Running out of patience: Brooklyn residents still without heat after winter storm
According to Con Edison’s outage map and local officials, roughly 500 homes are still affected, including residents at 406 Monroe St., where crews spent Saturday blocking off the street to continue repairs.
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Nearly a week after a powerful winter storm swept through New York City, hundreds of Con Edison customers in Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant remain without heat, and many say they are running out of patience.
According to Con Edison’s outage map and local officials, roughly 348 customers are still affected, including residents at 406 Monroe St., where crews spent Saturday blocking off the street to continue repairs.
One family living there says they have been struggling to keep their 2-year-old warm since losing heat and power on Monday. While their electricity has since been restored, indoor temperatures remain frigid.
“My child is now sick from us being out in the cold — even with the space heaters plugged in,” said resident Ryan Hamilton, who has been without heat for six days. He said a Con Edison worker told him repairs could stretch into March, calling the situation “ridiculous.”
Local officials say they are trying to ease the burden. Council Member Chi Ossé announced that two warming buses have been deployed in his district for residents still without heat, after his office was unable to secure relocation for affected residents through the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
The city’s Office of Emergency Management has also opened a response center at P.S. 309 at 794 Monroe Street, offering food and water.
Ossé has also called on Con Edison to waive payments for January due to the frequent service interruptions he says his office has heard firsthand from constituents. Con Edison bills are also expected to increase this month because of a previously negotiated rate hike.
“We’ve had the power and heat out three times this month at least, and now we have to pay more for this service that keeps flying out,” Hamilton said.
Osse says the large-scale outage was the result of manhole fires damaging wires due to sleet and salt dripping down manholes.
News 12 has reached out to Con Edison for comment on the ongoing outage and is awaiting a response.
