Utility crews in western New York are preparing for two strong to severe thunderstorms expected to sweep across the region on Tuesday.
The afternoon and evening storm – set to move through the Genesee Valley region, including Rochester between 4 and 10 p.m. – could bring significant and damaging wind gusts, hail and the potential for an isolated tornado, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Rochester, Gas & Electric Corp. and New York State Electric & Gas have both started staging for the storm, which includes having additional line and tree crews available across the Empire state to tackle restoration if customers lose power. Employees are on hand and the companies have another 390 contracted line workers and nearly 560 tree personnel ready to restore service should an outage occur during Tuesday’s predicted storms, the company announced.
What should I do during a tornado or severe thunderstorm?
- During a severe weather watch, you should plan and prepare.
- Stay aware: If you have outdoor plans, stay aware of the weather. You can check forecasts and for alerts at weather.gov/buf
- Receive warnings and alerts: There are plenty of ways to stay up-to-date on weather warnings throughout the day. Here are some from the NWS
Storm safety tips
Before a storm strikes:
- Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand
- Make sure you have drinking water and non-perishable food available
- Charge smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices
- Prepare an emergency first aid kit
- Fill your vehicle’s fuel tank
- Prepare a family emergency plan – including a shelter-in-a safe-place space within your home
- Know your child’s emergency school dismissal policy
During or after a storm
- Stay away from downed wires, power lines
- Keep refrigerators and freezer closed as much as possible during an outage
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY utilities mobilize ahead of severe weather threat
