O&R Reports Hundreds Still Without Power, Chester and Deerpark Hit Hard
On December 20, Orange and Rockland Utilities issued a storm update saying crews were continuing work to repair storm damage and restore power, reporting 1,141 customers without service across its territory, including 238 in Orange County. Chester and Deerpark were the most affected local communities, the utility said, and it had brought in 160 mutual aid workers while urging caution around downed wires.
Orange County residents faced lingering outages following a storm that struck earlier this week, as Orange and Rockland Utilities reported on December 20 that crews and mutual aid teams were still working to repair damage and restore service. The company said 1,141 customers remained without power across its service area at the time of the update, and that 238 of those customers were in Orange County. Chester accounted for 70 customers without power, and Deerpark accounted for 50, the utility reported.
O&R said it had deployed 160 mutual aid workers since the storm began and that crews were prioritizing repairs that affect public safety. The company also advised residents to exercise caution around downed wires and to consult O&R outage maps and safety guidance while restoration was underway. Those operational decisions shape where work is focused and how quickly isolated pockets of outage are addressed.
For local residents the outages carry immediate practical consequences. Loss of electricity can disrupt heating, refrigeration for medication, small business operations and municipal services. In towns such as Chester and Deerpark where clusters of customers remain without service, residents and local officials will be monitoring restoration timelines and the coordination between the utility and emergency responders.
The episode highlights broader questions for policymakers and regulators about grid resilience and emergency preparedness. Large and concentrated outages test the capacity of utilities to mobilize resources and to communicate clearly with customers. County and municipal leaders have a role in pressing for transparent restoration schedules and in reviewing whether infrastructure investments and vegetation management practices meet local needs.
Residents should continue to follow O&R updates and safety guidance. Those affected can also raise concerns with town officials and the county emergency management office to ensure restoration is tracked and that vulnerable households receive assistance. As crews continue work, community oversight and civic engagement will shape how quickly services return and how the region adapts to similar storms in the future.
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