Pittsford, N.Y. (WHAM) — Residents in Pittsford and Penfield are currently facing power outages as crews from RG&E and NYSEG work diligently to restore electricity following a powerful windstorm that struck the area on Thursday. The storm, which began around 2:30 p.m., was described by local resident Stacy Freed as resembling 'Armageddon' due to the intense winds and falling tree limbs.

Freed, who was on a Zoom call when the storm hit, reported that the sudden boom marked the end of her work call. She and her husband, Jeff Thompson, have lived in Pittsford for 13 years and noted that they had never experienced a storm of this magnitude before. The storm caused extensive damage, including downed power lines, which prompted the power company to shut down electricity to prevent any accidents.

Ken Pink, a local resident, was helping his son and daughter-in-law prepare their generator. He mentioned that while they typically experience one or two outages a year, this storm was significantly different. As of Friday morning, RG&E and NYSEG reported they were nearing full restoration, with expectations to restore power to the remaining customers by Saturday night.

To expedite the restoration process, the utility companies have deployed an additional 600 to 725 personnel. Meanwhile, Kevin Lindsay from Penfield, who had returned from South Carolina, was using his generator to keep his household running. He noted that power outages in his neighborhood are a recurring issue, occurring at least twice a year.

As the community awaits full power restoration, residents are adapting to the situation, with some relying on generators to maintain their daily routines. The ongoing efforts by utility crews are crucial for restoring normalcy to the affected areas.