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DOWNTOWN
RESIDENT BULLETIN
SEVERE WEATHER ALERT
Albany Water is asking residents and businesses to prepare for a severe weather event expected December 24-25:
According to the National Weather Service, there is a high probability of heavy rains in the Capital Region beginning Thursday evening, December 24 through Friday afternoon, December 25, with the heaviest rains overnight. Based on initial estimates, the City of Albany could experience 1 to 3 inches of rain within 24 hours, along with wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour.
The forecasted rain will fall on a deep snowpack from last week’s historic snowstorm, leading to significant snow melt. Any snow melt combined with 1 to 3 inches of rain could cause localized flash flooding, especially in areas that are prone to flooding. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for dozens of municipalities across the region, including the City of Albany.
Over the past seven days, the City’s Department of General Services and New York State Department of Transportation have removed more than 87,000 cubic feet of snow from City streets, and Albany Water Department crews have been working to clear catch basins in flood prone areas to help mitigate localized flooding.
The City of Albany is recommending that residents and businesses prepare by:
making sure catch basins are clear
removing snow from around fire hydrants
keeping belongings off basement floors and other areas prone to flooding
clearing rain gutters and directing downspouts away from foundations
Important Contacts During Severe Weather:
in an emergency, call 911
to report flooding or sewer backups, call Albany Water Department Dispatch at 518.434.5322
to report power outages and determine area repair schedules, call National Grid at 800.642.4272
Learn more about long-term infrastructure improvements to help prevent localized flooding in Albany by clicking here.
NATIONAL GRID SCAM ALERT
With the holidays in full swing and the COVID-19 pandemic causing financial stress, National Grid is providing information following reports that scammers are contacting residential and commercial customers looking to collect financial information by saying either the customer owes the utility money, or promising the customer refunds or discounts. In light of this, National Grid has provided these tips:
never – under any circumstances – offer personal or financial information to someone who you cannot identify
scammers will not have access to your account information, and you should never provide that information if you are asked.
National Grid representatives who call you will know your account number.
verify that you are speaking with a National Grid representative. Ask the caller to provide the last five digits of your National Grid account number.
if the caller does not know your account number, hang up the phone.
To learn more about protecting yourself from scams, visit ngrid.com/scam
