Cuomo Deploys National Guard To Conduct Wellness Checks In HV

Because of continuing power outages and a worsening snow storm, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed the National Guard to conduct wellness checks in locations throughout Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Orange and Sullivan counties. They will also provide additional support to communities as needed.

The personnel, according to the governor’s office, will be comprised of six teams of four soldiers and two vehicles each.

Additionally, Cuomo issued a travel advisory in effect for all areas east of I-81, as well as a travel ban on tractor trailers on certain roads which began at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Tandem trailers and empty trailers are only banned on I-81 from the Pennsylvania line to the New York State Thruway.

“This is a dangerous storm, and we are continuing our efforts to place personnel, equipment and assets throughout the state to make sure we are ready and responding within a moment’s notice,” Cuomo said. “We have been in constant communication with local leaders and emergency managers and are listening to what their communities need and will continue these efforts until the job is done.”

He also urged anyone who doesn’t have to drive to avoid unnecessary travel, because snow is expected to fall at 2 inches per hour at times.

Regarding power restoration, Cuomo said electricity has been restored to more than 337,000 customers. However, more than 26,000 remain without power, 92 percent of whom are in Dutchess, Putnam, Sullivan and Westchester counties.

New York's utilities have a total of 4,910 in-house workers and contractors in New York working on restoration efforts. This includes 1,300 out-of-state line and tree workers from Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Louisiana, Vermont, Iowa, Wisconsin and Canada that will be dedicated to restoration efforts in the hardest hit areas in Hudson Valley.

Cuomo has ordered the National Guard to deploy an additional 200 service members, making the total number of troops on duty today 400.

State Police are adding extra patrols in affected areas for the duration of the storm, using 4x4 vehicles, snowmobiles and utility terrain vehicles, Cuomo said.

Metro-North service has been operating on a reduced weekday schedule Wednesday and at 8 p.m., hourly service will begin on all east of Hudson lines. The railroad recommends that customers defer non-essential travel and leave plenty of time and anticipate delays because of potentially hazardous conditions.

Photo credit: Tom Davis.