Orange and Rockland Utilities Declares Storm Watch Ahead of Severe Weather Threat

Orange and Rockland Utilities declared a formal Storm Watch on March 16 in response to a National Weather Service forecast calling for scattered thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds across its service territory, which includes much of Orange County.

The declaration signaled that O&R had activated its storm response protocols, positioning crews and resources ahead of anticipated weather that carried the potential for power outages and infrastructure disruption.

The National Weather Service forecast driving the watch pointed to conditions serious enough for the utility to move from routine monitoring to a formal preparedness posture. Storm Watch designations at O&R typically mean the company has placed additional line crews on standby, coordinated with municipal emergency management offices, and readied its outage response systems before weather arrives rather than after.

The research notes available on this event are limited, and the full scope of O&R's specific preparations, the geographic extent of the weather threat, or any outage figures that resulted from the storm were not available in the materials reviewed for this report. What is confirmed is that the declaration came the same day the forecast was issued, indicating the utility moved quickly to get ahead of the threat.

For Orange County residents who lost power during the March 16 storm system, O&R's outage reporting and restoration updates are available through the utility's customer service channels. Customers can also report outages directly to O&R at 1-877-434-4100.