Hudson Valley High Wind Warning, Power Outages Predicted

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — An extended period of dangerously high winds is expected to hit the Hudson Valley Sunday night and extend until 6 p.m. Monday. Utility companies are preparing for outages and issuing tips for their customers.

The National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning Sunday morning for Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties. High winds are also expected to affect the mid-Hudson. Poughkeepsie, for example, could struggle under 40mph gusts for all of 24 hours, according to Hudson Valley Weather.

The lower valley warning:

• WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.
• TIMING...Late this evening through Monday afternoon.
• IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Scattered power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

"We want to be optimistic that we won’t see too many power outages, but this kind of wind event is not too common for the Hudson Valley," said Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather. "We can see wind gusts in this range from time to time, but not usually for such an extended period of time. So the chances are, that parts of the valley take quite a battering from the winds."

Utility officials' concerns are two-fold. Strong winds could knock trees into overhead power lines. Also, rain could wash residual road salt into manholes, possibly causing outages.

Con Edison reports it has secured extra crews to respond to any outages or other service problems.

O&R company and contractor overhead line crews and tree removal crews are also ramping up for a high-volume outage response to the storm, as are damage assessment, site safety, customer service operations, etc. In addition to its company crews, O&R has hired 50 additional overhead line technicians to supplement its own field forces to repair damage and restore service interruptions that could result from the high winds.

"The forecast for strong, gusting winds serves as a warning to be prepared for hazardous conditions," said Paul E. Haering, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Central Hudson. “Central Hudson is readying equipment and crews in the event of power interruptions – but our customers should also take precautions regarding their homes and businesses.”

Tips for preparing, from Central Hudson:

• Pay attention to weather advisories, storm outage updates and/or shelter information;
• Charge electronic devices in order to connect with https://StormCentral.CenHud.com;
• Keep handy a flashlight and fresh batteries;
• Have a battery-powered radio to remain informed of restoration efforts;
• Confirm adequate packaged or canned foods that require no refrigeration or cooking;
• Avoid opening a refrigerator unnecessarily during outages, so that food lasts longer;
• Have a non-electric can opener;
• Keep an emergency supply of bottled water on hand for drinking and washing;
• Fill bathtubs with water as added reserves;
• To save energy, lower thermostat settings if possible, seal cracks and leaks around windows and doors and draw heavy curtains to keep cold air out; and
• Close fireplace flues when not in use to keep warm indoor air from leaving through the chimney.

Tips for dealing with loss of power, from Con Ed:

• If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them because they could be live. Never attempt to move them or touch them with your hands or any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.
• Report downed wires to your local police department and your utility company immediately.
• If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.
• If your power goes out, disconnect or turn off appliances that would otherwise turn on automatically when service is restored. If several appliances start up at once, the electric circuits may overload.
• Make sure your flashlights and any televisions or battery-operated radios are working. Have a supply of extra batteries.

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