North Hempstead Offers Resources to Senior Citizens Without Power

Power may not be restored until as late as Friday, according to the Long Island Power Authority. That uncertainty poses a real problem for some senior citizens, especially those who are homebound, whether by choice or not.

For those seniors, the is urging seniors, caregivers and family to contact the Town through its 311 call center.

“We have our Department of Services for the Aging and Project Independence fully staffed with social workers to conduct a full assessment of their needs and then connect them with the appropriate agency,” said town spokesman Collin Nash.

That resource comes as a relief to Chris Muth, who lives in Dolphin Green in Port Washington, which he says has been without power since Sunday 8 p.m. when powerful wind gusts from Irene blew into the peninsula.

Muth has been staying in Brooklyn to ride out the storm and its aftermath. But his senior-citizen roommate has been sitting in the apartment, with a flashlight and a battery-operated radio for news updates, while the food in his refrigerator could perish.

“He’s staying put,” Muth said.

Though Muth plans to bring in fresh groceries, he said resources from the town help provide extra peace of mind.