In an update provided by National Grid Thursday night, the utility company said that it had restored power to 135,000 of the 225,000 customers who were affected by the extreme weather that battered the Capital Region Wednesday afternoon and evening.
A statement from National Grid says that it “expects the majority of currently affected Capital Region customers to have power restored by Saturday evening with the remaining customers, primarily in the hardest-hit areas, including Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties, restored on Sunday.”
National Grid reported that the storm brought winds of up to 90 miles per hour and that crews and contractors from as far away as Indiana and Canada were either in the area or on the way to support the recovery efforts.
Two people are known to have been killed in Wednesday’s powerful storms.
State Police say that William J. Oates, 24, was driving on Pierce Road in Clifton Park when a tree came down and collided with his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at Saratoga Hospital. State Police say that there were no other injuries as a result of the accident and that the investigation is continuing.
In the Berkshires, Great Barrington Police reported a fatality at the Wyantenuck Country Club located on West Sheffield Road Wednesday evening. A person, identified as longtime Wyantenuck club pro Tom Sullivan, was found dead lying next to a golf cart, which had been crushed by fallen trees and branches.
Shortages prevented National Grid from distributing dry ice and water as planned Friday. The updated distribution schedule is as follows:
- Schenectady County Department of Engineering and Public Works (100 Kellar Avenue) – Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Crossgates Mall parking lot (adjacent to Macy’s), Guilderland – Friday, 8 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Pittstown Rescue Squad, 60 Parker School Road, Johnsonville – Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Multiple school districts were still closed Friday morning as outages persist throughout the region.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple says 911 dispatchers are received hundreds of calls as a result of the storm and even talked one woman through childbirth.