Park Slope Power Outage: Brooklyn Residents Face Crisis Amid Freezing Temperatures

Widespread Power Outages in Park Slope

• 💡 Around 100 customers in Park Slope, Brooklyn, were still without power 4 days after the initial outage.
• ❄️ The prolonged power loss occurred during freezing temperatures, exacerbating the crisis for residents.

Impact on Vulnerable Residents

• ♿ Monica Bartholomew Barry, 73, with arthritis, described the persistent cold and pain, even after her power was restored.
• 🍎 Residents faced significant food spoilage, with hundreds of dollars worth of groceries potentially lost.
• 🚿 Basic necessities like showering were impossible for some, forcing them to use kettles for water.

Health and Safety Concerns

• 🏥 Jonathan Medina shared that his mother, who relies on oxygen for COPD, was endangered by the outage.
• 🤕 He also sustained an injury after falling down the stairs due to the lack of lighting.
• 🌡️ Indoor temperatures dropped to 45°F, raising concerns about burst pipes and building infrastructure damage.

Cause and Utility Response

• ⚡ Con Edison attributed the outage to manhole fires on Saturday, triggered by melting snow mixing with road salt.
• 🔌 This mixture corroded underground wires, leading to the widespread electrical failures.
• ✉️ Council member Shahana Hanife sent a letter to Con Edison CEO demanding credits for residents and urging preventative measures.
• 📝 Con Edison advised residents to submit reimbursement claims for spoiled food and medicine within 30 days.