POUGHKEEPSIE – Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. is working to restore power to homes and businesses impacted by the snow and ice storm that moved into the area on Thursday. Nearly 400,000 outages are reported from Texas to Maine as a result of the storm. Locally, as of 8:30 a.m. on Friday, approximately 31,000 Central Hudson customers are without power with the majority of outages located in Ulster County:
- Dutchess County: 1,700
- Greene County: 21
- Orange County: 15
- Ulster County: 29,700
With sleet, freezing rain and wintry weather are expected to continue into the afternoon, the utility expects additional outages to occur during the day. Restoration activities are expected to extend into Saturday and possibly Sunday.
Winter Storm Landon began as rain throughout the Hudson Valley on Thursday but transitioned over to a wintry mix overnight. Ice accumulations in many areas caused tree limbs to break and fall onto powerlines. With freezing rain and snow in the forecast throughout much of Friday, Central Hudson expects restoration efforts for the most heavily impacted areas to extend into the weekend.
Residents are advised to exercise an abundance of caution around downed power lines by staying at least 30 feet away, and remember that downed lines can become entangled and hidden in fallen limbs. Residents should also remember to assume any downed power lines are live.
Weather forecasts call for falling temperatures today and tonight, with frigid conditions overnight and on Saturday.
Customers are advised to keep safety in mind, particularly during power interruptions:
- Never use kitchen stoves or outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors, as they pose a fire hazard and over time can give off carbon monoxide gas;
- Beware of fallen trees and limbs, and use caution when traveling;
- Avoid the use of candles for illumination due to fire hazards;
- Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions on the use of emergency generators, and be sure to shut off the main breaker when in use and operate the units outdoors;
- Operate cars and motor vehicles outdoors only, and never inside the garage; and
- Avoid travel along roadways as hazardous conditions may cause driving accidents, including those involving utility poles which may cause power interruptions.
- Visit hudsonvalleyweather.com for the latest forecast information.
