Community Corner
Residents Outraged at Five-Day Power Outage
Residents say five days without power is "enough already."
The darkness is not over yet for more than a thousand Plainview residents who still remain without power after five days.
As of 7 p.m. on Thursday, at least 1,108 Plainview customers are still affected by outages, according to the LIPA website.
"I kind of anticipated that we'd be without power for a little bit," said Scott Tutshen of Forest Drive. "But in all the years I've lived here, it's never been more than at least 24 hours without power. I don't think I've ever lived anywhere where it's been this long."
Like many other residents still left in the dark, Tutshen has had limited food sources over the last five days. He's been relying on local restaurants and fast food joints-- something he hasn't touched in years.
"It's pretty tough. The first couple of days, you manage. But then the stuff in the freezer and refrigerator goes, and you sweat because it's the end of the summer," he said. "You need power to work. It's become a big inconvenience. It's like enough already."
Grace Epstein on Audrey Avenue shared the same sentiment.
"We have had no power at all-- not even a flicker-- since Sunday. It's been five days," she said. "I don't care if LIPA tells me I won't have power until Christmas Eve. I just want to know a time frame."
Epstein has been showering at Syosset Lifetime Fitness. She said she survives off Taco Bell in order to keep costs down.
"I feel lost. It's been too long. We really feel like we're forgotten," she said. "All the other streets have power. We're the only one. I don't understand. It doesn't make sense."
But the five days without power hasn't been as bad for Joseph Molinelli. The Audrey Avenue resident said his house has gas heating, so he has warm water for showers and can cook at home.
"It's not totally awful," he said. "I've heard horror stories though."
Molinelli said his family has to go out and buy ice every day. They also can only cook efficiently with camping equipment and over a propane lantern.
"It's like camping in your own house," he said.
