By TG BRANFALT JR.
Staff Writer
Published August 30, 2011
Heavy rains and winds, the upstate effects of Hurricane Irene, downed branches, power lines and left many Pine Hills residents without power.
Most notably on Woodlawn Ave a huge tree was uprooted, taking a slab of sidewalk with it.
The tree fell at about 9 a.m Sunday, immediately knocking out power in the neighborhood. It bent a street light on its way down.
“I heard the crash, then I saw sprays of sparks. I knew when everything went black we had lost power,” said Al Lanese Jr., a Saint Rose graduate, who lives next door to where the tree fell, “a half hour later the transformer started shooting sparks and caught the branches on fire,” he said.
The fire department responded to the 911 call made by Lanese’s wife. The rain had extinguished the fire by the time they had arrived,
“We have a gas stove so we can cook, we have running water, but I don’t think that tree will be gone in two days, let alone [restored] power,” Levine said.
Power outages were also reported on Ontario St and Morris St.
Handwritten signs in the windows of the Fountain Restaurant and the Sake Café on New Scotland Ave. indicated they had closed due to power loss.
Wind speeds ranging from 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 55 mph were reported in Albany.
A flash flood warning had been issued for Albany County.
National Grid has set up both text message and Twitter updates for customers, according to their website, nationalgridus.com.
“I am one person that will be singing ‘Good Night Irene’ when this is over, I’ll be glad to see her go,” Lanese said.
Mayor Jennings announced that Albany High School gym at 700 Washington Ave., Sheridan Prep at 400 Sheridan Ave., Albany School of Humanities at 108 Whitehall Rd and Saint Theresa’s Church at 453 New Scotland Ave, would be reception sites for those experiencing flooding or without power.
