Politics & Government

Residents Report of Unplowed Roads, No Electric Around Port Jefferson

Readers tell us where the trouble spots are in the region.

It's day two after a blizzard shrouded Port Jefferson in more than two feet of snow, and one question continues ring out from frustrated locals: Where are the plows?

Officials in Brookhaven have said the volume of snow, and the many abandoned cars on the major roadways, has slowed down plowing efforts. The Town put up an online form where residents can add their streets to a list of the many still unplowed. On Sunday, Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld questioned whether there was a clear plan or proper preparation ahead of time.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said 529 pieces of equipment are being sent to the region to help with snow removal.

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Port Jefferson Mayor Margot Garant has been in constant contact with residents through messages sent to Patch. On Saturday she told village residents to stay home so crews can plow. On Sunday morning she updated the community on the village’s progress.

“Village crews worked throughout the night and have minimally opened up each road in the village so they are passable,” she said. “They continue to work with emergency and power outage streets as the priority.”

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Read Mayor Garant’s entore message to residents from Sunday morning.

Despite efforts by the Town and Village, many residents reported that they have yet to see plows, meaning that those without electricity haven’t been restored despite being out since the storm began on Friday.

National Grid said on Saturday that i and it is working with municipalities to get access.

Update: Garant said that the village is coordinating with the power company to get people hooked back up again. "We have a crew working hand in hand with LIPA," she said.

Private communities have experienced trouble getting snow removal companies contracted by homeowner's associations to clear their roads as well.

Temperatures have dipped down to 48 degrees inside some homes in Fairfield Landmark off Dark Hollow Road, which has also remained unplowed.

Marcelo Litovsky, who lives on Pinnacle Drive, sent Patch pictures when he trekked out of his home through village back roads.

“We have no power or heat at Pinnacle Drive,” he reported. “The complex has not being plowed at all, so all the cars are stuck. Even if you could get your car out of the complex, Dark Hallow Road is completely blocked going north. I do not know what it looks like going south.”

Litovsky walked north on Dark Hallow Rd, then headed west on Old Post Road and north on Brook Road. He said that a house he owns on Brook Road has power, but the only way his family can get there is by hiking, about a three-quarter of a mile trek.

“I took the trip by myself to charge batteries and reach out to our families,” he said. “I hope the plows get to work soon and power is restored. I don't think we will be able to stay at Pinnacle Drive beyond tonight.”

A tree came down on Dark Hollow Road and took power lines down with it, according to Litovsky, calling the road “a big mess.”

“I though LIPA was going around after Sandy and clearing any trees that could potentially cut wires,” he said in an email to Patch. “They did not do a very good job on Dark Hallow Road.”

Inside his home, it was 48 degrees inside when he woke up on Sunday morning, almost 10 degrees colder than on Saturday.

“We kept the shades open to let the sun warm up the place during the day,” he said. “This could keep the temperature above 45 degrees overnight. I am concerned about older residents that might not be as tolerant to this temperature. Someone has to do something about this.”

Many other residents echoed Litovsky’s concerns.

“I live in a development off of Canal Road in a court (off of Griffin Drive),” a resident near Coram emailed Patch. “It is presently Sunday morning and we still have not seen a plow. The court is totally impassable, and we are literally locked in our homes. We are wondering how we will get out in case of an emergency.”

In an email to Patch one commuter said that his car is still in the Port Jefferson Long Island Railroad parking lot.

"My car has been stuck. I hope the railroad is working so I can get to work," the reader said. "The NYC Department of Education will not like that I cannot get to work. The principal does not care why."

Another resident reported that the Highlands complex in the village is snowbound.

“It was impassible last night and all of us living in the Highlands are virtually stuck in our complex,” the resident emailed Patch on Sunday. “The whole complex is trapped if we can't drive on Highlands Boulevard.”

Update: Garant reported to Patch that crews went out to Highlands Boulevard and it is passable.

At Patch, we'd like you to help us create a list of what's plowed and not plowed so far. Just add a comment below with the name of your street and whether it is plowed or not. Send this link to people you know so we can create a comprehensive list.


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