Cards By Candlelight: Port Washington Copes With 7 Days, No Power

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — It's been six days since Tropical Storm Isaias battered Long Island and left over 400,000 homes and businesses in the dark. While utility giant PSEG Long Island initially estimated it would restore most areas by Thursday evening, the damage proved far worse than expected and tens of thousands still had no power over the weekend. On Monday morning, about 25,000 homes and businesses still couldn't turn on their lights or air conditioners even as temperatures reached the mid- to high-80s outside.

In Port Washington, many neighbors said Monday they were among those with no electricity. According to PSEG LI's outage map, at least 1,000 on the peninsula had no power Monday afternoon.

With no TV, Wi-Fi or air conditioning — in the middle of the summer and during the global coronavirus pandemic, no less — some residents found creative ways to pass the time and beat what one resident called "stifling" heat. Others were forced to vacate and temporarily shack up with family.

Kathleen Cook said she "walked miles to stay cool" during the blackout and even shed a couple pounds.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," she told Patch in a Facebook comment. "Got to make the best of what you do have."

How have you coped with the outage? Tell us in the comments!

Kristy Thornton Imperiale said she, too, was still in the dark Monday. PSEG LI's outage map indicated her neighborhood wouldn't see power restored until 2 a.m. Tuesday, though the utility's estimates have often changed multiple times in the last several days.

"We left and went to my in-laws in Manhasset," she told Patch in a Facebook comment. "This is ridiculous now and we have a toddler at home."

And at Forchin Perc's house, cards were the name of the game and food quickly disappeared from the refrigerator before it could spoil.

"My husband and I played cards by candlelight," she said. "Surprising because he never wanted to play cards with me before."

However, she hated not being able to take a hot shower.

This editor, too, was displaced by the storm and only saw power return Sunday night.

After seeing the lights flicker Tuesday and eventually go dark, the editor, his fiancée and their two pets narrowly avoided disaster, moving their car — and indeed, themselves — out of harm's way moments before a massive tree gave in to tropical storm force gusts, landing feet away from their sedan.

As told by this editor's fiancée, Jenn Mishler: "We had to leave our home to go to a hotel that had power and was pet friendly. We ended up in Chappaqua, NY!"

But Chappaqua, a Hudson Valley community perhaps known best for being home to Hillary and Bill Clinton, was not as isolated from the storm as they were led to believe, contrary to their initial inklings. The hotel lost Wi-Fi and TV during their three-day, and an air-conditioning unit succumbed to a series of power surges in the middle of their first night, forcing the two adults and two pets to abruptly change rooms.

"We then moved to my sister's home in Philadelphia suburbs to wait out power restoration," Mishler said. "Still not even sure that we will have power when we go home [Monday]."

Much like Perc above, this editor and his family found some respite through games. Instead of cards, they played a board game.

"We bought a game called 'Root' a while back, but it's best played with four people," this editor said. "The storm gave us a chance to try something new and share some laughs over a game of warring woodland critters with family during these extraordinary and difficult times. We needed it."

Here's a roundup of some other responses. We'll add more as they come in.

Liana Maraschiello: "Got power at 11:30 p.m. last night after not having it since Tuesday. Pretty much did nothing special but do a lot of driving around aimlessly."

Zhanna Janet Gorodetsky: "We were not out for that long thankfully, but my husband and I taught our 13 year how to play Texas Hold 'Em by candlelight and I have light up crochet hooks that helped me relax."