Long Islanders settle in for a frozen weekend

<p>Long Islanders are dealing with dangerous cold after a blizzard that hammered the region with snow.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 5, 2018, 11:11 PM

Updated 2,450 days ago

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Long Islanders are dealing with dangerous cold after a blizzard that hammered the region with snow -- and it's especially dangerous for the homeless.
With temperatures in the single digits and a wind chill below zero, the conditions outside are potentially deadly.
Bobby Angel is among a number of homeless people seeking refuge inside the Hicksville LIRR station's waiting room. He says he's been homeless for two to three decades. He says the winter is difficult.
"When it goes down below 32, they leave it open," he said of the LIRR station. "But the other night, it was like 33, and they closed it."
Nassau County has a hotline for homeless people to call after warming centers close for the night: 1-866-WARM-BED.
As Angel seeks warmth where he can find it, many folks who do have homes are struggling to keep their heat on.
Technicians like the guys over at Dashing Dan's Plumbing and Heating are racking up the overtime as the deep freeze continues to blanket the Island. News 12's Rich Barrabi caught up with the crew as they worked to restore heat to an upstairs bedroom at a West Islip home.
"She had a frozen pipe going to a radiator," said Chris Pellati, of Dashing Dan's.
Losing heat in these frigid conditions can be dangerous, but fortunately the technicians were able to fix the problem at the home. The plumbers say they will still be hard at work when the temperature rises next week, and some homeowners could be in for an unwanted surprise.
"When things start to rise up again over 32 degrees, you're gonna start seeing more and more of those bursts," Pellati said. "Definitely keep your thermostats up high, keep the water circulating throughout your system."
Meanwhile, across the Island, many people left their homes Friday for the first time since the blizzard. News 12 talked to some of those Long Islanders while in West Islip. Tania Hyland was worried about her young daughters in this bitter cold. And Elena Petrone was wondering just how much colder it could get.
Temperatures will jump back up to 34 degrees Monday.