Rockland County Emergency Management has issued a storm alert ahead of a strong weather system expected to move through the Hudson Valley beginning Sunday night and lasting into Monday morning. The system is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 40–45 mph, potentially leading to power outages, downed trees, and hazardous travel conditions.
County officials are urging residents to take precautions ahead of the storm. Residents are advised to secure outdoor furniture, charge phones and devices, and have flashlights and emergency supplies ready. Motorists should use extra caution, particularly when driving high-profile vehicles or traveling near trees and power lines.
Recommended safety tips include charging your phones and essential electronics in advance, securing or bringing indoors outdoor furniture and garbage bins, avoiding parking under trees or near power lines, driving cautiously in strong winds, and keeping flashlights and a battery-powered weather radio ready for use. Residents are also reminded to avoid using candles if possible. To report downed wires or power outages, contact Orange & Rockland Utilities (O&R) at 1-877-434-4100.
Orange & Rockland Utilities announced that it is bracing for strong winds and heavy rainfall as the nor’easter approaches and has activated its emergency response plan. The storm could deliver up to two inches of rain and wind gusts approaching 45 mph, with potential coastal flooding and tree damage that may impact electric service. O&R has secured 150 mutual aid workers to assist its in-house crews, contractors, tree removal experts, and customer service teams throughout the storm.
O&R is warning residents not to touch or approach any downed wires and to always assume they are live and dangerous. The utility advises maintaining at least 50 feet of distance from any downed wire, puddle, or object in contact with a wire. Residents should call O&R immediately at 1-877-434-4100, and if necessary, contact local police to divert traffic until crews arrive.
Outages can be reported and tracked through O&R’s online outage map at oru.com, via the O&R mobile app available in the Apple Store and Google Play, by texting “OUT” to 678797 (ORUPWR), or by calling 1-877-434-4100. O&R will prioritize repairs for critical facilities such as hospitals, police, and fire stations, and restore service to the largest number of customers first, followed by smaller outages.
Residents using portable generators are urged to follow all manufacturer instructions carefully. Generators should never be connected directly to wall outlets, used indoors, or operated near windows or vents. Flashlights, spare batteries, first aid kits, and essential medications should be kept readily available in case of extended power outages.
Officials are reminding residents to stay alert and prepared throughout the storm. Rockland County Emergency Management and Orange & Rockland Utilities will continue to provide real-time updates through their official communication channels.