Feb 3, 2022
Icy Conditions and Heavy, Wet Snow May Cause Service Interruptions

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. is advising customers to prepare for heavy, wet snow and freezing rain on Thursday night and throughout the day Friday. These conditions have the potential to create hazardous conditions and cause service interruptions throughout the service area.

“We are keeping a close eye on the incoming storm and how it may impact our customers,” said Ryan Hawthorne, Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations. “We are preparing for the possibility of electric service interruptions and have called in mutual assistance crews from Indiana who are expected to arrive tomorrow. We expect to have a field force of more than 380 line and tree workers ready to respond safely and efficiently if outages do occur.”

Forecasts are calling for a wintry mix as Thursday’s rain transitions to frozen precipitation overnight and through Friday morning. More heavy, wet snow is expected in the northern portions of the Mid-Hudson Valley while freezing rain could create greater amounts of ice accretion in central and southern portions of the region. The storm track is still uncertain, but models suggest significant icing is possible in some areas which could weigh down trees and limbs causing them to fall onto power lines resulting in electric service interruptions. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing following the storm which could keep ice accumulations on tree limbs for extended periods of time, causing additional damage and travel hazards. For the latest forecast visit Central Hudson’s weather partner at www.hudsonvalleyweather.com.

Hawthorne advised residents to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines and remember that lines may be entangled and hidden in fallen trees and limbs. Residents should also assume all downed lines are live.

Customers can prepare for the storm and potential electric service interruptions by:

  • Paying attention to weather advisories, storm outage updates and/or shelter information. Visit hudsonvalleyweather.com for the latest forecast information.
  • Charging electronic devices in order to connect with Storm Central, Central Hudson’s outage information and reporting site;
  • Keeping handy a flashlight and fresh batteries;
  • Having a battery-powered radio to remain informed of restoration efforts;
  • Confirming adequate packaged or canned foods that require no refrigeration or cooking;
  • Avoiding opening a refrigerator unnecessarily during outages, so that food lasts longer, an unopened refrigerator can keep food fresh for 4 hours;
  • Having a non-electric can opener;
  • Keeping an emergency supply of bottled water on hand for drinking and washing; and
  • Filling bathtubs with water as added reserves; and
  • If a member of your household needs electricity to operate life sustaining equipment, please contact customer service at (845) 452-2700.

Residents are advised 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.

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. Free Central Hudson mobile applications for Android and Apple and are also available by logging onto www.cenhud.com/mobileapp;
  • Through social media: "Like" Central Hudson on Facebook (Facebook.com/CentralHudson) and "Follow" on Twitter (www.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.

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.