GHENT – As power outages around the region linger following the winter storm Sunday night and Monday, warming stations have opened at the Kinderhook and Niverville fire stations, and the Taconic Hills School in Craryville has opened as an emergency shelter.
A statement from Roy Brown, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, and the county Emergency Management Office said that the warming centers were opening at the Kinderhook Fire Station and Nivervile Fire Station #1. The Red Cross was expected to open the shelter at the Taconic Hills High School on County Route 11 just off Route 23 for anyone who has lost power and needs assistance.
The high school shelter will have sleeping areas and food available for those in need, but officials are asking people not to bring pets to the shelters because there are no provisions for animals.
Those who have phone service or who need to contact someone at the shelter should call the American Red Cross at 518 458-8111. Anyone who needs of transportation to a shelter and has no other way to get there should call 518 828-1212.
Mr. Brown’s statement said that officials estimate the shelter will be open for at least the next 24 to 48 hours.
The county is making provisions for dry ice for the public at the Nivervile Firehouse and Copake Firehouse tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. People picking up dry ice will need to provide their own bags or storage containers.
NYSEG (New York State Electric and Gas) advises people to call 1-800 572-1131 to report downed wires or other hazardous conditions. NYSEG’s natural gas emergency number is 1-800 572-1121.
The company says the hardest hit areas in its service area (Mechanicville Division) include Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington counties, where earlier today 5,400 customers were without power.
Power was restored to parts of Valatie late this afternoon. NYSEG is currently restoring power to the customers impacted by this storm, and expects to have most customers in the region restored by Thursday evening. But the company’s website said that with the next winter storm predicted to hit on Thursday, NYSEG anticipates additional power outages will occur then.
National Grid, which also serves the county, said restoration efforts continue in the eastern portion of upstate NY. It listed the hardest hit areas as Hudson along with the Albany, Troy, Hoosick Falls, Gloversville areas.
National Grid said it expects power to be restored to the majority of its customers by late Tuesday night with some in the hardest hit areas going into Wednesday. It said it has more than 250 electric line and tree crews working throughout the day and night to restore power as quickly as possible.
