Westchester And Rockland Counties Still Cleaning Up After Irene
MOUNT KISCO, NY (CBSNewYork/AP) - Days after Hurricane Irene made her way north, things in New York City's northern suburbs are still not back to normal.
WCBS 880's John Metaxas In Westchester County
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"I don't have any power since Saturday," Mount Kisco resident Eleanor Barbeck said.
Barbeck was at Starbucks for her morning coffee Tuesday because her stove isn't working. She said she didn't much care for the the instant coffee she experimentally heated over her barbecue the day before.
Rick Fisherman, who said he got power back Monday night, was a bit luckier.
"I was laying in bed saying 'Oh my God, another night where I have to go to bed early' and all of the sudden, I heard the answering machine click on and I put on the TV and I said, 'Oh, thank God.'," he told WCBS 880 reporter John Metaxas.
Health officials said Westchester residents should avoid contact with the Hudson River because of sewage spill from Tropical Storm Irene.
The county Health Department said rains from Irene had overwhelmed the North Yonkers Pump Station and dislodged a manhole cover. That caused an undetermined amount of sewage to spill into the Hudson.
In the wake of the storm, some communities are now experiencing a gasoline shortage, including the Sunoco station on Main Street in New Rochelle.
Retailers said demand spiked as the storm approached and people filled up their tanks. Now delivery trucks are trying to replenishing the supply. It may take weeks to clean up and repair the damage in Westchester County. Work crews are also clearing away enormous trees that fell during the storm.
Residents in low-lying areas are going through their belongings, throwing out ruined furniture and equipment. One building owner lost $20,000 in property.
"Two boilers, two hot water heaters, rooms, sheet rock, electric" said Vinnie Caldarola.
WCBS 880's Peter Haskell In Rockland County
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In West Nyack, an army of Cub Scouts from Pack 49 and Troop 55 is helping Mike Bruin sweep the muck out of his garage.
"It's been tough the last few days. You know, taking off from work, having to deal with this. Been real tough," Bruin told WCBS 880 reporter Peter Haskell.
He lives along Lake Louise and tried to prepare with sandbags, but the water came in, going up to what he estimates was six feet.
For now, Bruin is piling up the debris that used to tell the story of his life.
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