A destructive rain and wind storm that battered the Northeast over the weekend left thousands without electricity and hundreds in emergency shelters—some for the fourth-consecutive day—as floods lived on Tuesday in many communities. Consolidated Edison Inc. said that it could be three more days before 59,000 customers without power since the latest storm get service restored. The utility called it one of "the most destructive rain and wind storms to hit the New York area in memory." The recent melting of snow which accumulated in February hastened flooding and the downing of trees. More than 173,000 Con Ed customers lost power, some 55% more than 1985's Hurricane Gloria, which clipped the New York City area. Nearly all of those still without power are in Westchester County, just north of the city. Con Ed said some customers may not get power back until Friday. The New York City borough of Staten Island, next in amount of powerless Con Ed customers at about 5,200, should have full service restored by Thursday night.[Read more...]