Central Hudson Crews Had Their Hands Full Last Weekend
Central Hudson has a special message for customers after a massive weekend storm.
Nor'easter Hits the Hudson Valley, NY
If you were in the Hudson Valley last weekend, you are well aware of just how nasty the weather got. Forecasters predicted that we would be hit with a fall nor’easter, and the storm that moved through the region from September 25 through September 28 brought strong winds, heavy rain, and plenty of problems for people across the area.
Not all of us experienced the same effects from the storm. Most of us were just focused on getting through it. Some portions of the Hudson Valley got hit harder than others, as weather will do, but while many of us watched from inside, there were hundreds of Central Hudson workers out dealing with the damage and doing a heck of a job.
Following the storm, Central Hudson released a look at the storm by the numbers, and it gives you a pretty good idea of just how much work went into getting the lights back on.
Central Hudson Outages in the Hudson Valley
According to the utility, 27,697 customers experienced outages during the storm. Crews also had to deal with a huge number of damaged utility lines, with 544 wires reported down and 32 broken utility poles.
That's a lot of damage to deal with, especially when crews are trying to work safely while the weather is still causing problems.
Central Hudson said it had a total workforce of approximately 1,300 people responding to the storm. That number included Central Hudson field crews, contractors, employees working in support roles, and mutual aid crews brought in to help.
And it wasn't just about getting power restored.
Going the Extra Mile
Central Hudson also distributed 3,600 pounds of dry ice and 100 cases of bottled water to customers affected by the outages. As someone who's lost power a few times, having to go out and get dry ice or bottled water isn't something I enjoy doing. I'm thankful that Central Hudson offers these items to customers who need them during an outage.
Central Hudson Thanks Customers
While the numbers show just how much damage the storm caused, Central Hudson says the response was about much more than restoring power. The company is thanking customers for their patience, understanding, and support throughout the storm and restoration effort.
They also say storms like this are a reminder of why investing in a strong and resilient electric system is so important. Crews work year-round to maintain and strengthen the system in an effort to keep the power flowing and reduce disruptions when severe weather hits.
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Central Hudson also shouted out many of the other people who helped during the storm, including first responders, emergency management agencies, highway departments, local officials, mutual aid crews and community partners.
At the end of the day, nobody likes losing power, especially when the weather is miserable outside. But with nearly 28,000 customers affected, hundreds of wires down and dozens of broken poles, there was clearly a lot of work to be done.
Central Hudson ended its message saying it is grateful to everyone who helped during the storm and to the customers who remained patient while crews worked to get the lights back on.
