New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation Prepare for Hurricane Henri

For Immediate Release: August 21, 2021

Contact: NYPA Media Relations | 914-681-6770 | media.inquiries@nypa.gov

The New York Power Authority is preparing for Hurricane Henri and its potential impact on its generation and transmission assets. The New York State Canal Corporation, a subsidiary of NYPA, also is preparing system wide and has issued a notice to mariners to alert boaters and marinas about the impending storm. NYPA and the Canal Corporation are proactively communicating and collaborating with sister state agencies, as well as with regional and local emergency preparedness professionals on storm readiness.

NYPA has activated its organization-wide Incident Command System (ICS) response operations in White Plains and has set up regional ICS commands in expected areas of impact including in Southeastern New York and in the Mohawk Valley. NYPA’s Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Plant is making special preparations to secure the facility and prepare for potential high water and high winds.

NYPA’s transmission operations team is pre-positioning staff, including line crews and drone pilots to assess any damage, in potentially affected areas. NYPA has begun its mutual aid agreement outreach to ensure partner utilities can rely on NYPA for assistance. NYPA’s electrical contractors on retainer have already made their contractors available to assist with storm preparation and response efforts. NYPA is also collaborating with its 51 municipal utilities and cooperatives outside the potentially affected areas to be ready to assist impacted utilities as needed.

NYPA incident command leaders and staff will monitor the storm and share future updates as needed through its website, social media channels and through the news media.

Canal Corporation

In preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Henri, the New York State Canal Corporation will preemptively lift its movable dams along the Erie Canal and Mohawk River between Lock E-8 (Rotterdam) and Lock E-15 (Fort Plain). The initial lowering of water levels throughout this area will begin overnight with the lifting of the movable dams commencing at 7:00 am Sunday, August 22, 2021.

By lifting the movable dams out of the water, water levels within the Erie Canal and Mohawk River will be significantly reduced to near winter levels, which could result in grounding of any vessels left unattended. Residents and mariners are encouraged to take appropriate actions regarding any vessels, docks, or other seasonal structures in these areas which may be impacted or damaged by the significantly reduced water levels.

Lifting the movable dams out of the water is a necessary action to mitigate the risk of flooding in this area.

For mariners seeking safe harbor, the Waterford Flight (Locks E-2 – E-6) will be available for any vessels arriving by 5:00 pm this afternoon. 

In addition, the Canal Corporation is taking preemptive measures to create additional storage capacity in both Hinckley and Delta Reservoirs in anticipation of precipitation from Hurricane Henri. The release of water will not result in any flooding in areas east of the reservoirs. Excess flows from precipitation earlier in the week, that impacted the areas of Utica and Rome, has had the opportunity to recede.

The Canal Corporation will continue to monitor the path of the storm and will update the public accordingly through additional Notice to Mariners alerts. Members of the public may sign-up to receive these notices at www.canals.ny.gov.