Wednesday, October 31, 2012

UPDATES

From CompassRock. Residents who have their email in the system have received this, but for those who haven't:
RESIDENT NOTICE - OCTOBER 31 1PM


Due to the storm, the PCVST Management Office has been moved to mobile locations. For Resident Services, please come to Oval Café from 9am to 5pm. All calls to the Management Office have been forwarded to the following number: (888) 885-8490. In case of emergency, call 911.

Please note that we have mobilized teams and external contractors around the clock throughout the property and are working to secure supplies, equipment and labor to restore services and clean up efforts due to the storm.

We will continue to post updates in your lobbies.

KEY UPDATES & ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Gas Outages: We received reports of gas outages at the buildings below. Please be aware that more buildings may experience gas outages in the coming hours. We advise you to make all necessary preparations in advance.

Buildings reporting outages: 441, 511, 531, 541,601, 5,6,7,8 420, 440, 510, 530, 400, 410.
Probable impending outages: 3, 4, 315, 319, 321

Electricity: We do not yet have updates from Con Edison as to when power will be restored.

Hot Water/Heat: We do not yet have updates from Con Edison as to when steam will be restored in order to provide hot water and heat.

Water: We have generators onsite to support maintenance of domestic water. We cannot guarantee running water at all times, but are working to secure access to water to the best of our ability.

PLEASE DO NOT USE CANDLES IN COMMON AREAS OR STAIRWELLS. THIS IS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. Please also refrain from using candles in your apartment.

Key Access Cards to Buildings: If your building's access card readers do not work and the door remains locked, please report it to Resident Services at Oval Café (9am-5pm) or call (888) 885-8490.

Garbage Removal: Please keep waste in your apartment until we advise you otherwise. Due to the storm, garbage removal resources are limited.

Halloween Activities: Please refrain from Halloween activities and trick-or-treating. Due to the lack of light, these activities can be dangerous and disruptive.

Garages: Please note that garages 2, 3, 4 and 5 sustained significant damage due to flooding. We are working on having the water removed in order to enable towing access. We will update you as soon as possible regarding progress. Residents parked in garages 1 and 6 may access their cars, though there may be delays in removal of your car since many of the cars from the other garages were relocated to garages 1 and 6 prior to the storm.  

Rent Drop Box: The Rent Drop Box on Avenue C is no longer accessible. You can access rent drop boxes near Oval Studio and in Peter Cooper.

Neighbors: Please check in on your neighbors, especially the elderly.

Thank you again for your cooperation at this time. 

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From Councilman Dan Garodnick, via the TA:


Important Message from Council Member
Dan Garodnick On Post-Storm Recovery
Updated: 10/31/12, 9am  

Via the ST/PCV-TA:
(Please verbally share this information with your neighbors)

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Dear Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village Neighbors:

I know the last 24 hours have been tumultuous for our neighbors, and I hope that this email provides answers to some if the most pressing questions. I will continue to update you as I learn new information about utilities, property cleanup, and City services.

When will we have electricity back?

Best estimate, according to Con Ed, is this Friday at the absolute earliest. That is with crews working around the clock between now and then. A more likely scenario would be sometime over the weekend. None of this is set in stone, however, as these things frequently take more time than anticipated. Con Ed is officially saying "3-5 days."

What happened to knock out power (other than the obvious)?

The power outages in Manhattan occurred for two reasons. First, there were planned preemptive steps to de-energize certain zones in Lower Manhattan. Second, an explosion Monday night in the substation on East 13th Street caused all of the other power outages from 39th Street southward. This substation feeds 7 different distribution stations, which power more than 200,000 customers. Note: Many residents of the community (including me) saw a very bright flash or heard the sound of an explosion several minutes before the power went out completely-that was the incident at the substation on 13th Street.

When will steam be restored?

There is no timetable at this point. Not only is steam not being restored, but Con Ed continues to reduce steam service to a bare minimum at this point in order to protect the integrity of the steam system. Steam, as we experienced after the steam pipe explosion on 41st and Lexington in 2007, is a very delicate and dangerous power source, and it can only be restarted under the right conditions. It is worth remembering that after Hurricane Irene, it took 4-5 days for steam, and therefore hot water, to be fully restored in PCV-ST.

Should I wait it out in my apartment?

If you feel like have what you need, then it is perfectly fine to stay at home. Many PCV-ST residents have gone to visit relatives or friends in areas of the City with power. Other residents, particularly some senior citizens, have difficulty with the stairs and cannot leave. I strongly urge you to knock on your neighbors' doors and see if you can be helpful to them if you are going out. CompassRock has already visited those residents who have self-identified as having special needs, but this is by no means an all-inclusive group.

Without traffic lights, it is extremely dangerous to cross the streets- what can we do?

Without streetlights or crossing signals, it is very dangerous to cross the street. I have requested additional traffic safety officers at 14th, 20th, and 23rd Streets. Some of them are already present, and we will do our best to make sure that they are there for the duration of this power outage. Please exercise caution when crossing the street. And, if you see dangerous intersections without crossing agents, please call 311 (or use 311 online or text 311 at 311-692).

Where was the most significant damage?

As you know, the property sustained considerable flooding, and we lost a number of trees. The most significant damage was in the northeast corner of Peter Cooper Village, where residents of 510 and 530 E 23rd Street were greeted yesterday morning with downed trees just outside their front doors. Many basements were completely flooded, and management is actively working to pump out the water.

Even the PCV-ST Management Office was flooded and had to be evacuated. Note: They have set up offices offsite, and will be working to restore services as quickly as they can. Today, Wednesday 10/31, representatives from Resident Services will be in the Oval Café from 9AM-5PM. In addition, if you experience any problems, you can call 888-885-8490.

Calling 911 should only be used for life-threatening emergencies.

Will my electronic keycard continue to work while the power is out?

Likely yes. Battery backup for the keycard system is working in most buildings, unless there is a flooded basement. Residents of those buildings without keycard access have propped open doors or otherwise improvised to keep them open. CompassRock is aware of this issue and has contingency plans to keep the buildings safe. If keycard access is not working in your building, please report this to Resident Services (in Oval Café today from 9AM-5PM) or call (888) 885-8490.

What is the situation with the parking garages?

Garages 2, 3, 4 and 5 are still flooded. It will take a number of days to pump the water from those garages. Garages 1 and 6 are fully operational, though without lights.

Why does the water go out and come back on?

Generally, when the power is out, there is no way to pump water into the tanks for domestic use. However, as a result of having backup generators in place, water should be fully restored throughout the property. CompassRock is doing everything they can to keep those backup generators pumping water. This water continues to be safe to drink.

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And a quick update on other services:

The MTA resumed limited bus service yesterday and as of this morning all bus lines are fully operational, albeit with delays and some detours. It will take days, if not longer, until the subway is fully restored. Visit www.mta.info for updates.

Alternate side parking and parking meters will be suspended today (10/31).

Most bridges and tunnels are open. The Holland, Battery and Midtown tunnels remain closed.

City schools and libraries will be closed again today, Wednesday, 10/31.

Check back at www.garodnick.com for updates.



Stay safe,

Dan Garodnick


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