Nov. 5: Hurricane Sandy Updates

FEMA’s Points of Distribution (PODs)
These are located throughout the north and south shores of Nassau County.  Locations include:

• Levittown: Former K-Mart, Hempstead Turnpike

Hempstead Town Warming Centers, Showers for Hurricane Victims
Hempstead Town is opening the following locations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. as warming centers:

• Baldwin Senior Center, 1810 North Grand Avenue, Baldwin
• Bellmore Senior Center, 2000 Bellmore Avenue, Bellmore
• Elmont Senior Center, 138 Elmont Road, Elmont
• Franklin Square Senior Center, 1182 Martha Place, Franklin Square
• Green Acres Senior Center, 400 Flower Road, Valley Stream
• Levittown Senior Center, 555 Newbridge Road, Levittown
• Rosa Parks Senior Center, 2 Babylon Turnpike, Roosevelt
• Salisbury Senior Center, 460 Salisbury Park Drive, Westbury
• Uniondale/Hempstead Senior Center, 840 Uniondale Avenue, Uniondale
• Uniondale/Merrick Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Avenue, Uniondale
• Wantagh Senior Center, 1150 Seamans Neck Road, Wantagh
• Merrick Road Golf Course Clubhouse, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick
• Echo Park Pool, 399 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead

In addition, Echo Park Indoor Pool and Athletic Complex, located at 399 Nassau Blvd. in West Hempstead will be accessible to residents seeking warm showers. The facility will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Nassau County Partners With Electricians to Help Turn Power Back On
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced that he is partnering with the Empire Electrical Inspectors of New York to assist LIPA in restoring power to homes throughout Nassau. Sunday, a team of 30 inspectors visited 4,000 homes in Nassau County to inspect circuit breakers and notified LIPA whether it was safe or not to turn power back on.

Hempstead Town Stations Clothing Bins at Town Hall, Area Locations to Assist Residents in Hurricane-Relief Efforts

Hempstead Town has announced that it will begin a collection drive of coats, clothing, blankets and other essential supplies for residents devastated by Hurricane Sandy. These items will be donated to the struggling victims of Hurricane Sandy, many of whom have been displaced and left with a shortage of resources in the wake of the powerful hurricane.

Commencing on Monday, Nov. 5, collection bins are located at Hempstead Town Hall (1 Washington St., Hempstead), Echo Park (399 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead) and Levittown Hall (201 Levittown Parkway, Hicksville).
Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Receiver of Taxes Donald Clavin have also called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to authorize an extension of the Nov. 13 school property tax deadline; the governor has indicated that his office is receptive to the idea.

Cuomo Demands Accountability from Utilities

Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a stern warning to public utilities Saturday, saying the state will hold LIPA and others responsible if they were not adequately prepared for Hurricane Sandy.

At a massive food distribution event at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, Cuomo said power has been restored to 60 percent of the New York metropolitan area.
LIPA reported Saturday evening that 460,000 customers remained without power, down from more than 900,000 initially.

"I've warned the utility companies repeatedly they operate under a state charter, essentially," Cuomo said. "The utility companies are not happy with my warning and frankly, I don't care."

Click here to read more on Cuomo's warning.

DEC: Shellfishing Closed on Long Island

Shellfishing is still closed across Long Island, the state's Department of Environmental Conservation said.

The closure, which extends to practically all shellfishing waters in the region, is due to health concerns following coastal flooding and power outages from Hurricane Sandy, the DEC said. Extreme flooding, which can wash chemicals and other materials into bays, could pollute waters.

Shellfishing will be closed through Nov. 13.

Click here for a full list from the DEC on the bay closures.