Oneida County Responding to Severe Thunderstorm Damage

Oneida County emergency response crews are actively assessing and responding to the damage left behind by this morning’s severe thunderstorms, which impacted much of the county and left more than 30,000 residents without power.

The storms caused significant damage in several areas, with the towns of Kirkland, Lee, Westmoreland and Trenton, and the Hamlet of Clark Mills among the hardest hit. Numerous reports have come in regarding downed trees and power lines, damaged structures and localized flooding.

National Grid is working to restore power, but residents are urged to exercise caution when traveling, as many roads may be obstructed or hazardous due to storm debris and electrical hazards.

“We are doing everything we can to respond quickly and safely to the damage left by these storms,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “Our emergency teams are on the ground clearing roadways, coordinating with utility crews and assessing the needs of affected communities. I urge everyone to stay alert, avoid downed power lines and give our crews the space they need to do their work.”

Residents are reminded to report power outages directly to their service providers and to call 911 only in emergencies. Downed lines should be treated as live and extremely dangerous. Avoid walking or driving through flooded areas and report road closures or storm damage to local authorities.