Hurricane Sandy

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tim Bishop said Tuesday that it makes little sense to simply restore Long Island's shoreline to its condition before superstorm Sandy -- instead of fortifying it for future storms.

Take Tiana Beach, badly eroded by the storm. There's a federal-state effort to add sand, the Southampton Democrat said, but not to fix it to withstand another storm like Sandy.

"To restore it to pre-storm condition continues to leave it very vulnerable to a breach," Bishop said. "Aren't we then, in effect, just throwing good money after bad?"

But that's what two federal laws now require, Bishop said, adding he will try to change them by attaching a measure to the White House funding request for Sandy...| read more ››

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Saturday he is bypassing LIPA's top managers and working directly with local substation coordinators to restore power to Suffolk County residents by Sunday night.

"We are taking matters into our own hands here," said Bellone at a 2 p.m. news conference in the parking lot at the LIPA / National Grid office in Brentwood.

He blasted the home inspection process LIPA implemented five days after the height of superstorm Sandy.

Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer also spoke about his efforts in negotiating with LIPA attorneys over restoring power to the homes south of Montauk Highway that were without serious structural damage.

Bellone also asked residents not to take their frustrations out on individual...| read more ››