#ExtraordinaryWeather @nygovcuomo @ThruwayTraffic #TakeaTriptoNewYorkState #WhomYouKnow Governor Andrew Cuomo Issues Update on Storm Response in Mid-Hudson Region
DFS-Staffed Mobile Command Units On Site in Orange and Putnam Counties to Provide Insurance Claim Assistance
DEC and OFPC Drone Crews Dispatched to Enhance Building and Structural Damage Assessments in Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued an update on the storm response in the Mid-Hudson Region in the wake of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes that hit the area throughout the day Tuesday. Due to heavy damage impacting homes and properties, Department of Financial Services personnel will be staffing mobile command units in Putnam and Orange Counties between at 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. today through Sunday to help residents and business owners file insurance claims as needed. The Putnam County unit will be located at the Town of Putnam Valley Town Hall and the Orange County unit will be located at the City of Newburgh Activity Center. Residents who are not able to visit the Mobile Command Center can call the Department's Disaster Hotline at 800-339-1759, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. for help with insurance‐related issues.
“We are continuing our cleanup and recovery efforts with additional personnel and resources to help residents impacted by Tuesday’s storms get back on their feet,” Governor Cuomo said. “These mobile command units are critical in a situation such as this, where widespread property damage has occurred, and they will remain on site to ensure homeowners and business owners receive the assistance they need.”
Additionally, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control has dispatched drone crews to conduct building and structural damage assessments in Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties. The drone footage will help state and local officials to identify impacted areas that are not easily accessible on the ground in order to further assist with recovery and cleanup.
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
At the direction of the Governor the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated for enhanced monitoring with State OEM operations teams. The State Office of Emergency Management is in constant contact with the impacted counties and Division staff are deployed to five county Emergency Operations Centers in the Mid-Hudson Region. OFPC has deployed 35 personnel for debris and tree removal, disaster assistance, and building damage assessments. Resources allocated from the State’s ten regional stockpiles include 50 large generators, 62 light towers, 20 pallets of bottled water, and 36 chainsaws with safety equipment.
New York State Department of Public Service
New York's utilities added 1,250 line, tree, and service workers from Vermont, Alabama, Canada, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maine, and Pennsylvania to their existing base of 4,300 workers for restoration efforts. Crews have been moved to the areas that have had the greatest storm damage, including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan and Westchester counties. Department staff will continue to monitor the utilities' efforts during the storm restoration period.
The Department of Public Service has extended Call Center Helpline hours today, Thursday, May 17, until 7:30 p.m., and Friday, May 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., as needed, to assist consumers in their storm restoration efforts. The Department of Public Service Call Center Helpline can be reached by calling 1-800-342-3377.
Currently there are over 78,000 customers without power from the storm.
County
Outages
Dutchess
8,417
New York
794
Orange
23,348
Putnam
19,180
Rockland
650
Sullivan
14,404
Ulster
3,531
Westchester
7,996
New York State Thruway Authority
New York State Thruway Authority maintenance crews are continuing to remove storm debris and performing cleanup beyond the guiderails of the Thruway system in the Hudson Valley. All traffic has returned to normal. The Thruway Authority stands at the ready to assist as called upon.
Additionally, the Thruway Authority is providing three tractor trailer lowboys to transport light plants to the City of Newburgh and transporting a large emergency generator to the Putnam County Jail.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway, here. For real-time updates, motorists can follow @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter or visit www.thruway.ny.gov to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways.
Department of Transportation
The Department continues to have crews engaged in storm cleanup operations throughout the Hudson Valley. Crews have worked continuously during the daylight hours clearing trees and debris from roadways as utility providers clear downed electrical conductors. DOT has also provided crews and equipment to assist counties and local municipalities with storm recovery efforts.
New York Power Authority
The New York Power Authority is providing power transmission line support for New York State Electric & Gas’s transmission system in the area of Liberty, N.Y., in Sullivan County with: 14 high voltage line workers, two supervisors, four patrol vehicles, a work trailer, two lifts, 10 pick-up trucks, and two digger derricks. In addition, the following municipal electric systems throughout the state are offering support to Central Hudson Gas & Electric and NYSEG: Delaware County Electric Cooperative, Otsego Electric Cooperative, Village of Rockville Centre, Village of Lake Placid, Massena Electric Department, Village of Greene, Stueben Rural Electric Cooperative, Oneida-Madison Electric Cooperative, Village of Freeport, Village of Fairport, Village of Arcade, and Village of Spencerport.
