For Immediate Release

November 2, 2011

SUPERVISOR ALEX GROMACK DENOUNCES ORANGE & ROCKLAND'S STORM RESPONSE AS TOTALLY DEPLORABLE

DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM O&R AND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

(New City, NY) - In the wake of Saturday’s snowstorm, Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack has heard his constituents’ outrage with Orange & Rockland. Saturday’s forecasted Northeaster storm left approximately 18,000 residents without power. As of Wednesday afternoon, 7,000 residents still remained in the dark and cold.

“O&R displayed its utter ineffectiveness in response to Hurricane Irene, and their incompetence is only further highlighted by their response to this recent storm,” said Supervisor Gromack. “After Irene, I met with O&R officials and demanded ways to improve their communication with our residents. Unfortunately, not only have their procedures not improved, but the lack of response to this recent storm is nothing short of outrageous. Clearly, an investigation by the New York State Public Service Commission is required.”

The Town of Clarkstown has received hundreds of calls and e-mails from angry residents who were unable to contact O&R or who did not receive helpful information when they did. Estimated restoration times were slow in coming, inaccurate and contradictory. There has been a distinct lack of presence by O&R repair crews in the Clarkstown community.

Under my leadership in working with Highway Superintendent Wayne Ballard and the Clarkstown Highway Department, we have deployed our crews around the clock to open roads and assist O&R with their job to restore power. We have also opened warming centers to provide a refuge for our residents without heat.

Despite the Supervisor’s numerous and continuous demands for additional crews to handle this disaster, finally, at his insistence, just today, the Supervisor was told that O&R deployed 70 crews in Clarkstown. “The fact that several days--Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday-- passed without a significant  presence of repair crews is simply not acceptable”, said Supervisor Gromack.  “Their righteous indignation in asking for a rate increase is simply adding insult to injury--we deserve a rebate, not an increase. Our residents deserve better, and the New York State Public Service Commission needs to hold O&R accountable and insure that the public is protected and receives the service they deserve and, in fact, pay for.”

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