State of Emergencies being declared in advance of storm

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Snowy road conditions. Mid-Hudson News file photo.

POUGHKEEPSIE – The approaching Nor’easter that is forecast to bring as much as two feet of snow to parts of the Hudson Valley has led many governments to declare a “State of Emergency” for safety reasons.  Dutchess County Executive Bill O’Neil declared a State of Emergency for Dutchess County beginning at 8:00 p.m. Monday night.  Two Executive Orders were also signed by O’Neil Monday afternoon.  One order puts travel restrictions in place beginning at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday morning while the second order closes all Dutchess County offices on Tuesday, March 14, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The City of Newburgh has declared a Snow Emergency beginning at 6:00 p.m. Monday.  Officials have not announced when the associated restrictions on parking will be lifted.  Additional information can be found here.

The City of Kingston has declared a Snow Emergency that begins at 7:00 p.m. Monday evening, with parking restrictions beginning at 9:00 p.m. Monday night.  Additional information can be found here.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Dutchess County through Wednesday, March 15th, with snowfall expected to arrive Monday tonight, continuing throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. The NWS forecasts the heaviest snowfall between midnight and noon Tuesday, with 1-2 inches per hour expected.

Total accumulation for Dutchess County varies between 6 and 12 inches, according to NWS forecasts. Due to the heavy, wet snow expected in combination with wind gusts as high as 40 mph Tuesday into Wednesday, numerous power outages are anticipated due to downed trees and wires. Tuesday’s morning and evening commutes are expected to be impacted significantly.

Of the county’s response O’Neil said, “We are monitoring the situation carefully and emergency responders are prepared. We want everyone to be safe and avoid travel if possible. If you must travel, recognize that you’ll need to allow lots of extra time, as crews work to clear roadways.”

Dutchess County Emergency Response will activate the Emergency Operations Center at 8:00 p.m. this evening, and it will remain open for the duration of the storm with representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation, New York State Police, the County Sheriff’s Office, County departments of Behavioral & Community Health and Public Works, Central Hudson, NYSEG and Red Cross.

County Executive O’Neil will host a conference call with local mayors and supervisors on Tuesday afternoon to review storm conditions and coordinate resources as necessary.

  • Dutchess 9-1-1 Center and 9-8-8 HELPLINE remain fully staffed and prepared to address residents’ emergency and mental health needs.
  • Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is fully staffed through Wednesday, including activating its ATV and other specialty units to assist residents and emergency responders as needed.
  • Dutchess County Public Works highway crews have loaded trucks with materials, salt has been applied to County roadways, and crews will be out through the duration of the storm to clear roadways.
  • Dutchess County Public Transit (DCPT) has suspended all service for Tuesday, March 14th. For updates on service for Wednesday, March 15th, bus passengers can visit www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit or the DCPT mobile app.
  • Dutchess County Office for the Aging Senior Friendship Centers will be closed on Tuesday, March 14th and no Home Delivered Meals (HDM) deliveries will be made Tuesday, HDM recipients should use previously provided frozen or shelf-stable meals.
  • Dutchess County Government offices will be closed Tuesday, March 14th. Individuals who have DMV appointments in Poughkeepsie, Wappinger, Beacon or Millbrook will be rescheduled for the same appointment time and location on March 15th. For information on scheduled Road Tests, please go to www.dmv.ny.gov
  • Residents can stay up-to-date on the County’s storm response online at dutchessny.gov or on the County’s social media pages on Facebook or Twitter.

 




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