Nearly 1,800 customers of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. are without electric service as of 5:15 a.m. this morning as a result of a winter blizzard that struck the Mid-Hudson Valley region yesterday and overnight. Strong and persistent winds, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour in some areas, snapped branches and toppled trees onto power lines in the late evening and early morning hours.

Power outages are reported throughout the region, with Dutchess County the most heavily impacted with more than 1,000.  Nearly 600 outages are also reported in Ulster County, as well as scattered outages in Greene and Putnam counties. Crews are working to repair damage at nearly 60 locations, and power is expected to be restored to the vast majority of customers today. However the storm is expected to continue throughout the day, and additional outages may be reported until the winds subside late this afternoon.

If power is lost, customers should call Central Hudson’s PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1 (800) 527-2714 to report their power condition, and are encouraged to use the automated reporting system. Customers with access to a computer or compatible cell phone may report their power condition via the utility’s website, www.CentralHudson.com, by using the StormCentral function. There, they can also access information regarding the extent of outages and service restoration estimates as they become available.

 Customers are also reminded to check on frail or elderly neighbors, relatives or friends, and to stay clear of downed or sagging wires. Do not heat homes with an unvented heater, gas range or similar appliance, nor should outdoor gas grills be used to heat indoor spaces, as these pose a fire hazard and can give off deadly carbon monoxide gas. Similarly, generators should be operated only in a vented, dry location.

For more safety tips during storms and power interruptions, see the StormCentral section of www.CentralHudson.com.

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