Supplies to have in case of emergency
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Storm Preparedness Tips

Severe weather — such as lightning, high winds, hail, and ice — can damage electric infrastructure and lead to temporary power outages. Proper preparation can help minimize disruptions and protect your household.



Stay Informed

  • Monitor weather advisories and storm warnings.
  • Keep a battery-powered radio for updates on restoration efforts.

Prepare Essential Supplies

  • Stock flashlights with fresh batteries.
  • Keep non-perishable food that requires no refrigeration or cooking.
  • Have a non-electric can opener for canned goods.
  • Store bottled water if you rely on an electric water pump.
  • Fill the bathtub with water as an extra reserve if a major storm is forecast.
  • A fully stocked first aid kit is essential, providing immediate care for minor injuries and ensuring you have critical supplies in case emergency services are delayed.

Protect Food & Water Supply

  • Avoid opening the refrigerator unnecessarily to preserve food.
  • Never use outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors — they pose a fire and carbon monoxide risk.

Arrange For Assistance

 

What To Do If You Lose Power

Report the outage online or on our app, text OUT to 236483, or call us on our automated phone system: 1-800-527-2714 and 845-452-2700.



Helpful Information to Provide (if safe to do so)

  • Are neighbors also without power?
  • Are power lines down between your house and the street?
  • Do you see broken poles or sparks from wires?
  • Are trees or limbs in contact with electrical wires?

Restoration of Power

  • Restoration information can be easily accessed online, by texting STAT to 236483, or by calling the phone numbers above. 
  • Service restoration time estimates may not be available immediately following an outage, until our crews have assessed the damage and developed repair priorities. 
  • Keep one indoor light on to know when power is restored. Keep an outdoor light on after dark - this helps our crews confirm power restoration.
  • If power is restored in your neighborhood but your service remains off, check your circuit breakers or fuses.

 

Understanding & Responding to Power Issues

Issue Cause Signs/Effects Actions To Take
Preventing Appliance Damage Power restoration can cause a surge Risk of damage to appliances Unplug major appliances
Brief Power Outage (Flickering Lights) Branches hitting power lines Momentary power loss; digital clocks reset  No action needed - system resets automatically
Voltage Surges Lightning strikes Risk of damage to appliances, computers Install surge arrestors, use surge suppressors, unplug sensitive devices during storms
Low Voltage Issues Electrical issue Dim lights, shrinking TV picture, appliances humming but not operating Unplug affected equipment, turn off circuit breakers or remove fuses, contact us to report the issue

 

Communications During an Outage

When an emergency does occur, Central Hudson works with emergency officials and municipal leaders to coordinate restoration efforts. We will also contact the media to keep the public informed of our progress. We will issue regular updates on social media, by email, and on our website. 

"CHECK" a Local Radio Station for Updates
When outages are severe enough to affect large numbers of customers for extended periods of time (generally, more than a couple of days), we activate the Central Hudson Emergency Communication networK — or “C.H.E.C.K.”  It’s the best source for updated announcements about our restoration efforts and other information that is pertinent to listeners in the communities where the outages exist. These announcements are aired regularly during the storm emergency on local radio stations.