DUTCHESS COUNTY – A violent series of thunderstorms tore through Dutchess County on July 4, causing substantial damage from Poughkeepsie to Pawling, triggering widespread power outages, downed trees, and a fire that destroyed a pharmacy. Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino spent the week touring the county and surveying the damage, issuing a report late this week.
“I witnessed firsthand the generosity and compassion of neighbors helping neighbors, the epitome of the thoughtfulness that defines Dutchess County,” Serino wrote.
Taking note of the widespread damage that shut down most of the county, except for the City of Poughkeepsie, which proceeded with a fireworks celebration, Serino explained the work of the county employees and the volunteer first responders throughout the county. “The damage was intense,” she said, noting that more than 40,000 were without electricity, roads were closed, and downed trees slowed the response of emergency personnel.
“From the beginning, our highway crews, first responders, and utility partners worked tirelessly to clear roads and restore power,” Serino proclaimed.
In Pawling, a downed utility pole near the CVS pharmacy in the village caused a multi-alarm fire at the pharmacy, eventually destroying the building.
Praising the collaboration of the community in the storm’s aftermath, Serino said, “A great example of that collaboration was the effort to ensure our neighbors in Pawling continue to have access to prescriptions and other needed health items after downed powerlines led to a fire that destroyed the CVS in the Village of Pawling. I was so pleased to work with Pawling Mayor Lauri Taylor, Supervisor Cathy Giordano, the Governor’s Office, Congressman Mike Lawler, and the CVS Corporate Office to ensure our neighbors’ needs continue to be met with free prescription delivery for Pawling residents from the CVS in Dover and a special CVS “mobile” pharmacy that is being deployed to Pawling to maintain access to essential services.”
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