UPDATED WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 9:03 P.M.
Families across Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Marble Hill and Van Cortlandt Village emerged from their homes on Wednesday, but many will return to darkness.
Based on information from ConEdison, the number of customers in those areas reporting electricity problems dropped from 5,100 Tuesday evening to 4,408 customers on Wednesday afternoon. The number of Bronxwide outages has dropped from 45,000 yesterday to 40,000 today, according to the Bronx Borough President’s office.
Still, according to Community Board 8, 4648 customers in Spuyten Duyvil, 490 in North and South Riverdale and 220 in Kingsbridge and Kingsbridge Heights are without power.
A ConEd spokesman told The Riverdale Press that mending above-ground lines, such as those in the Bronx, is “a long, arduous task” and that power should not be expected by those who have lost it in the area for “at least a week.”
Across the borough, 700 residents contacted the city to report downed trees, limbs, split trees and other related issues, according to the Bronx Borough President’s Office.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced partial subway service would resume before morning rush hour Thursday. Lack of electricity in downtown Manhattan will limit the No. 1 train stops between West 242nd and West 42nd streets. Bus and subway rides are free through Friday, Nov. 2.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced classes will be canceled through the end of the week, but that school staff, teachers and administrators should report to work on Friday.
Power outages at Manhattan College’s Draddy Gymnasium, Alumni Hall and East Hill Hall prompted the university to cancel classes for the remainder of the week.
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott is expected to provide more details about the 200 Department of Education buildings damaged during Sandy. Mr. Bloomberg anticipates schools and other DOE buildings will reopen on Monday.
The Northwest Bronx fared better than other parts of the city during Hurricane Sandy, which left about 30 dead citywide as of Wednesday.
However, dozens of trees knocked down power lines in Fieldston and North Riverdale, but parts of the Estate Area, Spuyten Duyvil and Kingsbridge Heights were also relatively hard hit.
