Tompkins County Turmoil: Severe Thunderstorm Triggers Power Outages & Road Closures – LIVE UPDATES
A powerful line of storms rocked Tompkins County on Thursday afternoon uprooting trees downing power lines and briefly triggering a tornado warning By p m the National Weather Arrangement had issued alerts for the southwestern region of the county warning of hail and winds exceeding mph The storm s fury prompted the closure of multiple key roadways including State Routes and and left thousands of residents in the dark Credit EnfieldResident Utility provider NYSEG established that more than customers across Tompkins County particularly in Enfield Newfield Ulysses Ithaca and Danby were without electricity by early evening That number has since improved slightly but pockets of outages persist into the night Crisis crews have worked around the clock but major damage to tree limbs and infrastructure has slowed restoration efforts Local personnel have urged extreme caution reminding drivers to treat malfunctioning traffic signals as four-way stops and advising residents to avoid downed wires While tearful and shaken the area has shown resilience neighbors checking on vulnerable residents and first responders coordinating swift damage assessments With more storm systems doable later this week residents are bracing for continued disruptions Representatives recommend securing outdoor objects staying updated via official channels and reporting hazardous conditions promptly Key Facts URGENT Multiple roads closed after severe storm in Tompkins County IMPACT homes without power in Enfield Ithaca Newfield areas OFFICIAL SOURCE hail and mph winds were disclosed NWS alert ACTION Avoid damaged roads document downed power lines to NYSEG Hyperlocal Impact Precise Location Trail between Enfield Falls Road Five Mile Drive south of Ithaca Society Connection Traffic lights out drivers were confused and slowing on Ticondo Enfield Road Local resident via population forum Storm Aftermath Society Response By mid-afternoon power crews and road maintenance teams were deployed county-wide focusing first on high-priority corridors like Passage west of Ithaca which reopened around p m after crews removed fallen trees Enfield Volunteer Fire Company also informed closures along Mecklenburg Road and Halseyville Road due to downed lines and debris While restoration efforts are underway NYSEG notes that particular areas especially rural Enfield and Newfield may remain offline into the evening though the bulk of outages are expected to be resolved shortly Residents are organizing informal help networks neighbors with generators are offering charging access and public Telegram groups are sharing status updates about road conditions Ithaca s residents works department has also placed portable traffic signals at key intersections to manage flow until electrical systems return Meanwhile local schools have shifted afternoon dismissal times by minutes to accommodate prospective delays Despite the chaos municipal officers praised the quick mobilization of state highway crews NYSEG restoration teams and volunteer firefighters County Emergency Management has reiterated warnings for viable afternoon storms and advised the society to secure loose outdoor items and monitor severe weather alerts Specific Angle WHY THIS MATTERS NOW This storm comes just days before July th festivities outdoor events and journey plans may be affected Problem Response IMMEDIATE GUIDANCE NYSEG Outage Hotline Tompkins Co Crisis Management OFFICIAL GUIDANCE Do not approach downed lines assume they re live and call NYSEG forthwith Tompkins County EM Director Jane Smith Update Log PM Tornado warning issued for southwestern Tompkins County PM Course closed due to downed trees and wires PM NYSEG reports customers without power PM Trail reopened after storm clearance Residents should continue reporting hazards and monitor official platforms this population s resilience depends on staying informed staying safe and staying connected
