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WPCNR HEALTH BULLETIN. From the Westchester County Department of Health. March 4, 2018:

The Westchester County Department of Health cautions residents to steer clear of coyotes and avoid walking alone in wooded areas, after a coyote captured in Yonkers tested positive for rabies Saturday.

A coyote displaying aggressive behavior. If you encounter a coyote displaying unprovoked behavior like this. Report it to police, please, and avoid the animal for your own safety.From WPCNR photo archives.

The coyote was shot by a Westchester County public safety officer Thursday evening after it lunged at him on the Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers.

A second coyote was present at the time of the attack but was not captured. Police had been searching on foot and via helicopter for an aggressive coyote following six other coyote attacks in Hastings and Yonkers on Wednesday and Thursday.

“If you see a coyote, don’t approach it,” said Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD.  “If it appears aggressive or lethargic, it could have rabies, so contact local police.”

Although the health department cannot be certain that the same coyote was involved in every incident, based on the timeline and locations of the attacks, it is likely this was the attacking coyote. There have been no reported coyote attacks in the area since this coyote was shot Thursday night. Coyote attacks are relatively rare in Westchester.

Everyone who reported their exposure to a coyote over the past several days has begun receiving preventive rabies treatment. If left untreated, rabies is fatal.

The attacks started Wednesday, when a coyote bit a woman and killed her Yorkie in Hastings. Another man and a woman in Hastings were attacked a short while later. The next morning, a third woman was attacked. Then a mail carrier was bitten as she made her rounds in the Homefield section of Yonkers.  A woman fended off a coyote with her bicycle on the South County Trailway near Tuckahoe Road. Just after 3 p.m., a man was bitten on the trailway, north of Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers.

Unusual behavior may be the first sign of rabies in an animal. A rabid animal may become either abnormally aggressive or unusually tame. It may lose fear of people and become excited and irritable, or appear particularly passive and lethargic. Staggering and frothing at the mouth are sometimes noted.

Any physical contact with a wild or unfamiliar animal should be reported to a health care provider. All animal bites or contacts with animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, 24 hours a day.

Keeping pet rabies vaccinations up to date is also important for protection against rabies. New York State law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies and receive regular booster shots.  For more information, go to www.westchestergov.com/health or call the RABIES INFOLINE at (914) 813-5010.

 

WPCNR THE POWER REPORT. From Paul Feiner, Greeburgh Town Supervisor in a Email received moments ago 2 PM E.S.T. March 3, 2018:

CON ED RESTORATION UPDATE

I spent the past few hours interacting with Con Ed officials and meeting with the town’s Con Ed municipal liaison at Greenburgh Police HQ about the power restoration efforts.

Con Ed’s leadership team organized a conference call this morning with municipal officials from around the county.

We spoke with the Vice President of Electric Operations.

He indicated that there were 81,000 customers out of power around the county, with 16,700 restorations so far.  In Greenburgh this morning there were 4,317 outages. A short time ago the number went down to 3,440.

WHAT CON ED IS DOING—THE PROCESS OF GETTING POWER RESTORED

High winds made restoration difficult yesterday. There are many trees that are down. Broken poles, etc..  Since yesterday’s nor’easter Con Ed has been giving priority to opening up roads, addressing low hanging wires. Con Ed has to clear away downed lines, trees and other debris.  They have to check for any damage to their system and assign crews and equipment to the area to begin repairs. They have to fix the power lines, transformers, or connections that caused  the problem so they can get power back on quickly to critical facilities like hospital, customers who depend on life support equipment, schools, water treatment facilities, fire houses.  If you live near one of these facilities you might be lucky –because when the power goes on at those locations, chances are better that it will also go on for you.  If a tree is blocking access to a road – and people can’t get out of their home – that will also be given priority.

CON ED PRIORITY SYSTEM

Con Ed’s policy is to restore power to the lines and equipment that will bring power back to most people as quickly as possible. They restore all other customers who have lost power after that.

CON ED HAS THEIR OWN PRIORITY SYSTEM—TOWN DOESN’T CONTROL WHO GETS POWER ON FIRST

Con Ed has taken the politics out of the restoration process. They have their own priority system and they follow their own process.

REPAIRS TAKE TIME—I PREDICT THAT SERVICE WILL BE OUT FOR SOME RESIDENTS FOR AT LEAST A FEW DAYS…

Con Ed did not provide us with estimates as to when exactly service in Greenburgh will be restored. Although it took two weeks to restore service to most Greenburgh residents after SANDY, my guess is that most Greenburgh residents out of power will have their power restored by Tuesday. This is based on my experiences dealing with Con Ed.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS –LACK OF STAFF  ——CON ED CALLING IN MUTUAL ASSISTANCE   CREWS FROM OTHER COMPANIES WILL START SHOWING UP TOMORROW AND MONDAY

During our conference call Con Ed told municipal officials that restoration for most people will start tomorrow.  

A problem: lack of crews. Some crews from around the country are expected to come to Westchester tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday.

MY GUESS—MOST OF GREENBURGH WILL HAVE POWER TUESDAY

Most of Greenburgh will have power on Tuesday. Some today, others tomorrow and Monday.

ALL DOWNED WIRES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED LIVE

All downed wires should be considered live.  Con Ed placed yellow do not cross tapes near wires. But- some of the tapes have been knocked down by the winds. If you see a wire DO NOT GO NEAR IT. It could be dangerous. Con Ed is supposed to hire crews to stand near the downed wires.  If Con Ed crews are not protecting the wires – we have been assigning police to areas.

IF YOU CAN’T TAKE THE COLD THERE ARE TEMPORARY OPTIONS AVAILABLE

If you are FREEZING there are some options available. The town has opened the Theodore Young Community Center as a shelter for those without power. It’s free and staffed by the CERT team. We have cots, showers, etc…  If you don’t want to sleep at a community center (two people took advantage of the shelter at the Theodore Young Community Center last night), I would be happy to call residents and ask if they would make a room available to someone out of power.  Or, you could contact friends, relatives elsewhere who have power.  My e mail is [email protected].

 

I PROMISE TO TRY HARD TO PRESS CON ED TO GIVE OUR TOWN THE HIGHEST PRIORITY POSSIBLE—GETTING POWER RESTORED

Last night, I was freezing like many of you. I know how stressed out and uncomfortable those without power are. I promise to work as hard as possible to get your power restored quickly. I’m not happy with the delays in restoring power and am doing everything I can to expedite the power restoration so you can live comfortably and happily in Greenburgh.  But, there is not much more that can be done if Con Ed doesn’t have the resources to restore everyone’s power quickly.

IF THERE ARE LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL ISSUES- PLEASE ADVISE

Con Ed has a registry of people who are on life support and have medical emergencies. Please let Con Ed know if you, someone you know depends on life support equipment or has a medical emergency. They keep records of these customers and contact them when there are emergencies.  If you need help – and are not getting the help please e mail me at [email protected].

 

SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCES. I PROMISE TO GET BACK TO EVERYONE WHO HAS A CONCERN.

Paul Feiner

My cell phone is 914 438 134