Camping out is a popular American pastime, as evidenced by the roughly 42.5 million people who go camping each year. Earlier this month, scores of Rochester residents may have felt like they were camping — but for most, it was anything but a recreational experience.
A record-breaking windstorm tore through the Rochester area in early March, with hurricane-force winds clocking in at 60 miles per hour. A 29-car freight train was blown off the tracks in Genesee County. The wind speed actually reached 81 miles per hour around that time, destroying countless trees, damaging homes, and causing power outages for more than 100,000 customers throughout Monroe County, as well as tens of thousands more in the surrounding areas.
In fact, the storm caused the most widespread power outage in the city in nearly 15 years. Delays in power restoration were made worse by frigid temperatures. Downed trees and power lines throughout the city led to a flurry of calls to 911 that overloaded the system. Rochester officials actually had to beg residents to stop calling.
Numerous homes and businesses sustained damages due to tree and wind damage. According to roofing and siding experts, average wind damage costs around $5,757, but with the intensity of the storm, these claims may end up costing Rochester homeowners upwards of $10,000 to fix.
The waiting room in a dental office on Culver Road was virtually destroyed when a giant tree fell on the building. Thankfully, the business wasn’t open at the time. While many residents were spared by the storm, six people reportedly died in the storm and its aftermath.
But despite the widespread darkness, the generous spirit of the city’s residents shed some much needed light and warmth for those in need. Homeowners, business owners, and community centers opened their doors to those who remained without power for days, and officials worked around the clock to restore electric services. Numerous companies came in from out of town (from as far away as Canada and New York City) to provide additional assistance.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo criticized RGandE’s response to the events and called for an investigation into the matter. And while some Rochester residents may be frustrated with the delay in restoring power, most were just eager for winter to be over. Unfortunately, right when most households were slated to get their power back, the city saw two feet of snow thanks to Winter Storm Stella.
There’s no doubt about one thing, though: March certainly came in like a lion in Rochester. Now, most locals are hoping that the rest of the month is a bit more lamblike.
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