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Mount Pleasant Hopes To Bounce Back Better After Storms

VALHALLA, N.Y. – Now that power has been restored and Mount Pleasant is getting back to normal after Hurricane Sandy, Town Supervisor Joan Maybury hopes to make improvements in the scenario of a similar storm's hitting the area.

Thirty-five homes in Mount Pleasant were damaged by fallen trees, such as this one in Thornwood.

Thirty-five homes in Mount Pleasant were damaged by fallen trees, such as this one in Thornwood.

Photo Credit: Robert Michelin

One area in particular is to improve communication with Consolidated Edison, which Maybury said was difficult at times.

"We had some real difficulty with getting information from Con Ed to share with our residents, to the point that we resorted to going out there and finding the cure to speak with them," Maybury said. "It's difficult because when people are without power, they want answers and they grow frustrated."

In some areas of Mount Pleasant, residents were without power for nearly two weeks. On Monday, Maybury said she will meet with county officials and other local officials on how to improve storm cleanup efforts, which would include finding the best way to work with Con Edison.

Maybury added that it was understandable why it took so long to restore power, given the circumstances of the damage.

"Con Ed had adequate crews here, especially to work on clearing the roads, which took them about a week, before they could begin to restore power," Maybury said. "We were just given little to no information."

Maybury said that in the past, the town has asked Con Edison about the possibility of burying power lines instead of using utility poles, which would eliminate the issue of trees knocking down wires. Maybury said Con Edison's reply was that it would be too expensive but that the possibility would remain as a solution in the future.

In total, 35 homes were damaged by fallen trees from the storms. Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency are in town this week going to local businesses and neighborhoods to give information about disaster assistance. The information flier for residents on how they can apply for assistance is available on the town's website.

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