Dec 14, 2008 8:15 pm US/Eastern
Utilities Face Widespread Outages In Eastern NY
ALBANY (AP) ―
-
-
Jory Fowler of Hawkeye LLC, works to restore power on a National Grid power line in Hudson, N.Y., on Dec. 12, 2008, after ice storm knocked out power across upstate New York and New England.
Mike Groll/AP
Utilities reported progress restoring power Sunday in eastern New York as temperatures reached the upper 30s and 40s, melting ice that downed trees and cut power to more than a quarter-million homes and businesses.
However, winds continuing overnight into Monday were expected to slow them down. Some customers were unlikely to have electricity again until Tuesday or Wednesday.
"We still have an emergency out there," said Dennis Michalski, spokesman for the State Emergency Management Office. Utility reports Sunday evening showed about 134,000 residences and businesses without electricity.
Ongoing concerns are carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, and downed powerlines that should all still be treated as if they carry electricity, he said.
While 41 shelters were open Sunday morning, many were consolidating, and 14 American Red Cross shelters remained open Sunday night, Michalski said. Gas generators should be operated outdoors and downwind of houses, he said, noting carbon monoxide apparently killed a couple in Glenville. They were found Saturday. Glenville is 22 miles northwest of Albany.
The National Weather Service forecast rain Monday in the greater Albany area, with southwest winds around 15 mph, gusts up to 25 mph, and highs reaching the 50s.
National Grid, which reported 229,000 customers out from the ice storm Thursday night and early Friday, aimed to have all substations and major distribution circuits in the greater Albany area working before Monday. The utility said 132,000 customers had power back by Sunday evening. Its second goal was to restore all customers by Wednesday evening.
"We're getting some very sobering weather reports from our forecasters. We've been told to expect heavy winds in the next 24 to 36 hours. This could impact our restoration efforts," National Grid spokesman Patrick Stella said.
The utility had more than 750 line and tree crews working Sunday, with widespread damage across Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington and Schoharie counties, he said.
New York State Electric & Gas said Sunday about 200 contract crews were working, with about 25,500 customers in Saratoga, Washington, Rensselaer and Columbia counties without power, about 8,500 of them affected by repairs on a transmission line. Because of the scope and severity of damage, NYSEG said some customers won't have power restored until the middle of the week.
Central Hudson Gas & Electric crews had restored power to 60,000 customers since Thursday, with about 11,000 to go, the company said earlier Sunday. Most were in Columbia and Dutchess counties, but outages extended from Albany County to Orange County, and some in outlying areas might not get lights back until Tuesday.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments