Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald gives update on superstorm Sandy cleanup

CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald outlined the local recovery efforts, as various communities try to recover from superstorm Sandy.

He and other community leaders spoke Friday morning to reporters, giving several updates on power outages and restoration. FitzGerald said the goal is for all homes and businesses to have power restored by the evening of Monday, Nov. 5.

Here are some highlights from the news conference:

- 50,000 people in Cuyahoga County remain without electricity. The hardest hit cities still in the dark are Fairview Park, Rocky River, Parma and Lakewood.
- About 350 local homes are dealing with power issues.
- Lakewood Mayor Mike Summers noted 6,400 Lakewood homes are still without power, though that number is only half of what it started out as, thanks to the round-the-clock work of utility workers.

We have crews out and about, trying to gather more information on cleanup and outages:

9:49 p.m.: There are still more than 34,000 FirstEnergy customers without electricity in Cuyahoga County, including more than 10,000 in the city of Cleveland.

5:30 p.m.: Authorities say a 12-year-old Cleveland girl remains in critical condition after she touched a power line brought down by Sandy earlier this week. A doctor at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital said the girl was found unresponsive Thursday afternoon but was resuscitated. FirstEnergy is investigating.

5:20 p.m.: FirstEnergy says 60,599 people in northern Ohio are still without power. Of that number, 50,803 are in Cuyahoga County.

3:50 p.m.: Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson asks families not to trick-or-treat "in the interest of safety." Instead, the mayor is encouraging families with children 12 and under to attend Big City Boo celebrations held at city recreation centers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.

"This decision comes out of an abundance of caution to help keep our residents and children safe from harm as we work to resolve the fallout from Hurricane Sandy," said Mayor Jackson in a news release. "We will continue to work to identify and mitigate risks from power lines and restore power to our residents."

This, after a local 12-year-old remains at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital after touching a downed power line Thursday.

3:45 p.m.: Red Cross says they have given out 1,600 meals and helped more than 700 people at various warming centers and shelters across the Cleveland area, including Lakewood.

2:30 p.m.: Click the following link for times provided by CEI on when power is expected to be restored in specific cities. FirstEnergy focuses on areas with highest impact: http:// 5.wew.com / eX8rB.

1:30 p.m.: The Reception Center opened by the Red Cross Thursday in the Village of Fairport Harbor has been closed and relocated to the Manry Activities Center, 30100 Arnold Dr. Volunteers are giving out free hot drinks and snacks. Those without power in the area can come to get warm and recharge cellphones and other electronics. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but will not provide overnight accommodations. If you need a free ride, call LAKETRAN at 440-354-6100.

1 p.m.: A couple from Strongsville, both 73, have been without power since Monday, Oct. 29. NewsChannel5's Bob Jones reports the couple may not get power back until Monday, Nov. 5.

12:30 p.m.: Shaker Heights Mayor Earl Leiken says power has been restored to 89 percent of residents who lost power. You can notify Karin Rosegger in the mayor's office at 216-491-1410 if your power is still out. Shaker Heights residents can get updated info here: shakeronline.com.

11:10 a.m.: Director of Housing says apartment building in Lakewood dropped under 40 degrees and the Garfield School warming shelter expects to see an additional 20-36 more people arriving to shower and sleep. Garfield School will be open through Monday, Nov. 5.

11 a.m.: NewsChannel5's Paul Kiska said two dozen people stayed in the warming center at Garfield School in Lakewood as the community works to restore power to residents.

To see the latest FirstEnergy outage map, click the following link: http://5.wews.com/eYFdD