Powerful wind gusts and thunderstorms knocked out power to more than 25,000 residents across the Rochester region on Thursday.
Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) crews are working to restore power to households in Monroe and Wayne counties.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello is urging residents to be cautious while driving Thursday evening due to the presence of downed trees and power lines, blowing debris and other hazards.
“Residents should monitor local television and radio stations for the most up-to-the-minute updates on conditions,” Bello said in a statement. “Please use caution and avoid unnecessary travel throughout the evening as crews work to repair downed power lines and clear downed trees and debris.”
Bello says he also activated the county’s Emergency Operations Center to help monitor power outages and 911 calls.
RG&E and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) say about 115,000 customers have been affected by the storm in counties across Western and Central New York and the Southern Tier.
Check out NYSEG and RG&E’s power outage maps for the latest numbers on those impacted.
“NYSEG and RG&E continue to monitor weather conditions closely and to strategically position crews and resources throughout their service areas to respond safely and restore service as quickly as possible should additional outages occur,” the companies said in a statement.
The companies say downed wires should be reported by calling NYSEG’s emergency line at 1-800-572-1131, RG&E’s emergency line at 1-800-743-1701, or contacting 911.