Poughkeepsie - Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation has restored service to more than 40,000 customers whose electricity was interrupted by one of the largest storms to impact the Mid-Hudson Valley in decades. Approximately 90,000 service interruptions were caused by the storm, which was the first of two severe weather systems to strike within several days. The second large, powerful and unpredictable storm is expected to bring as much of two feet of additional snow and the potential for more power outages in some locations before it ends sometime on Friday.
As of Thursday morning, approximately 50,000 customers were without electric service throughout the eight counties served by Central Hudson, some whose service was interrupted by the first storm and others whose electricity was impacted by the storm system that began to move through on Thursday morning.
As of this morning, outages were clustered in the impacted counties as follows: Albany: 2,500; Columbia: 300; Dutchess: 15,000; Greene 9,000; Orange: 2,000; Putnam: 50; Sullivan: 200; and Ulster: 21,000. Crews will work around the clock but restoration may not be complete until the weekend in some locations
The Company has contracted with additional resources to deploy a field force of approximately 180 line and tree-trimming crews - double the normal level - in the aftermath and in the face of the extensive damage caused by the heavy, wet snow. In addition, hundreds of other utility employees are staging logistics, damage assessment and repair operations in an effort to restore service as soon as possible.
Nonetheless full power restoration will take several days due to the extensive damage, and customers without service should make alternate arrangements for shelter. Emergency shelters have been established at the i) Taghkanic Firehouse on Route 82, ii) Kerhonkson Fire Department on Main Street, iii) the Hurley Reformed Church in Hurley, iv) The Health and Wellness Center at SUNY New Paltz, and v) the Athens Fire Department. All customers should be prepared with adequate supplies of non-perishable food, water and medications on hand in the event their power is interrupted by the storm.
If power is lost, those customers with access to a computer or compatible cell phone should report their power condition via the utility's website,
www.CentralHudson.com, by using the StormCentral function. There, they can also access information regarding the extent of outages; once service restoration estimates become available, they will be found on the website.
Please note that due to the extensive and unfolding nature of the damage, projected restoration information may not be available for all locations via that system for several days. Customers may also contact the utility by calling (845) 452-2700 or 1 (800) 527-2714 to report a power outage, and they are encouraged to use the automated reporting system to do so. In some locations, localized telephone landline trunk limitations have caused some customers to receive automatic busy signals when dialing in, and they are asked to report via a computer if possible or try again at a later time.
Customers are also reminded to check on frail or elderly neighbors, relatives or friends - including any who may rely on electrically operated life-sustaining equipment - and encourage them to seek alternate shelter, as it may take several days before their power is restored.
All local residents are reminded to stay clear of downed or sagging wires - they could be lethal. As fallen wires may be hidden by trees or debris, extreme caution should be used when moving through an outage zone. If a power line falls on a vehicle, occupants should stay inside and wait for rescue crews. Customers should not heat their homes with an unvented heater, gas range or any similar appliance, as they can produce deadly carbon monoxide. Generators should be operated only in a vented, dry location; outdoor gas grills should never be used to heat indoors because they pose a fire hazard and can give off deadly carbon monoxide gas.
