Public Hearing on Long Island Power Authority's Response to Hurricane Irene

Dear Friends,

    I join members of our Long Island community in thanking the employees of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) for  their tireless efforts assisting in the restoration of power after Hurricane Irene.   I personally want to thank the LIPA repair crews for their dedication and long hours of hard work in the aftermath.  

    Local government officials and customers, however, have rightfully voiced complaints about LIPA’s communications to its customers and coordination of efforts.  I heard first-hand from my constituents and local government officials about many of the problems they faced and I believe we would all benefit from a review of the actions taken after the storm so that we can be better prepared for the next hurricane.  

    That is why I look forward to participating in the New York State Senate’s  Investigations and Government Operations Committee public hearing on LIPA’s storm response scheduled for September 22nd at 9:45 am at the Nassau County Legislative Office Building, 1550 Franklin Ave, Mineola. The hearing will look at the strategies and policies that govern LIPA’s storm preparation and restoration and examine the industry standards, best practices and post-event analysis of the utility.

    Moving forward, we will use this opportunity to learn critical lessons that will help guide us in making decisions for our future.  

    With best regards, I remain

                                               Very truly yours,
                    
                                               Owen H. Johnson
                                               Member of the Senate