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Thousands Remain Without Power Sunday; Warming
Centers Established at Some Local Fire Departments
Published: December 12, 2021
at 11:30 a.m.
By: Nick Altmire
Lewis County, NY- Thousands of
National Grid customers in Lewis County remain without power late Sunday
morning after a powerful windstorm swept through the area on Saturday
evening into the early morning hours of Sunday.
“National Grid
crews are active in the field removing downed wires, trees, tree limbs,
broken poles and other hazards, while focusing on public safety and service
restoration after a sustained, powerful windstorm hovered over the region
Saturday through early this morning,” National Grid said in a statement
this morning. “Please stay away from downed power lines—always assume they
are carrying live electricity. Report downed lines to National Grid at
1-800-867-5222 or by calling 911.”
As of 11 AM,
there are 4,652 reported outages in Lewis County. This includes:
T/Croghan: 959; V/Castorland: 121; T/Denmark:
601; T/Diana: 284; T/Greig: 856; T/New Bremen: 517; T/Lowville: 127; T/Lyonsdale: 82; T/Watson: 1,054
Many of these
locations have been without power since the height of the wind event last
evening.
Power restoration
for some areas of the county may not be completed until Monday afternoon or
later, with some major damage reported at a substation in the town of West
Turin and another problem area in the town of Diana.
National Grid is
planning a dry ice distribution event at the Lewis County Education
Center, on the East Road in Lowville, from 12 to 4 PM on Monday,
December 13. Personnel will also provide information on the proper
handling of dry ice, and customers are asked to bring a small cooler or
shopping bag to transport their dry ice home.
Warming centers
have been established at a number of fire
departments across the county, including Harrisville, Beaver Falls, Constableville, and 3-G in Glenfield. These locations
are open for warming if needed. If you need immediate assistance in another
location, you can check with your local fire department or call the Lewis
County dispatch center at 315-376-3511.
Lewis County
Director of Emergency Management Bob MacKenzie
tells us that first responders in the county were dispatched to over 100
calls last night for reports of trees and/or wires down and other
wind-related events. He would like to thank everyone, from fire and EMS
responders and dispatchers, law enforcement agencies, highway departments,
line crews and others for their outstanding cooperation and response as the
event unfolded last evening.
Mr. MacKenzie reminds anyone running a generator to make
sure the generator is located a safe distance from your home. If using an
alternate heating source, be sure there is appropriate ventilation, Mr. MacKenzie advises.
Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Lewis County is reminding people of the importance
of food and water safety during an extended power outage. They have provided a
fact sheet from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), providing tips
for proper food safety precautions to take during a power outage.
There are still
multiple roads closed throughout the county as crews continue their cleanup
efforts. We’re working on getting a complete list and will update when
available If driving, be alert for downed trees, branches, and other
debris. Closed roads have been barricaded or coned off for the most part, so
please obey any barriers in place for safety.
A No Unnecessary
Travel Advisory was issued by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 10 PM
last evening and has since been rescinded as of 8:30 this morning.
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