Residents of Long Island are still suffering from the effects of Superstorm Sandy. Loss of power continues to be an issue for thousands of people more than two weeks since the storm hit, and they have yet to hear from the source of their problems: the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), which failed to make basic preparations. LIPA is now the target of a class-action lawsuit and its chief operating officer is stepping down. CNN’s Deborah Feyerick has more on the story.
“People on Long Island are tired of the cold, the dark, and the run around from the power company out here—known as LIPA,” Feyerick reports.
She says CNN tried to get answers from LIPA's Chief Operating Officer, Michael Hervey, before receiving word of his resignation. A note on LIPA’s office doors read “the offices are temporarily closed. All employees are currently assisting with the storm effort.” LIPA informed Feyerick that Hervey was not available the rest of the day, and would not make any other officials available for an interview with CNN either.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is now calling for an investigation into LIPA. Governor Cuomo has said, “Many of these systems were failing to begin with.”
LIPA says they began replacing the system, Feyerick reports. The entire process is expected to take between 18 months to two years to complete.