[h=3]By Joseph De Avila[/h]New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that the gasoline-distribution system bottleneck that has choked off fuel supplies throughout the region will start to ease today.
Some eight million gallons of fuel have already been delivered as of Saturday and another 28 million gallons will come into New York City over the next two days, he said.
“Fuel is on its way. You don’t have to panic,” Cuomo said. “Beginning today you will see an increase in the supply.”
The gasoline will be trucked in to gas stations that have electricity, and generators will be delivered to stations that have gasoline but no power. Mr. Cuomo said there will also be five mobile gas-distribution centers set up at armories in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island that will distribute a maximum of 10 gallons of gas per person, free of charge.
The fuel shortage began after the U.S. Coast Guard closed the New York Harbor in the aftermath of Sandy and fuel tankers were held in ports. The harbor is now open and gasoline can begin to be distributed, the governor said.
Another vital gasoline-distribution terminal, in Linden, N.J., now has electricity and will soon be operational. That will help provide additional fuel supplies.
Cuomo also praised the speedy work of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its chairman, Joseph Lhota, in bringing subway service back online. Only 16% of the city’s subways will still be offline as of Monday morning, he said.
“Eighty percent of subway service has been restored from what was horrendous damage,” he said. “Not only did they try hard but they actually got the job done.”
The governor also praised President Barack Obama, who granted the his administration’s request to allocate $65 million in additional food-stamp funding for nutritional assistance recipients whose food spoiled or was lost in the storm.
All power has been restored in Manhattan, and 60% of all homes and businesses in the city that lost electricity during the storm now have light again, Cuomo said on Saturday. However, there are still 900,000 customers in the New York City metro area and 550,000 customers in Long Island without power.
On Thursday, the governor threatened to revoke Consolidated Edison Inc.'s operating franchise license if it took too long to restore power. “The utility companies are not happy with my warning, but frankly I don’t care,” he said. “Customers are not happy.”
“They are going to be held accountable for their performance,” he added.
– Laura Nahmias contributed to this article.
Some eight million gallons of fuel have already been delivered as of Saturday and another 28 million gallons will come into New York City over the next two days, he said.
“Fuel is on its way. You don’t have to panic,” Cuomo said. “Beginning today you will see an increase in the supply.”
The gasoline will be trucked in to gas stations that have electricity, and generators will be delivered to stations that have gasoline but no power. Mr. Cuomo said there will also be five mobile gas-distribution centers set up at armories in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island that will distribute a maximum of 10 gallons of gas per person, free of charge.
The fuel shortage began after the U.S. Coast Guard closed the New York Harbor in the aftermath of Sandy and fuel tankers were held in ports. The harbor is now open and gasoline can begin to be distributed, the governor said.
Another vital gasoline-distribution terminal, in Linden, N.J., now has electricity and will soon be operational. That will help provide additional fuel supplies.
Cuomo also praised the speedy work of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its chairman, Joseph Lhota, in bringing subway service back online. Only 16% of the city’s subways will still be offline as of Monday morning, he said.
“Eighty percent of subway service has been restored from what was horrendous damage,” he said. “Not only did they try hard but they actually got the job done.”
The governor also praised President Barack Obama, who granted the his administration’s request to allocate $65 million in additional food-stamp funding for nutritional assistance recipients whose food spoiled or was lost in the storm.
All power has been restored in Manhattan, and 60% of all homes and businesses in the city that lost electricity during the storm now have light again, Cuomo said on Saturday. However, there are still 900,000 customers in the New York City metro area and 550,000 customers in Long Island without power.
On Thursday, the governor threatened to revoke Consolidated Edison Inc.'s operating franchise license if it took too long to restore power. “The utility companies are not happy with my warning, but frankly I don’t care,” he said. “Customers are not happy.”
“They are going to be held accountable for their performance,” he added.
– Laura Nahmias contributed to this article.