A downed tree knocked out power to a Mount Vernon
neighborhood overnight.
Police say heavy winds toppled the tree across
West 4th Street.
In addition
to
blocking the entire street, the tree took down power lines. The neighborhood is one of the most densely populated areas in the city with three major housing communities.
More than
1,600 customers originally lost power, but that number is now down to around
600.
It will
take some time for the remaining homes to get electricity back on because crews
will have to remove the tree before ConEd workers can repair the remaining
lines.
West 4th
street is closed between 5th and 6th avenues, and police are asking motorists
to avoid the area.
Crews
say it’s going to take several hours to clear the tree.
They're estimating power to be restored sometime later this
afternoon.