December 12, 2008
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON ON WINTER ICE STORM
Urges Residents Affected By Ice Storm to Take Safety Precautions
“Mother Nature dealt New York State a crippling blow yesterday and overnight. Portions of Upstate New York endured a major winter storm where heavy snow and ice blanketed more than a dozen counties, leaving nearly 300,000 New Yorkers currently without power. Although utility crews have been mobilized to restore power, the outages may last a few days.
“In response, I have ordered State agencies to take all necessary steps to aid in restoring power. The New York State Department of Transportation and the State Police have worked around the clock to ensure public safety. The State Emergency Operations Center has been staffed since Thursday with more than a dozen agencies, which will continue to coordinate activities and support local governments and the efforts of local fire, police and highway crews who have been assisting. Due to the high numbers of customers without power, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has extended the hours of operation of their consumer hotline through the weekend. If you cannot reach your utility, please contact the PSC hotline at 1-800-342-3355, 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM Monday to Friday and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday.
“I ask you to remain calm, be patient and above all remain safe. New Yorkers are a resilient people. We have overcome adversity before and we will get through this together.
“At times like this, it is very important to be safety-conscious. Please adhere to the following precautions:
- Do not touch downed power lines. Call your utility and inform them of downed power lines in your neighborhood and that you are without power.
- Do not use candles to light your home. Use a flashlight.
- If you are using a generator for electricity, make sure to run it outside of your home. Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless gas.
- Do not use a natural gas or propane range to heat your home. Never use a grill or stove intended for use outdoors in your home.
- Turn off major appliances and sensitive electronic equipment to prevent overloading and possible damage when power is restored.
- Stay warm and dress in layers if you are without heat.
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors. When in doubt about whether or not a perishable item is okay to eat, err on the side of caution and throw it out.
“In addition to the efforts of various New York State agencies, the Red Cross is setting up warming stations across the region. If you are without heat, please seek out shelter. You can contact your utility, your local government official or the PSC hotline for a warming station location in your area.
“Finally, if you have any elderly or disabled neighbors, please check on them to make sure they are safe. We can weather this storm if we all pitch in to help.“
