Storm Notes - Gas Shortage, Early Decision and Photos
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Is a gas crisis looming? Today many local stations ran out of gas and the line to buy gas at the Mobil station in Hartsdale extended all the way to Central Avenue! And this is at one of the highest priced stations around. In addition to fueling up the car, people are using gasoline to power home generators. Take a look at this photo of people filling up extra gas cans at the station to tide them over in case of rationing or to feed their generators. Scary times! (photo by Diana Glantz)
For high school seniors, Hurricane Sandy coincided with the due date for early decision college applications. And since many were without power, how could they complete their applications online? Here is a note about that issue from local college advisors, Collegistics:
College applications due November 1? No Internet?
How will the power outage affect early application deadlines to college? Many schools have offered extensions due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy. For an up-to-date listing of revised deadlines and other application-related information visit info@nacacnet.org or follow us on Twitter: @collegistics. If an extended deadline date is not specified, be sure to notify the school of your individual storm-related circumstances.
SAT Tests: The SAT will not be administered at Scarsdale High School this Saturday, November 3 due to ongoing power outages. The College Board has indicated that information regarding make-up dates will be emailed to students registered for the November 3 exam. Students who have a Waitlist Ticket for Saturday's test must re-register for a waitlist spot prior to the next test date, a Waitlist Ticket for the November 3 exam will not be honored. Please click here for further information.
Live Video: Tree falls on carThe Scarsdale Police department shared a frightening video of a tree falling on a car on the Post Road during the storm on October 29: - watch it here :
Storm Photos: Last, so many of you shared stunning photos of the aftermath of the Hurricane. Check out the photo gallery here:
Photos by Elisabeth Brew, Charlotte Carr, Michael Chayes and Sunny Feinstein
Official Count is In: 4,100 Without Power in Scarsdale
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As we all can see, the storm has decimated the Village's power lines. In fact, 4100, of the approximately 5,900 homes in Scarsdale are now without power. In addition, the State of Emergency is still in effect, prohibiting driving and even walking in Scarsdale. Here is an email from Deputy Village Manager Steve Pappalardo received Tuesday afternoon October 30th: The most damaging effects of the storm occurred yesterday in the Village starting at 5:00pm and continuing overnight as sustained winds were 40-50 mph gusting at 75-80 mph swept through Scarsdale. Village Police, Fire, Building and Engineering personnel are still assessing and documenting the damage caused by the storm. Roughly 150 locations were impacted by fallen trees, 70% of which involved downed power lines. These numbers will increase as field assessments continue.
Numerous roads are closed to traffic and all major north/south and east /west traffic corridors are effectively closed and
impassable. Village Public Works crews have been working to clear trees on main roads where power lines are not present in order to provide safe travel routes for emergency personnel. Tree removals where electric lines are present cannot occur until Con-Ed crews have de-energized the power to the lines. Residents are reminded that the Village-wide State of Emergency is still in effect, limiting all vehicular and pedestrian travel to emergency vehicles and personnel. For your own personal safety please stay in your homes and off the streets and sidewalks as there are live electric power lines laying across roadways throughout the Village. This increased traffic also hinders the ability of public works crews to efficiently perform their cleaning work.
Con Edison is reporting that electric power loss as a result of Hurricane Sandy is the largest in their history; roughly 4,100 Village of Scarsdale customers are currently without power as a result of the storm. It is too early for Con-Ed to provide a restoration timetable, however based on the regional impact and severity of the outages, restoration is expected to take longer than usual.
Residents can continue to call the Emergency Operations Center at 722-1150 or the Police Department business line at 722-1200 to report non-emergency storm related issues. Based on storm damage incurred last night, these lines are limited so if you receive a busy signal, please call again. Continue to dial 911 to report all emergencies.
In addition, sanitation collection services were suspended today and will remain so until Village roadways are sufficiently cleaned for sanitation crews to traverse their collection routes. We will provide further information in this regard as the clean-up work progresses.
Manos Makrikas sent in these two photos: One of a downed tree on the Post Road in Scarsdale that trapped a blue BMW.
The second photo was taken on Secor Road where a tree snapped an electricity pole and left a number of homes on without power.
Senator Schumer Visits Scarsdale to Support Amy Paulin
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Friends of Assemblywoman Amy Paulin gathered at the home of Philip and Cheryl Milstein on Sunday October 20 to support Paulin who is now running unopposed for her sixth term in the NYS Assembly. On hand for the elegant event were three generations of the Milsteins as well as many luminaries of the Democratic party. Senator Chuck Schumer and his wife Iris made an appearance and Schumer offered some thoughts on the upcoming presidential election and the national scene. During his amusing address to the intimate group his cell phone rang and it was none other than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid – but he had to wait for Schumer until the Senator finished
Congressman Eliot Engel was also on hand. Through redistricting Scarsdale has now been added to his district. When he learned of the decision, Engel said, "he died and went to heaven."
(Pictured at top: Congressman Eliiot Engel with Assemblywoman Paulin - photo Sarah Schuman)
Tales of Heroism
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Policemen, Firefighters and Ambulance Corp personnel were honored for outstanding service at the Public Safety Awards ceremony at the Crossway Firehouse on Friday morning October 12th. The stories that prompted these heroic acts were made public at the ceremony - some for the first time:
Participating in the ceremonies were Mayor Miriam Levitt Flisser, Police Chief John Brogan, Deacon Ted Gaskin, Village Manager Al Gatta, SVAC President David Raizen, Fire Chief Thomas Cain, Police Commissioner Jon Mark and Fire Commissioner Kay Eisenman. The national anthem was sung by SHS student Sophie Laruelle.
As there are so many wonderful stories, we will cover the police awards this week and follow with the Fire Department and Volunteer Ambulance Corps Awards in subsequent weeks. Here, in abbreviated format are the Police awards with descriptions of the incidents and the names of those who were recognized for saving the day:
SVAC’s David Raizen got a desperate call from a despondent woman who was threatening to harm herself on January 21, 2011. While reassuring her on the phone he was able to capture her phone number and relay it to Sergeant Peter Kelly who tracked it to an address in Mamaroneck. Raizen engaged her on the phone until emergency personnel could reach her. Raizen and Sergeant Peter Kelly were cited for their calm demeanor, quick thinking and compassion. Raizen was given the Civilian Public Service Award and Kelly, Command Recognition.
On the morning of March 17, 2011 a pregnant Taunton Road woman went into labor and feared that the baby would be born before she could reach the hospital.
Police Officers Johnson and LoGiudice along with SVAC crew members, Bianna Kun, Shari Feig, Lisa Kulak and Jay Reide were able to move the woman into the ambulance and deliver the baby en route to the hospital. Both mother and child arrived in good shape due to the expertise of the emergency team. For their efforts, Officers Johnson and LoGiudice were given Administrative Recognition and
Jay Reidel, Lisa Kulak, Shari Feig and Bianna Kun were given Civilian Public Service Awards and recognized by the Village Board.
A Walworth Avenue woman called police on the morning of May 7, 2011 to say that a man had entered her home. The resident confronted the intruder and he fled. Sergeant Siciliano and Officer Paul Zavadil searched the area, found the suspect and arrested him for criminal trespass. They were given Honorable Service Medals for rapid response, diligent follow up and dedication to duty.
In response to a report of an assault on a Bee Line Bus on the morning of June 13, 2011, Police Officer Armando Nava went to the corner of Post and Huntington Roads where the bus was stopped. He got a description of the suspect who had the fled the scene and broadcast it to all untis. Robert Lua of the Scarsdale Highway Department had seen the man flee and discard his T-shirt so that he would not be recognized. A new description was broadcast and Sergeant John Spagna and Police Officer David Rosa stopped the man on Fisher Avenue in White Plains. The suspect admitted that he was responsible and was arrested. For their work Spagna, Nava and Rosa were given Administrative Recognition and Lua received a Civilian Public Service Award and recognition from the Village Board.
After a serious hit and run accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway near Weaver Street on the morning of July 13, 2011 Westchester County Police put out a request for assistance to locate a man and woman who had fled the parkway on foot. Sergeant John Spagn and Police Office Boris Grgas found the woman and arrested her on Meadow Road in Scarsdale. The second suspect continued to flee and police pursued him with help from Harrison, Mamaroneck and New Rochelle Police. Ultimately Police Officer Armando Nava and Office Steven Delbene caught the man on Winged Foot Golf Course. All four officers were given honorable service medals for their rapid response, diligent follow up and dedication.
Detective Servando Rodriguez was given an Honorable Service Medal for his work in tracking down suspects and investigating what happened during a fight at 2:55 am on August 19, 2011. During the fight four young men were injured by a gang of seven men who met them at the Scarsdale Train Station. Wielding baseball bats, broomsticks and a tire iron they assaulted the victims and then fled. Armando interviewed victims and witnesses and obtained a surveillance video that helped him to identify all seven assailants. On September 21, 2011 all the suspects were arrested and charged.
Police Officer Arefieg was also given an Honorable Service Medal for work that lead to the arrest of a jewelry thief who stole two diamond rings from Sam Lehr Jewelry on Harwood Court. At 1:20 pm on October 22, 2011 Arefieg saw a man run down Scarsdale Avenue and jump into a parked car. The man took off his hat and threw it onto the passenger seat and sped away. Due to the man’s unusual behavior, Arfieg noted the license plate number of the car. Shortly after, the jeweler reported the ring theft and the description of the suspect matched the man Arfieg had seen. Police were able to track the license plate number and subsequently identified, arrested and charged the man with several jewelry thefts. Arefieg was cited for his dedication to duty, diligent follow up and professionalism.
The freak snowstorm on October 29, 2011 caused downed trees and wires, power outages and “widespread” destruction in Scarsdale. The Police were flooded with hundreds of calls in a very short period of time. To make matters worse, the Police and Fire Departments were still in the process of moving back into the newly renovated Public Safety Building after two and a half years in remote facilities. In the midst of the storm and the chaos, a woman travelling in a car on Post Road went into labor. Police and ambulance personnel, with the assistance of the Scarsdale Highway Department cleared the road in front of the woman’s car to allow her to be rushed to the hospital where the baby was safely delivered.
During the storm, Officers maintained a calm demeanor, properly prioritized their responses and conducted themselves in a professional manner. The following were awarded Command Recognition for their work during the storm:
- Captain Andrew Matturro
- Sergeant Joseph Dusavage
- Sergeant Peter Kelly
- Sergeant Boris Grgas
- Police Officer John Boggi
- Police Officer Ronnie Arefieg
- Police Officer David Rosa
- Police officer Steven Delbene
- Police Officer Robaire Johnson
- Police Officer Jessica Knatz
- Police Officer Craig Carroll
- Police Officer Eric LoGiudice
- Police Officer Anthony Gaudio
Congratulations to all! Look for more awards on Scarsdale10583 next week.
Photos by Sarah Schuman
Bus Accident Tests Scarsdale EMS Team's Skills
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A car driven by a texting teen crashes into a school bus filled with high school students returning from a game. Though it’s only 7:15 pm, it’s already dark – and cold -- and after the screech of brakes and the loud thud of the impact of the crash there is silence. In the back of the bus, jarred and disoriented, one of the teens reaches for his cell phone to call 911. Though he hears moans and cries from the others he does a quick self-assessment and decides he is okay. He looks out the window to try and see where they are – but the emergency operator can already trace his call back to his phone and tells him to hang on – help is on the way.
Minutes later a police car arrives. The officer jumps out and peers into the car that hit the door of the bus and is blocking the bus door. In the car he sees a young man draped over the steering wheel unmoving – and a passenger in the front covered in blood and glass. It appears that the young man’s head hit the windshield.
The officer quickly sends out a second emergency call for more help. Then an ambulance arrives – staffed by volunteers from Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the team quickly gets to work.
Fortunately there was no bus accident this week; the scenario was simulated as a large-scale training exercise on Wednesday night October 10th at the sanitation lot on Secor Road in Scarsdale. The simulation, which involved over 70 people, was the brainchild of SVAC’s President David Raizen as an educational drill for volunteers and professional emergency workers.
Raizen kept plans for the night under wraps so that volunteers could put their skills to the test in a real-life situation without preparation. Raizen even asked the professional paramedics who usually run emergencies to step aside and let the volunteers take the lead.
The event involved much planning. Students from the Fire Explorer’s Clubs of Scarsdale, Harrison and West Harrison were called in to pose as injured bus riders and arrived early to prepare. The 32 injured students were painted in blood and each assigned an injury demanding a specific treatments. The accident was set up in the lot and the young men in the car were immobile and bloodied.
But this wasn’t just kids stuff. Also on hand were EMS providers, 25 career and volunteer firefighters, four police officers, the Transportation Director of the Scarsdale Schools and a member of the Board of Education. Ambulance teams from Eastchester and Harrison also participated and personnel followed the protocols they use in actual accidents.
Teams went to work to extricate the injured from the car and the bus, mounting the victims on plastic backboards and lifting them one at a time into ambulances. The bus was crowded and cramped and maneuvering was difficult. It took over an hour to clear all the injured from the bus. There were cries of “help”, and “get a pulse” as EMT’s evaluated each student and stabilized them for the trip to the hospital. Since this was a drill, not an actual emergency, Raizen cautioned the participants not to rush as he did not want them to trip or get injured.
Traffic in the lot became a problem as fire trucks, ambulances and police cars sped to the scene. One could quickly see that in an actual emergency maintaining access between the accident and the road would be critical.
Raizen also assigned SVAC staffers to be observers and note what steps were missed and what could be done better in the future. For instance, the EMS workers failed to open the side door of the bus which would have provided a second door to extract the injured from the bus. The SVAC team will review their notes, recap their experience and use the event as a learning exercise.
For those of us who were in the lot observing, the scene appeared to be totally realistic and it was easy to forget that this was just a drill. Hopefully, an accident of this scale will never happen here – but if it does, our EMS staff will be prepared.
Photos by Sarah Schuman – who is a trained photographer and was also a trained SVAC volunteer.
