Residents: Communication Lacking In Storm

Public Safety and Public Works officials told the City Council Monday they did their utmost to deal with Superstorm Sandy, but a stream of residents said the city must improve emergency communication.

With no power and or cell phone service after the storm hit, officials said, they distributed flyers and used vehicles with bullhorns to inform residents of emergency aid. Residents Tony Rucker and Jeanette Criscione said they didn't hear any bullhorns and the Rev. Jason Greer said, "Not enough information went out."

The administration is investigating possible use of a local AM radio frequency, the Nixle notification system, improvements to its own emergency management center and linking to the school district's parental notification program. Speakers also suggested use of social media where possible.

Council President Adrian Mapp and Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said they went door to door to aid residents, as did Councilwoman Vera Greaves. Mapp and Williams also posted information on their blogs and on Facebook.

Another concern was storm debris. A McKinley Place resident said piles of wood and brush on her street were a fire hazard. Public Works Director Eric Jackson said workers have removed nine and a half tons of storm debris and removal will likely continue through mid-December, but he would check her street.

Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig said the city has already begun to critique the storm response. One outcome was a very low crime rate during the power outage, "probably the lowest crime rate ever,"

City Administrator Eric Berry said the outage affected 18,000 households and illegal use of generators made many residents ill. Hellwig said the Fire Division averted a tragedy that could have left 20 people dead from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Community organizer Norman Johnson said local bodegas were selling outdated perishable foods while stores in a neighboring town were shut down until they could be reinspected. Director Al Restaino, whose department includes the Health Division, said the city currently has only one full-time health inspector. But each food establishment is responsible to meet standards, he said, and there are no specific criteria to inspect every single one.

"Not after a storm like this," he said.

--Bernice