Utility companies are reporting thousands of power outages across upstate New York on Monday. This comes as rain, ice and wind makes its way across the state.  

As of 9:50 p.m. on Monday, more than 15,000 National Grid customers remained without power. The latest numbers from New York State Electric & Gas showed more than 4,300 customers experiencing outages, with more than 2,700 living in Erie County. Data from Rochester Gas and Electric shows over 1,900 Rochester-area customers reamained without power.

NYSEG says severe weather caused more than 68,000 outages in its service area, but it had restored more than 57,000 as of Monday evening. RG&E said the storm caused more than 27,000 in its coverage area, but it had restored more than 25,000 as of Monday evening.

Utility company officials said Sunday they were prepared for potential outages.

“We’ve had people give up vacations to come in and to do their work, to support the storm,” National Grid spokesperson David Bertola said. “It is truly all hands on deck.”

Bertola says the utility has 1.7 million electricity customers across upstate New York. Almost 550,000 of those in the 11 most western counties of the state – where the storm is showing its teeth.

“The wind can wreak havoc on not just the community but really impair our ability to make a repair and make it quickly,” Bertola said. “But safety is paramount. It’s number one. And we try to do it as quickly and safely as possible every single day, every single storm.”

National Grid announced Sunday it was increasing staffing and extending evening and overnight work shifts amid warnings of heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain and wind gusts that could approach 70 mph. Impacted areas include the shorelines of Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the Genesee Valley, Central New York, Tug Hill, Mohawk Valley, Capital and Adirondack regions.

Avangrid’s Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) teams are also working the repairs.

RG&E and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) said Sunday they were staging 170 contract line crews across the state to help their internal crews should demand increase. This includes 80 in its Lancaster division, which includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Erie counties, and 50 in the Rochester area.

Bertola says expect the number of people without power to fluctuate.

“But the important thing to keep in mind is that the numbers are people,” he said. “And, you know, we don’t take that lightly. Those are families. Those are people who just celebrated Christmas, perhaps, and are waiting to celebrate the New Year. And we want to make sure everybody always has what they want [and] what they need.”

The worst combination is wind and ice. Bertola says when trees go down because of the wind, they’ll oftentimes take powerlines with them. And then there are more problems when the rain freezes on the power lines.

“When ice forms on a power line and adds a significant amount of weight,” Bertola said. “So, ice and wind, that combination makes for a very formidable opponent.”

Bertola says if you see a downed power line, assume it’s live – don’t go near it and call the authorities.

“If you don’t have electricity service, don’t assume that we know,” he said. “Pick up the phone or get on the app and let us know that you’re without service.”

Bertola asks for patience, knowing efforts are being made to keep the lights on or get them back on.

“We won’t stop,” he said. “We’re going to work around the clock until every single customer has been restored.”

Here’s what you can do to be as prepared as possible:

Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand, along with supplies of drinking water and non-perishable foods
Make sure that smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices are fully charged
Grab candles and lighters and blankets
Fill your car’s fuel tank
If there is an outage, be sure to let your utility company know and stay away from downed wires