OCEM has completed the final conference call of the day with Municipal Officials. Below is an update on where we are as a County. 

 

OCEM will close this evening at 2200 hrs. We will re-open tomorrow morning at 0800.

 

The public is advised to dial 911 for LIFE SAFETY EMERGENCIES and 211 for Non-Emergency issues. 

 

STATE OF EMERGENCY

 

Orange County remains in a SOE relating to the movement of emergency resources only. 

 

County Executive – Edward A. Diana has rescinded the previous SOE, and has delegated the final decision of whether or not to open schools to school district officials. 

 

All County offices will be open tomorrow. 

 

POWER STATUS

 

Currently 74,696 customers are without power in and around OC.

There are approximately 2M customers without power in NYS.

 

CENTRAL HUDSON: 16,608 customers

Est power restoration time - Damage Assessment in Progress

To Report Power Outages - 1-800-572-2714 (or) 1-845-452-2700 (electric & gas)

 

O&R: 57,250 customers

Est power restoration times - Damage Assessment in Progress

To Report Power Outages - 1-877-434-4100 (or) 1-800-533-5325 (electric & gas)

 

NYSEG - 838 customer

Est power restoration times- Damage Assessment in Progress

To Report Power Outages - 1-800-572-1131 Electric / 1-800-572-1121 Gas

 

OCEM has been informed by all utility companies that FULL COUNTY WIDE restoration could take up to 10 days. 

 

The North East power grid has been significantly compromised / damaged including (but not limited to); transfer stations, transmission lines (the 100 + foot tower lines), and towers...this is going to take a significant amount of time from which to recover.

 

It is only through our community effort and helping each other that we will make it through this challenging time, so please - be patient, be aware of all those that are trying to help restore order and most importantly be sure to stay safe, and please check on neighbors and the elderly.

 

SHELTER LOCATIONS 

 

C. Newburgh – CLOSED

The C. Newburgh shelter had five visitors yesterday during their entire operational period. After discussions with Town officials, Red Cross liaisons, and OC Social Services the decision was made to relocate the remaining individuals to the C. Middletown shelter, thereby freeing up supplies needed at other shelter locations. 

 

C. Middletown - Emergency Housing Group (OPEN) 

38 Seward Ave, Middletown 

 

C. Port Jervis / Cuddebackville (OPEN) 

Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School 

929 Rt. 209, Cuddebackville

 

WATER 

 

OCEM has received several questions regarding the status of drinking water in our area. OCEM and Public Health have been in contact with each municipality to help address this concern. At this time there are NO boil water advisories anywhere in the County. 

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

 

ROADS

I-84, I-87 and Route 17 – OPEN 

County Roads – please visit the Orange County Government website (link provided below) to view the current LIVE map of County road closures. 

 

OCEM has requested that local municipalities attempt to post their local road closures on their specific municipal websites. 

 

BRIDGES

Newburgh Beacon & Bear Mountain Bridge – OPEN 

 

AIRPORTS

Stewart Airport & Orange County Airport – OPEN (please contact airlines for specific flight information) 

 

RAIL

Metro North – all service has been suspended until further notice. 

 

DRY ICE DISTRIBUTION

 

ORANGE & ROCKLAND

OCEM has been working with O&R utility in order to address the concerns of area residents regarding dry ice distribution. The current plan for distribution is as follows; 

 

O&R will distribute dry ice on a 4 day rotation cycle.

 

Day 1- Goshen (earlier today)

 

Day 2- Middletown (specific location and time will be announced in the morning) 

 

Day 3- Port Jervis / Deer Park area (specific locations and time TBD) 

 

Day 4- Warwick / Greenwood Lake area (specific locations and time TBD)

 

All joint sites listed above (ie; Port Jervis/ Deerpark) will be ONE combined distribution point in the AREA. Upon completion of the cycle listed above the cycle will continue with Goshen followed by Middletown, .... 

 

CENTRAL HUDSON & NYSEG 

OCEM is currently working on a plan with Central Hudson & NYSEG on their dry ice deliveries in the County, however distribution points will be determined on a day-to-day basis until such time as a more comprehensive plan can be coordinated. 

 

Central Hudson

Tomorrow’s dry ice distribution point has been identified in the T. Cornwall. However the exact time has not been established as of yet. OCEM will publish the exact address and times of distribution tomorrow by 9am. 

 

NYSEG

Tomorrow’s dry ice distribution point has not yet been announced by NYSEG. OCEM will continue to work to obtain this information and will post to FB as soon as possible. Please know that NYSEG currently has over 100K customers without power NYS wide, but only 838 in Orange County. We recognize the greater need for these critical supplies to the north but will continue to work with NYSEG to ensure the needs of OC area residents are met as well. 

 

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OCEM received over 250,000 ‘hits’ on FB today alone, thus further demonstrating the need for Orange County specific information in our community. Again, we ask that OC residents please consider sharing this page with friends, families, co-workers and anyone else who may benefit from our information.

 

We ask that the public please consider tagging OCEM in any storm damage related photos (taken within OC) and if possible that the location where the photos were taken, be identified as well. This will GREATLY aid in our recovery operations and restoration efforts. 

 

We want to take a moment to recognize the community spirit we have seen through this entire event. Several times in the past two days we have heard story after story of members of our community going above and beyond to help their neighbors and even complete strangers. This event is going to take a significant amount of time from which to recover. We ask that you work with us as we make every possible attempt to restore order to Orange County and be patient as details and information unfold.

 

Please stay with us as more information is obtained. 

 

Thank you! 

The Orange County Division of Emergency Management (OCEM)