Sullivan County Manager David Fanslau issued the following statement: “A limited State of Emergency remains in effect through 12:01 AM Saturday to permit County officials to continue to coordinate efforts with the Public Works crews and utilities crews to open County and Town Roads. We will have a conference call with County and Town Highway officials at 4:00 PM this afternoon, and we had a call at 7:30 this morning for County and Town Highway officials.

Transportation to and from shelter facilities for showers and food would be available. Contact or report to one of the warming stations, and arrangements will be made. All information posted is available at 845-807-0800.

NYSEG and Orange & Rockland Utilities have staff at our Emergency Operations Center. Utilities trucks are being paired with Public Works crews to attend to opening the remaining County and Town Roads that have trees and wires down. The main issues remain that 22,000 locations remain without power throughout the County, County and Town Roads have hazardous conditions and those without power are in need of dry ice and bottled water.

NYSEG representatives anticipate the majority of power restoration will take place by midnight on Sunday. NYSEG crews are dispersed throughout Sullivan County repairing the major transmission lines and completing repairs to substations. NYSEG crews have also teamed up with town highway departments to complete the opening of roads for emergency vehicles. Once this phase of repair is completed, restoration to individual homes and business will follow thereafter.

The utilities companies should complete their assessment stage, which will be followed by restoring power to their substations, followed by restoring power to the distribution system that provides power to residents and businesses. The Sullivan county Legislature and Town officials remain engage and concerned with the conditions that need to be addressed as a result of Hurricane Sandy.