ELMA, N.Y. — For nearly two days, residents in Elma say they have been in the dark. Until about 4 p.m. Thursday, power was restored.
2 On Your Side came across George Strebel walking the neighborhood. He's a resident without power for two days.
"The day of the wind storm, about a quarter to 6, the power went out. The neighborhood has been very dark. Those people who don’t have generators have been going to hotels at night, especially if they have children."
However, Strebel has a generator so he's not complaining too much.
2 On Your Side: "How helpful has your generator been?"
Strebel: "Oh, lifesaving. I feel sorry for all those people with no generator or any way of keeping warm."
Across the street is his neighbor, whose last name is Duszynski; she did not want to provide her first name.
"I have hot water, and I have taken a shower, but it’s in and out, so, I can’t do anything with my hair, which is why I’m wearing a hat," Duszynski said.
Duszynski is from the area and says she can hardly remember her power going out. Her current outage is shocking to her.
However, as she continues to bear the condition, she says throughout the day, she has to sit in her car to charge her phone and keep warm.
"I don’t like to light a lot of candles, so I’m back and forth, trying to get my phone charged in my car," Duszynski said.
Fortunately for Strebel and Duszynski, the power was restored mid-interview, making them happy campers again. According to NYSEG, a little under 2,000 residents are still without power, making a big significance from the initial 10,000. Numbers continue to drop throughout the day. Residents say NYSEG has sent push alerts for the last two days.
"They pretty much haven’t told us much of anything. They kind of warned us of it beforehand, but in preparations, nothing really. I do get the updates, but anything besides that, there’s nothing," Jolene Bosworth said.
Bosworth says she's using a small generator she has had. Her friend gave her another. She's using both generators currently.
"Mainly the sub pumps. That was the big thing I’m worried and also the freezer. We just purchased half a cow," Bosworth said.
More high winds are expected to return over the weekend. It's concerning for residents. They believe their power will go out again.