Central Hudson Gas & Electric advises customers to prepare for potentially severe winter weather that is expected to move through the region beginning Monday and continuing through Wednesday. Forecasts are calling for heavy, wet snow coupled with damaging wind gusts up to 40 mph. These conditions could cause trees and tree limbs to fall onto power lines and cause service interruptions.

"There remains a degree of uncertainty regarding the path of the latest winter storm and the potential impacts it could have on our region, but we are monitoring conditions and are prepared to respond if outages do occur," said Ryan Hawthorne, Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations at Central Hudson. "We have a field force of more than 430 line and clearance workers that includes internal crews, contractors and mutual assistance to help expedite repairs if the need arises."

Central Hudson prepares for storms by readying crews, stocking supplies and materials, communicating with community leaders and following an approved storm plan. Central Hudson also takes proactive steps before storms strike to minimize service interruptions, including enhanced vegetation management and danger tree removals, and regular maintenance and upgrades to power lines serving communities.

Please review the safety information below and utilize the buttons to the right for outage information and resources.

AVOID ALL FALLEN WIRES:
• You can't tell if a power line is energized just by looking at it. Assume all fallen power lines are live and proceed with extreme caution.

• Do not drive over fallen wires. Always follow the utility personnel instructions regarding fallen power lines.

• If you see a fallen power line, stay at least 30 feet away from it and anything it contacts. The ground around a power line and any objects it contacts may be energized. Call 911 to report fallen wires.

• Do not attempt to move a fallen power line or anything else in contact with it using an object such as a broom or stick. Even non-conductive materials like wood or cloth can conduct electricity if even slightly wet.

PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST:
• Fully charge your cell phone.

• Sign up for Central Hudson's text messaging service to receive updates about power outages and restoration work.

• Have flashlights and batteries handy.

• If you rely on electricity to operate a well pump, ensure you have an adequate supply of bottled water. Fill your bathtub for an extra water reserve.

• Ensure adequate supplies of prescription medicine and other necessities.

• Fuel up your vehicles.

• Have a plan to check on vulnerable neighbors and family members.

• Have non-perishable foods that require no refrigeration or cooking.

CARBON MONOXIDE & GENERATOR SAFETY:
• NEVER operate a generator in an enclosed space, including your basement or garage. Doing so can lead to a potentially lethal build-up of colorless, odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide.

• Only have an experienced electrician connect a generator to your home. Improperly installed generators may overload circuits, cause a fire or shock hazard, and can result in serious injury or property damage. Improperly installed generators can also back-feed onto electric lines and endanger repair crews working to restore service.

• Plug appliances directly into the generator using a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is designed to handle the wattage of all the appliances being connected.