Central Hudson Storm Restoration Update
Two consecutive storms that have dumped heavy, wet snow throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley since Tuesday evening have interrupted electric service for an estimated total of 100,000 Central Hudson customers, with an expectation that more outages will occur overnight as a result of weather that is forecast to include more snow and high winds. The “one-two punch” of the storms is now poised to create the largest storm-related outage event in the utility’s history, surpassing the previous record of the April 1997 Snowbud storm that knocked out electricity for 100,000 customers. (The 2003 Northeast Blackout interrupted service to 100,000 Central Hudson customers and the November 1965 Blackout impacted 148,000; both of these blackouts were caused by system failures outside of Central Hudson’s service territory and were not related to weather.)
Approximately 90,000 service interruptions were caused by the first storm that began on Tuesday evening; the second storm front has caused at least 10,000 additional outages with more snow and potential problems forecast through Friday. The storms have thus far created the need for approximately 2,000 individual repairs, a process that will take several more days to complete and which is largely dependent upon the weather that occurs during the next 24 hours.
In response, Central Hudson has staged a massive eight-county field restoration effort with 225 line and repair personnel; 135 tree trimmers; and 65 damage assessment patrollers. Hundreds of additional employees are in the field delivering fuel, meals and supplies to the crews as they work to restore service to the largest amount of customers in the shortest amount of time.
As of Thursday afternoon, approximately 40,000 customers were without electric service throughout the counties served by Central Hudson, representing damage caused by both storms. At that time, outages were clustered in the impacted counties as follows: Albany: 1,500; Columbia: 400; Dutchess: 7,000; Greene: 7,600; Orange: 1,700; Sullivan: 400; and Ulster: 21,200.
Crews will work around the clock but restoration will not be complete until the weekend in some locations due to the evolving and widespread nature of the damage. Customers without service should make alternate arrangements for shelter. Emergency shelters have been established at eight locations, and Central Hudson has scheduled the distribution of dry ice and bottled water; details are available on the StormCentral section of the Central Hudson website at www.CentralHudson.com.
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 via telephone 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.
For updates, safety tips and more information on how to prepare for storms, visit www.CentralHudson.com.
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