DPW: Sleepy Hollow's Damage Tally

"It could be better, but it's not bad," said a hoarse Richard Gross this morning after staying up all night to battle the storm surge phase of Sandy. 

Sleepy Hollow's DPW foreman said part of his crew's prep work leading up to the storm was clearing out their own gear from their headquarters right off the river. During last night's high tide the water came all way across River Street in Sleepy Hollow, measuring as high as the bench seat in the riverfront gazebo. (In Tarrytown, the water came all the way past the Tarrytown Train Station to the Franklin Courts apartments.)

Earlier Monday, Gross said his men moved their vehicles, equipment and generators to higher ground "scattered throughout the village." Then they were better able to deal with the problems at hand last night when their own building became inaccessible. 

By 10 a.m. Tuesday, Gross reports that most of the tree debris that fell all around the village has been cleared. 

There are several roads still closed from downed live wires:

• County House Road
• Sleepy Hollow Road
• New Broadway
• Fremont Road 

Route 9, Gross said, is clear all the way to the Tappan Zee Bridge, which has just been reopened. However going north, there are still some downed trees blocking the roadway in Ossining, he said. 

The Village's Water Pumping Station is running on emergency power, he said, adding that the water is safe to drink. "The water is fine," Gross said.

One oak tree went through a house on Bellwood and Hunter Avenue. Other than that major event, "little trees came down on cars here and there," Gross said. 

DPW crews helped evacuate Ichabod's Landing after 10 p.m. last night when the river waters reached their height. According to one resident there however, most people stayed behind and any damage was minimal on these multi-flight townhomes. 

(In Tarrytown, Hudson Harbor resident Jack Lagrassa also reported no damages there.) 

As far as other water damages in Sleepy Hollow, Gross figured some people had wet basements but nothing much worse. 

Along with residential power outages sweeping the villages, traffic lights are out in Sleepy Hollow, Gross said. 

"And that's about it."

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