Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation advises local residents to be prepared for a late weekend wind storm, expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon and continue through Monday. Forecaster predict strong wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour, bringing the potential for falling trees and resulting electric service interruptions.

"The forecast for strong, gusting winds serves as a warning to be prepared for hazardous conditions," said Paul E. Haering, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations. “Central Hudson is readying equipment and crews in the event of power interruptions – but our customers should also take precautions regarding their homes and businesses.”

Haering recommended that customers act now to prepare for the storm and cold temperatures in the following ways:

Pay attention to weather advisories, storm outage updates and/or shelter information; Charge electronic devices in order to connect with https://StormCentral.CenHud.com; Keep handy a flashlight and fresh batteries; Have a battery-powered radio to remain informed of restoration efforts; Confirm adequate packaged or canned foods that require no refrigeration or cooking; Avoid opening a refrigerator unnecessarily during outages, so that food lasts longer; Have a non-electric can opener;

Keep an emergency supply of bottled water on hand for drinking and washing; Fill bathtubs with water as added reserves; To save energy, lower thermostat settings if possible, seal cracks and leaks around windows and doors and draw heavy curtains to keep cold air out; and Close fireplace flues when not in use to keep warm indoor air from leaving through the chimney.

Haering also urged customers to keep safety in mind, particularly during power interruptions and colder temperatures:

Stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines, and remember that lines may be entangled and hidden in fallen trees. Assume all downed lines are live; Clear snow and ice from natural gas meters, regulators and other natural gas equipment.

Remove accumulated snow and ice from exhaust and combustion air vents and chimneys to prevent a potentially lethal buildup of carbon monoxide gas.

Never use outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors, as they pose a fire hazard and over time can give off carbon monoxide gas; Install and/or test carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they are in working order; Beware of fallen trees and limbs, and use caution or traveling; Avoid the use of candles for illumination due to fire hazards; Follow the manufacturer's safety instructions on the use of emergency generators, and be sure to shut off the main breaker when in use and operate the units outdoors;

Operate cars and motor vehicles outdoors only, and never inside the garage; and Avoid travel along roadways as hazardous conditions may cause driving accidents, including those involving utility poles which may cause power interruptions.

"Follow the manufacturer's safety instructions on the use of emergency generators, and be sure to shut off the main breaker when in use and operate the units only outdoors," Haering said. He also advised customers to know how to open their garage door manually if they usually rely on an electrically operated, remote-control door opener.

Customers can stay informed of storm and restoration conditions in the following ways:

By text messaging: Customers should enroll in Central Hudson's Texting Program to use text messaging to report their power condition and to obtain repair status. To enroll, visit www.CentralHudson.com/Alerts or text REG to 236483;

On the Web: Visit www.CentralHudson.com/Storms to report outages and obtain restoration updates;

Via smart phones: A mobile version of the Central Hudson's website can be accessed by web-enabled cell phones and mobile devices at https://mobile.CenHud.com. Free Central Hudson mobile applications for Android and Apple and are also available by logging onto www.CentralHudson.com/mobileapp;

Through social media: "Like" Central Hudson on Facebook (Facebook.com/ CentralHudson) and "Follow" on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/CentralHudson); and By phone: Call the Central Hudson PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714, and please use the automated system to report or monitor your power condition.

More information on preparing for storms and emergencies and communicating with Central Hudson is available at www.CentralHudson.com; for information regarding electric and natural gas safety, visit www.CentralHudson.com/Safety.