Island Dispatch, 2006-10-20

              ISLAND Dispatch for Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 <f\7\ Niagara ffn PJ Frontier \Sa ij? Publications proud publishers of Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver www.wnypapers.com 773-7676 $1.00 V01.62 No. 31 October 20,2006 20 Pages Helping in the cleanup j page 9 Fire prevention lessons I page 14 Vikings frozen out j page 15 i Island copes with 'October surprise' by Karen Keefe and Ray Pauley Grand Island is powered up and back in business after weathering the devastating "October Surprise" storm that hit Western New York seven days ago and left nearly a half-million Buffalo area residents without electricity at the peak of the deadly weather system. But the town, which has spent as much as $150,000 to get back on track, has already hauled off 120 truckloads of debris from downed limbs and still has miles of collections to go before the job is done. Overtime for town employees stands at $53,000 through Tuesday morning. County assistance is on the way, federal funds are hoped for and volunteers are needed. In the difficult days since the storm, there were approximately a thousand 911 calls and just under 200 calls to fire headquarters on Grand Island. While those calls have tapered off, the true toll is not yet known. Residents are tallying losses and talking with insurance -adjusters, wondering what reimbursements they might expect. But Town Supervisor Peter Mc- Mahon said a definitive answer can't be given. "We are not certain if there will be assistance to individuals." Nor does he know what wffi be covered, if anything. The town, itself, is hoping to share in a pot of $5 million in federal funds for the storm-ravaged region. Volunteers Sought Meanwhile, McMahon said that volunteers are requested to help senior citizens who are unable to get their branches out to the street for cleanup. Any groups or individuals who are willing to help Grand Island Highway Department employees haul tree limbs into the chipper in the ongoing effort to clear debris from the Oct. 12-13 storm. The workers are David Carminati, Bill Stanley, Mark Dlugokinski and Jeff Korzen. (photo by Nathan Keefe) Above, a tree bent by the weight of heavy lake-effect snow is seen on Marilyn Drive, (photo by Fred Clausj Above right, Colleen Danneis of Riverdaie Drive waits outside her house while National Grid representatives check power lines after a small fire broke out in the corner of her house where the gas line comes in for her fireplace. There was minimal damage to the house, but she had to evacuate the premises for safety reasons, (photo by Karen Keefe) Price gouging a concern with business profits soaring by Joshua Maloni If nothing else, last week's snowstorm-inspired states of emergency led to opportunities. For local municipalities, it was an occasion to show the world how Western New York handles a widespread emergency. For homeowners, it was an opportunity to get reacquainted with winter weather, an unpopular inevitability. For grocery stores and hardware outlets, it was a chance to up sales - considerably - while helping residents remove debris and stay warm without electricity. At Tops on Grand Island, store manager Patty Bianco said weekend sales were up almost 200 percent over the October average. Without electricity, residents had to replace food in thenrefrigerators and buy batteries for flashlights. "It was crazy. We were up big time - we stiH are," Bianco said. In Niagara Falls, the Home Depot catered to Erie County residents seeking a means of powering their homes. Revenues were up 152 percent, spurred by the sale of "Generators, generators, generators," human resources manager Jim Bork said. Heather Fogarty, store manager of the Lowe's off of Niagara Falls Boulevard in Amherst - situated in the heart of the storm - reported a South end finally seeing the light by Karen Keefe The south end of Grand Island was among many areas that got clobbered when Mother Nature pruned and unplugged much of Western New York. It was about 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, when the "October Surprise" storm turned out the lights in the neighborhoods of Grandyle Village, Falconwood and Ferry Village. Out came the flashlights, the candles, and the odd kerosene lamp or lantern. With the onset of the storm, Revere Road resident Bob Gormady had a wild and woolly ride back from work in Amherst on Thursday night. A trip that should have taken less than a half hour was tripled in duration. He dodged downed limbs - peering through precipitation that should have been clear, not white. Once home, he was glad he had weatherproofed the windows; glad, also, that he had camping gear to press into service. 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