LIPA power outage update - FOX 35 News Orlando

Some Long Island residents have been in the dark for nearly two weeks and they have expressed their anger, frustration and lack of communication with utility company National Grid and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). 

On Sunday, the utility company said its goal is to restore 99 percent of power in both Nassau and Suffolk counties by the end of the day in areas where it is safe to receive power. At the moment, thousands of customers are without electricity. 

There are more than 50,000 customers who can't safely connect because wiring and other equipment are flooded. LIPA says equipment must be repaired or inspected before those customers can regain power.  

The utility is authorizing hundreds of electricians to give back power to residents in the hope of restoring electricity back to homeowners quicker.            

"We certainly understand their frustration, but my appeal to those customers is once the crews arrive, stand back and let them get their work done," said LIPA COO Michael Hervey. 

LIPA says when they're done restoring the power it will look at improvements it needs to make in the future.