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“We’re in very good shape,” Grace said. “I’m very proud of our emergency management team and the plan that we put into place pre-storm. We stayed on that war plan and have executed on that war plan. As a result, our community, relative to most communities, is in very, very good shape.”
Slowly but surely, traffic lights are turning on, roads are being cleared, and businesses are re-opening throughout Yorktown. Grace, though, said town and utility crews are still working around the clock on cleaning up and restoring the power to residents who are still in the dark.
Nearly one-third of the town is still without power, Grace said, but all schools are up-and-running, all roads are open, and garbage pick-up crews returned to their normal routes Monday morning.
The state of emergency was lifted Sunday but police are still asking residents to travel with extreme caution because several traffic lights are still out. Larry Eidelman, Yorktown’s public safety officer, also asks that residents yield to utility crews who are working on the roads.
“They will be as visible as possible, but understand, in the dark, it’s difficult work for them,” Eidelman said. “Please give them the courtesy of driving slowly.”
Eidelman said the shelter at the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center remains open Monday and will determine, based off need, if it will be open throughout the night. More than 1,000 powerless residents have used the shelter.
“People have come through there for a variety of different reasons, whether to charge a battery on their laptop or their cell phone, to get a hot meal or a hot cup of coffee,” Eidelman said. “And over 100 of them have actually sheltered down for the night.”
Eidelman said he understands the frustration with gas and power outages, but asked for residents to be civil as they ride out the aftermath of the storm. The officer also encourages residents to give back to harder-hit towns through donations or volunteer work.
“Please be patient, be kind, help each other,” he said. “We will get through this together and we thank you so much for you cooperation and kindness.”
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