Watertown, N.Y. — More than 15,000 customers are still without power in the North Country Thursday almost two days after high wind speeds caused significant damage to power lines.
More than 10,400 customers in Jefferson County were without power and another 4,500 in St. Lawrence County had no electricity as of 10:45 a.m. Thursday.
The Jefferson County New York Fire & Emergency Management has set up warming centers (A list can be found on its Facebook page).
The county also worked with the American Red Cross to open an emergency overnight shelter at Jefferson Community College East Hall residential building at 775 Rand Drive in Watertown.
National Grid is supplying dry ice for refrigeration and water (Pick up locations are listed on its Facebook page.)
On Tuesday night, wind speeds were as high as 79 mph in some areas, including the village of Dexter and Watertown, according to the National Weather Service. Category 1 hurricane wind speeds start at 74 mph.
A high wind watch has been issued in the same area until 4 a.m. Sunday, with wind gusts from 30 to 40 mph, according to the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service. Wind speed could get up to 60 mph from Friday to Saturday.
The weather forecast for the North Country also calls for heavy lake effect snow with 4 to 8 inches in the most persistent lake snows through Friday, the weather service shows.
National Grid has been working to restore power to Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties since early Wednesday morning, National Grid spokesperson Jared Paventi said.
The company has worked to repair transmission lines, National Grid’s distribution system and broken utility poles to restore power in the heavily wooded area, Paventi said Wednesday.
There is no exact time power will be restored to everyone, the spokesperson has said.
Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at [email protected]
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