Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation was honored by the American Red Cross of the Mid-Hudson Valley for the utility’s emergency response efforts at a ceremony in Poughkeepsie on May 9. The event, “An Evening with Your Local Red Cross,” highlighted Central Hudson’s critical role in restoring utility services and protecting the public in the aftermath of severe weather and other emergencies.
To view a video on how Central Hudson responds to emergencies, clickhere.
“Central Hudson’s emergency response efforts are critical to the restoration of electric and natural gas service following natural disasters and other urgent situations, such as fires and accidents,” said Kelly Formoso, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of the Mid-Hudson Valley, which serves nearly 600,000 people across Ulster, Dutchess, Greene and Columbia counties. “The utility’s exemplary restorations have earned it the prestigious Edison Electric Institute’s nationwide Emergency Response Recovery Award five times, including its response to severe March snowstorms in 2018.”
“Every one of our employees plays a role in emergency response, from restoring power to answering phone calls; from assessing damage to guarding downed wires; and from communicating status updates to delivering meals to field crews,” said Charles A. Freni, President and C.E.O. of Central Hudson, who accepted the award on behalf of the utility. “In order to increase their effectiveness, every team member is trained to complete a specific assignment.
“Key to our progress, however, is the partnership we have with the American Red Cross, county emergency management officials and local municipal and emergency responders,” he said. “When emergencies strike, our region comes together in a spirit of unity and purpose to protect local residents. We’re grateful not only for this recognition but also for the cooperation that gets the job done as safely and efficiently as possible -- no matter what the challenges we face.”
For more information on what to do and how to prepare for storms and other emergencies, visit www.CentralHudson.com, and click on “Storms & Outages.” To learn about the services offered by the American Red Cross of the Mid-Hudson Valley, click here.
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Central Hudson was honored by the American Red Cross of the Mid-Hudson Valley for the utility’s emergency response efforts at a ceremony in Poughkeepsie on May 9, 2019. Above left: The utility’s exemplary restorations have earned it the prestigious Edison Electric Institute’s nationwide Emergency Response Recovery Award five times, including its response to severe March snowstorms in 2018, pictured. Above-right: Central Hudson President and C.E.O. Charles A. Freni, center, accepts the award on behalf of Central Hudson from Kelly Formoso, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of the Mid-Hudson Valley, left, and City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison, right.
About Central Hudson:
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., is an energy delivery company headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York. The utility serves approximately 300,000 electric and 80,000 natural gas customers in eight counties of New York State’s Mid-Hudson River Valley, delivering natural gas and electricity in a 2,600-square-mile service territory that extends north from the suburbs of metropolitan New York City to the Capital District around Albany.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org.