A fast moving storm system brought powerful winds, lighting and hail, causing extensive damage to trees and power lines throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley this afternoon, interrupting electric service to more than 20,000 homes and businesses. Central Hudson crews are repairing damage and restoring electric service, and are expected to work throughout the night and Friday. Repair work in some isolated areas may also continue into the weekend.

At 5 p.m., immediately following the storm, service interruptions by county were as follows:
Dutchess:            12,000
Orange:                3,400
Ulster:                  3,300
Greene:                1,200
Columbia:               520

Storm damage is heaviest in the southern portions of the region, where the strongest winds associated with the storm brought down trees and limbs onto power lines. As of 7:00 p.m. Thursday, crews have restored service to more than 6,600 customers.

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 may also report their power condition via the utility’s website, www.CentralHudson.com, by using the StormCentral function. Information regarding service restoration estimates, as it becomes available, can be obtained by phone and on-line, and updates are posted on Facebook and Twitter. A mobile version of the utility’s website, including StormCentral, can be accessed by web-enabled cell phones and mobile devices at http://mobile.CentralHudson.com.

Customers are also reminded to stay clear of downed or sagging wires and check on frail or elderly neighbors, relatives or friends. Generators should be operated only in a dry, vented location, as they can give off deadly carbon monoxide gas.

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

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