Yesterday, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo activated the State Emergency Operations Center to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to severe weather events occurring across New York.

"With severe weather impacting large portions of New York, state government is working proactively with our partners on the local level to ensure the safety of our residents and to make sure we can respond quickly to any storm-related problems," Governor Cuomo said. "Flooding and dangerous storms are a real threat to people and property. I urge residents in areas where severe weather is occurring to monitor local news broadcasts and heed any emergency orders from local officials."

Measures taken in preparation for the storms include:

• The State Office of Emergency Management is in contact with affected counties and local governments for a continual and real-time assessment of safety risks and clean-up operations
• State Emergency Management field staff have been deployed to impacted areas
• State Police and the Department of Transportation have enacted their storm plans and are assisting local first responders
• State Police airboats are prepared for rescue operations
• The Office of Fire Prevention and Control's Swift Water Rescue Team is prepared for rescue operations

As of 11:00 AM Thursday, there are approximately 21,100 customers without power statewide. The scattered outages are a result of the recent thunderstorm activity. NYSEG is reporting 8,200 customers out, National Grid is reporting 8,500 customers out, and RG&E is reporting 4,400 customers out.

NYSEG and National Grid cite tree damage from the storms as the leading cause of the outages. Lightning strikes have also resulted in a number of blown fuses.

For more information on what to do in an emergency, visit the State Office of Emergency Management website at www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/ .