Strong wind gusts of up to 60 mph continue to bring trees and limbs down onto power lines, causing widespread electric service interruptions throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley. As of 1:30 p.m. today, nearly 490 damage locations are reported and more than 29,000 Central Hudson customers are without electric service, the majority of which are located in southeastern Dutchess County and Orange County.
More than 300 electric line and tree clearing personnel are working to repair power outages, together with hundreds of support staff to deliver needed supplies, assess damage, guard downed wires and provide additional services.
"Although power restorations are taking place throughout the day, new power outages are being reported as windy conditions continue. Once the winds subside, we expect that service restorations will likely take place over multiple days, depending on the extent of the storm damage," said Ryan Hawthorne, Assistant Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations at Central Hudson.
"For the safety of the public and utility personnel, we are following CDC guidelines," said Hawthorne. "Our electric line crews and support staff are practicing social distancing when addressing emergencies, and we will be staging crews to avoid clustering of personnel," he said. "In this current environment, we realize many residents are at home and dependent on electric service for common household uses and to stay connected. We remain committed to restoring power as quickly and safely as possible under these circumstances."
Central Hudson is attempting to secure assistance from outside the area, however severe weather conditions are impacting a large, widespread region of the country, and other utility companies are utilizing their own crews to address power interruptions within their respective areas. "We are using every means to secure additional resources as they become available," Hawthorne said.
AVOID ALL FALLEN WIRES:
• You can't tell if a power line is energized just by looking at it. Assume all fallen power lines are live and proceed with extreme caution.
• Do not drive over fallen wires. Always follow the utility personnel instructions regarding fallen power lines.
• If you see a fallen power line, stay at least 30 feet away from it and anything it contacts. The ground around a power line and any objects it contacts may be energized. Call 911 to report fallen wires.
• Do not attempt to move a fallen power line or anything else in contact with it using an object such as a broom or stick. Even non-conductive materials like wood or cloth can conduct electricity if even slightly wet.
CARBON MONOXIDE &
GENERATOR SAFETY:
• NEVER operate a generator in an enclosed space, including your basement or garage. Doing so can lead to a potentially lethal build-up of colorless, odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide.
• NEVER use your oven, a grill or any outdoor heating appliance indoors. Doing so creates potentially lethal fire and carbon monoxide hazards.
• Only have an experienced electrician connect a generator to your home. Improperly installed generators may overload circuits, cause a fire or shock hazard, and can result in serious injury or property damage. Improperly installed generators can also back-feed onto electric lines and endanger repair crews working to restore service.
• Plug appliances directly into the generator using a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is designed to handle the wattage of all the appliances being connected.
For more information check out https://www.cenhud.com/