Yorktown Expresses Gratitude for Help During Hurricane
Like most municipalities, Yorktown had its share of problems with power outages, downed trees and wires and closed roadways following the wallop delivered by Hurricane Sandy.
Town officials also expressed frustration at times with the response of Con Edison and New York State Electric and Gas. However, last week, Supervisor Michael Grace and the town board appeared willing to put all that behind them and, instead, publicly thank everyone who pitched in to help others and restore a sense of normalcy to the community.
“The Town of Yorktown performed incredibly well,” Grace said in the Town Hall meeting room, which served as the town’s Emergency Command Center for days after Sandy did its damage. “What was significant about this event was seeing what we’re made of. You guys have proven what a great town Yorktown is.”
The board handed out armfuls of certifications of appreciation to many individuals and entities, including the utility companies. Accepting for Con Edison was Mark Drexel, a former Yorktown Board of Education trustee who worked side by side with town officials in the Emergency Command Center.
“They had a very unenviable task because of the amount of damage,” Grace said of the utility companies. “There was a lot of heated moments, and there’s a lot that they can do better. We felt we were very lucky. When we would hear what was going on in other communities we were aghast.”
Yorktown’s Highway Department also received a lot of praise from Grace and the board for their efforts after the storm, starting with Highway Superintendent Eric DiBartolo.
“There’s nobody that I would rather have on my side in battle,” Grace said of DiBartolo.
DiBartolo returned the pleasantries, saying “There’s never been a supervisor in my 18 years with the town who has stepped up to the plate like Supervisor Grace. It’s something that you do and something that you love. You’re only as good as the team and the people around you.”
Members of the town’s recently established Community Emergency Response Team were recognized by Police Chief Daniel McMahon and Police Officer Larry Eidelman, while staff at the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center were mentioned for assisting more than 1,000 residents who utilized the emergency shelter that was set up.
Overall, Grace said 77 town employees took an active role in offering a helping hand wherever needed.
One observer who was not impressed with the town’s Emergency Command Center was former Supervisor Susan Siegel, who questioned using Town Hall for that function when the Police Department was always used in the past. She also criticized Grace’s plans to establish a permanent center in the basement of the court building.
“Decisions on how to allocate and utilize town facilities, as well as the expenditure of town funds, should be made by the town board, not the supervisor or a single department head,” Siegel maintained.
In addition, Siegel said Yorktown was remiss in not renewing the contract for the emergency notification system it launched in 2011 with a $20,000 grant from Entergy.
“Being able to communicate with residents during emergencies is critical,” she said. “During Sandy, many people never heard from the town.”
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
