Public Housing Tenants Waiting for Services and Elevators to Return Updated August 28, 2011 1:41pm

By Jeff Mays and Julie Shapiro

DNAinfo Staff

HARLEM — Some elevators and other services at public housing buildings located in the evacuation zone remained shut off on Sunday, even as residents who had fled Hurricane Irene began to return home.

The New York City Housing Authority cut services at many of its buildings in Evacuation Zone A, including Isaacs Houses, as Hurricane Irene bore down on Manhattan Saturday afternoon.

But as skies cleared Sunday, the city did not have a timeline for restoring services to the NYCHA buildings, officials said.

"We don't know how serious the damage is and how long it will take to get the elevators back," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.

Bloomberg suggested NYCHA tenants not return until 6 p.m., and he urged those who do return to be careful as many of the buildings are still being repaired.

"We don't want somebody there trying to climb up a lot of stairs that may have a medical problem," Bloomberg said.

NYCHA workers told tenants Sunday that the elevators might not be back on until Monday.

Angelo Selar, 56, a resident of Isaacs Houses on East 93rd Street, said he had to trek down 24 flights of stairs Sunday just to get something to drink.

"A lot of people are starting to come back," Selas said. "I understand why they [shut down the elevators], but the storm seems like it's over."

Dre, another Isaacs Houses resident, who did not give his last name, had to walk up 22 flights of stairs to check on his apartment Sunday, after his girlfriend convinced him to evacuate the day before.

He said he wasn't looking forward to his vertical stroll but was happy NYCHA took precautions.

"This is better than them leaving it to chance," he said.

Tony Costa, 52, who works for Metro-North, had to carry supplies he uses for work up the stairs to the ninth floor.

"I got a long way to go but I can handle it," Costa said. "I feel bad for the seniors but they had to do what they had to do."

Not long after Costa climbed the stairs, Elizabeth Delgado, who uses a cane, returned home after evacuating her apartment the day before.

She shook her head at thought of climbing six stories, and then she began her slow ascent, one hand on the wall, the other on her cane.

She reached the first landing a few minutes later.

"I'll just take my time," she said.

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