More New Yorkers awoke Saturday to power being restored for the first time since Superstorm Sandy pummeled the region, but patience wore thin among those in the region who have been without power for most of the week.
According to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, power has been restored to about 60 per cent of the New York metropolitan area. About 900,000 are still without electricity, including about 550,000 on Long Island.
Hydro crews from across the U.S. and Canada are coming their aid, including six from Southern Ontario.
A convoy of 30 trucks with workers from Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Guelph, Halton and Orangeville left for New York early Saturday morning.
“I think right now we’re all expecting a little bit of chaos according to what we’ve seen on the news,” said John Lauryssen at Guelph Hydro. “A lot of broken poles, trees down, wires down. Just a lot of people in need there right now.”
“We get the opportunity to go help some people,” said Trevor Jones. “It makes it worthwhile and it’s kind of a special thing.”
The crews expect they’ll be in New York for about two weeks, working to restore power lines and clean up debris.
Aida Padilla, 75, was thrilled that the power at her large housing authority complex in New York City's Chelsea section had returned late Friday.
"Thank God," she said. "I screamed and I put the lights on. Everybody was screaming. It was better than New Year's."
But on Staten Island, there was grumbling that the borough was a lower priority to get its services restored.
"Its economics,” complained Anthony Como, who lives in the St. George section of Staten Island and still does not have electricity. “Manhattan gets everything, let's face it."
"We're not going to stop until we have every house and every home restored,” said Gov. Cuomo. “This was truly a crisis, but it requires patience."
NYU Langone Medical Center, one of two New York hospitals that had to evacuate patients at the height of the storm, said it would reopen Monday, although some doctors would see patients at alternate sites.
Seven backup generators at the hospital failed Monday night, forcing the evacuation of 300 patients.
At Bellevue Hospital Center, some 700 patients had to be evacuated after the power failed. An official there said the hospital could be out of commission at least two more weeks.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he would make public a list of when New Jersey utility companies intend to restore power to each community. Even if they end up working faster or slower, he said, residents will have a sense of when power will be restored so they can plan their lives a bit better.
Commuter rail operator NJ Transit said it would have more service restored in time for the workweek to start Monday, most of Atlantic City's casinos reopened, and many school districts decided to hold classes on Thursday and Friday.
About 80 per cent of New York City's subway service has been restored.
From storm-scarred New Jersey to parts of Connecticut, a widespread lack of gasoline was also adding to the frustration.
Gov. Cuomo said the Defense Department will set up emergency mobile gas stations at five locations around the New York City metropolitan area to distribute free fuel with a limit of 10 gallons (38 litres) per person. Cars and emergency service vehicles will be able to fill up directly from the 5,000-gallon (19,000-litre) trucks.
"Fuel is on the way," Cuomo said. "Do not panic. I know there is anxiety about fuel."
Gas rationing was to starting at noon Saturday in northern New Jersey, where drivers will be allowed to buy it only every other day.
In Washington, President Barack Obama visited the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for an update on superstorm recovery efforts and said "there's nothing more important than us getting this right."
"Obviously we've now seen that after the initial search and rescue, the recovery process is difficult and it's painful," Obama said. "But I'm confident that we will continue to make progress as long as state and local and federal officials stay focused."
Obama cited the need to restore power; pump out water, particularly from electric substations; ensure that basic needs are addressed; remove debris; and get federal resources in place to help transportation systems come back on line.
-- With files from The Associated Press
