ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - The Latest on the effort to restore power in western New York in the wake of Wednesday’s windstorm and the snowstorm hitting downstate areas (all times local):
3 p.m.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says restoring power is the first priority in the response to violent weather that knocked out power to more than 200,000 utility customers in western New York.
The Democrat traveled to Rochester Friday afternoon to assess the damage and recovery.
Wednesday’s windstorm brought gusts of 70 mph to 80 that mph knocked down trees and utility poles across a 10-county area from the state’s southwest corner to the Lake Erie shoreline.
As of noon Friday, outages had been reduced to around 122,000 by local crews alongside utility workers from other states and Canada.
Meanwhile, a storm hitting southern New York has dumped 4 to 7 inches of snow in the Hudson Valley and several inches around the New York City area.
Cuomo urged residents to check on neighbors and said the state will do everything possible to assist crews working to restore power.
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12:20 p.m.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is headed to western New York to discuss the recovery effort underway in the wake of violent weather that knocked out power to more than 200,000 utility customers.
The Democrat has scheduled a news conference for 1:30 p.m. Friday at the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs army at the Greater Rochester International Airport.
Wednesday’s windstorm brought gusts of 70 mph to 80 that mph knocked down trees and toppled utility poles across a 10-county area from the state’s southwest corner to the Lake Erie shoreline. As of noon Friday the number of outages has been reduced to around 122,000 by local crews being helped by utility workers from other states and Canada.
Meanwhile, a storm hitting southern New York has dumped 4 to 7 inches of snow in the Hudson Valley and up to 3 inches in the Bronx.
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7:30 a.m.
Utility crews from other states and Canada are assisting efforts to restore power to more than 125,000 western New York homes and businesses still without electricity service after Wednesday’s devastating windstorm.
Most of the outages Friday are in Monroe County, which includes the city of Rochester, with about 85,000 customers without power.
More than 200,000 customers lost power Wednesday when winds gusting to 70 mph to 80 mph knocked down trees and toppled utility poles across a 10-county area. Forecasters say temperatures will dip into the teens and 20s this weekend.
The National Weather Service predicts 4 to 6 inches of snow on Long Island Friday and 3 to 4 inches in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley before it tapers off in the mid to late afternoon.
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