Sep 2, 2021
Central Hudson Works to Restore Power Following Ida’s Soaking Rain

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. has restored power to 75 percent of impacted customers after the remnants of Hurricane Ida brought torrential rains and wind gusts to the Mid-Hudson Valley on Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Approximately 18,500 homes and businesses were impacted by the severe weather. Crews worked through the night restoring power to customers; as of 9:30 a.m. on Thursday nearly 4,900 remained without service, with the majority located in Dutchess and Orange counties.

“Central Hudson crews are hard at work making repairs throughout the service area after yesterday’s soaking rains,” said Ryan Hawthorne Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations at Central Hudson. “We’re working to address nearly 110 individual damage locations and we anticipate restoration efforts to last more than 24 hours. We expect to have more than half of the currently impacted customers restored by end of day today, with the remainder restored by Friday mid-day.”

Central Hudson is actively seeking additional crews from neighboring utilities to further expedite repairs, Hawthorne said.

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.

Heavy flooding also has the potential to undermine natural gas lines. If you smell natural gas:

1) STOP what they are doing. Do not light or use a match. Do not turn lights on or off or use a flashlight, cell phone or telephone. Do not turn on any other appliance or electric/electronic device and do not flush or run water.

2) GO outside immediately.

3) LET US KNOW by calling our gas odor hotline at 1-800-942-8274, or call 911.

Basements, too, may have become flooded, and customers should be especially cautious before entering a flooded basement or crawlspace. Electrical panels or gas piping may become compromised and create indoor hazards. If in doubt, contact the local police, fire department or emergency responders.

Representatives will be monitoring and communicating with vulnerable customers registered as using any electrically operated medical equipment, and will perform field checks as necessary to ensure their help and safety

Central Hudson is in the process of upgrading its customer information system. If you experience any issues reporting an outage either online, or on the mobile app, please send a private message with your information to Central Hudson via Facebook or on Twitter, or call (845) 452-2700. Outage information and estimated restoration times can be viewed at https://stormcentral.cenhud.com/.

Hawthorne reminded residents to keep safety in mind, particularly during power interruptions:

  • Never use 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.

 

Customers can stay informed of storm and restoration conditions in the following ways:

  • By text messaging: Customers should enroll in Central Hudson’s Texting Program to use text messaging to report their power condition and to obtain repair status. To enroll, visit CentralHudson.com/Alerts or text REG to 236483;
  • On the Web: Visit CentralHudson.com/Storms to report outages and obtain restoration updates;
  • Via smart phones: A mobile version of the Central Hudson’s website can be accessed by web-enabled cell phones and mobile devices at https://mobile.CenHud.com. Updated free Central Hudson mobile applications are available for Android and Apple devices by logging onto www.cenhud.com/mobileapp;
  • Through social media: “Like” Central Hudson on Facebook (Facebook.com/CentralHudson) and “Follow” on Twitter (Twitter.com/CentralHudson); and
  • By phone: Call the Central Hudson PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714, and please use the automated system to report or monitor your power condition.
  • If a member of your household needs electricity to operate life sustaining equipment, please contact customer service at (845) 452-2700.

 

More information on preparing for storms and emergencies and communicating with Central Hudson is available at www.CentralHudson.com; for information regarding electric and natural gas safety, visit www.CentralHudson.com/Safety.

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