-342-3377.
Currently there are over 154,000 customers without power from the storm.
| County | Outages | |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 290 | |
| Dutchess | 22,988 | |
| Lewis | 268 | |
| Monroe | 1,219 | |
| Nassau | 179 | |
| Orange | 47,765 | |
| Putnam | 30,612 | |
| Queens | 131 | |
| Rockland | 2,041 | |
| Sullivan | 20,105 |
Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC has assets pre-positioned to deploy to storm-ravaged communities in the Hudson Valley, including certified chainsaw operators, sawyers and sled teams, pole saws, generators, and light stands. DEC staff, including Forest
WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. By John F. Bailey. May 16, 2018:
County Executive George Latimer today in a one hour news conference and Q & A at the Michaelian Building, announced he would hold 3 open meetings beginning June 6 on creating a new supplemental Master Plan by July 15.
Work on the plan would start be gathering input from the citizens beginning and following on June 11, dealing with Governance, and June 25, Operations. There would also be “Citizen Involvement” encouraged at every meeting.
He said he expected a proposal to define how the airport would be run to be before the Board of Legislators by October.
He told a packed briefing room that the county had not informed Macquarie Development the county previous choice to operate the airport was no longer being considered. Macquarie was the Astorino administration choice to operate the airport last fall, a proposal the Board of Legislators had chosen not to adopt.
Latimer told WPCNR he did not rule out any firm who may want to run the airport for applying to run the airport under conditions to be determined by the series of meetings ahead and the Board of Legislators approval of the Supplemental Master Plan.
The Supplemental Master Plan submission was agreed to by the F.A.A. which set a maximum deadline July 15 2018. Latimer’s Westchester County Airport Plan called the Astorino Master Plan that the F.A.A. is willing to accept July 1, “not complete, and was based in part, on faulty assumptions.”
Asked by WPCNR, if he foresaw expansion of the airport, Latimer ruled it out: “no new runways, no increased flights.” He said it serves Westchester needs adequately now.
Asked if he felt the county should earn more revenues it can use from the airport for county needs, Latimer said he was more concerned with who governs the airport going forward.
WPCNR asked if Mr. Latimer would consider inviting the Town of Greenwich to participate in the upcoming meetings, he said he had not, and his staff would reach out to them.
The Meeting on the Master Plan is scheduled for June 6 at 7 PM, Rye Brook Village Hall, 938 King Street, Rye Brook, NY
The Governance Meeting is planned for 7 PM at the Hergenhan Recreation Center, 40 Maple Avenue, Armonk, NY
The Operations Meeting will take place 7 PM at the West Harrison Senior Center, 251 Underhill Avenue, West Harrison NY.
The County Executive will Chair those meetings.