Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday, Sinn Fein councillor Joe O'Donnell said he was aware "an altercation had taken place in the area while the McCartney family were distributing leaflets".
Consolidated Edison Inc. officials said the utility serving the New York City area is first focusing on repairing feeders distributing power to the New York Stock Exchange and then restoring power to networks at the southern tip of Lower Manhattan.
As the government worked to repair dangerous structures, relief workers spent Wednesday looking for survivors and distributing supplies that were air-dropped into the stricken area.