Power and Cleanup Issues Remain After Big Wind Storm

While the high winds have passed, utility crews are among those still cleaning up after the storm.

New York State Electric and Gas early February 26 was reporting a handful of customers without power in Broome, Chenango and Delaware Counties with restoration of service expected by midday.

NYSEG and Rochester Gas and Electric said they expected the majority of the remaining customers in hard-hit Western New York to have service back on late tonight at the latest.

Tens of thousands of residents in Erie County were left without power as hurricane-force winds pounded the area starting on February 24.

Utility crews were challenged by the duration of the storm in addition to wind gusts of over 50 miles an hour.  Trees that were weakened early on by the wind kept falling and losing limbs throughout the day.

Travel was also an issue due to the storm.

While New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a ban on empty tractor trailers on some roads, New York State Police in Troop C reported an empty tractor trailer was blown off the road on State Route at in Guilford in Chenango County. There were no serious injuries.