Central Hudson Gas & Electric crews are continuing restoration efforts after Winter Storm Landon brought ice accretions that exceeded forecast models caused service interruptions, primarily in Ulster County. Nearly 400,000 outages are reported from Texas to Maine as a result of the storm. Locally, as of 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Central Hudson has restored power to approximately 6,100 homes and businesses. Nearly 50,550 are currently without power.

• Dutchess County:       620
• Greene County:           40
• Orange County:          3,320
• Ulster County:            46,400

Wintry weather is expected to exit the area this afternoon and restoration activities will continue into the night. Repair efforts will continue today and tonight, with most restorations taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

“This ice storm has caused significant damage in Ulster County and, as such, the majority of our field force of 680 line and tree workers that includes mutual aid from Indiana, Pennsylvania and Upstate New York, will be concentrated there,” said Ryan Hawthorne, Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations. “Once the weather system has passed, we expect that additional outages will diminish and working conditions for field crews will improve. We understand electrical service is critical this time of year and we’re working to get power and heating systems back online as safely and efficiently as possible. We’d also like to thank our municipal leaders and first responders for their assistance in these efforts.”

Central Hudson will distribute a limited amount of dry ice and bottled water on Friday at the Hudson Valley Mall on Route 9W in the Town of Ulster starting at 7 p.m. Customers should exercise extra caution in traveling this evening as road conditions will be hazardous. Additional dry ice will be available on Saturday, and distribution locations will be announced then. Alternatively, in the winter perishable foods can be preserved by being placed in coolers, and the cooler placed outdoors in a protected and secure location.

Weather forecasts call for falling temperatures, with frigid conditions expected overnight and on Saturday. Extreme cold poses an added risk to our most vulnerable customers. Central Hudson continues to partner with our local officials and first responders in order to ensure our elderly and infirm customers remain safe. Residents are reminded to check in on their neighbors as well. Also, as cold temperatures can pose a risk to plumbing, residents may wish to consider allowing faucets to drip and/or opening faucets.

Ulster County has also set up warming centers for those in need at the following locations:

Kingston

2nda Iglesia La Mision Church

80 Elmendorf Street, Kingston NY 12401

New Paltz

SUNY New Paltz Elting Gymnasium

1 Hawk Drive New Paltz, NY 12561

Customers are advised to keep safety in mind, particularly during power interruptions:

• 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.
• 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.

Customer should avoid cold weather hazards by:

• Exercising care when using space heaters by keeping them away from flammable materials such as paper or curtains, placing them out of areas of foot traffic, and shutting them off when not in use;
• Clearing ice that has the potential to fall, particularly near doorways and around utility meters, and keeping meters free of snow by lightly brushing them with a broom;
• Keeping chimneys and flues clear of ice, snow and other obstructions to prevent carbon monoxide from entering the home; and
• Exercise caution when outdoors or avoid spending time outside when possible.

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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Trees block tracks along the CSX line in Ulster County.

Hudson Valley Weather reports nearly .6" of radial ice accretion in areas of Ulster County. Ice formations can weigh down trees and limbs, causing them to fall onto powerlines.