A widespread power outage has left numerous homes in Crown Heights without electricity, putting many elderly and vulnerable residents at risk amid the summer heat. Please take a moment to reach out to your neighbors, especially seniors or those with medical needs, to ensure they are safe, cool, and have access to essential resources.
A major power outage has struck Crown Heights, leaving thousands of residents without electricity during one of the summer’s most intense heatwaves. With cooling systems down and essential services disrupted, seniors and vulnerable individuals are facing heightened risk.
Officials are urging residents to check in on their neighbors. “We should all check on our neighbors, especially our elders or people who are vulnerable,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “They need to stay cool and hydrated. Make sure they’re drinking water and staying out of the heat.”
Governor Kathy Hochul repeated the concern. “New Yorkers, this record-setting heat wave is almost over,” she said, “but with energy usage spiking, we need to be careful.”
Con Edison has confirmed that outages are affecting over 6,000 customers across Brooklyn. “Due to an electric problem in Central Brooklyn, we had to shut off power to almost 900 customers temporarily to prevent more extended outages,” the company said. “We’re completing repairs as quickly as possible.”
In a 6:30 PM update, Con Edison said crews are working through the heat to restore power and that service is expected to be fully restored by 2 AM, Thursday, June 26. “We’re asking customers to help ease the load on our system,” the company added. “If you have two air conditioners, use only one. Don’t run washers, dryers, or microwaves unless absolutely necessary.”
To support those affected, Con Edison is distributing dry ice at Public School 189 on East New York Avenue until 10:30 PM or until supplies run out.
At 1414 Eastern Parkway, the dormitory for Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch, the air conditioning has failed, leaving bochurim to endure sweltering heat with no way to cool down. “There’s no managing,” one bochur shared. “We’re just waiting it out and hoping the power comes back soon.” He added, “Hopefully someone will be here to restart the system the moment it’s back.”
Con Edison replied, “We have implemented a voltage reduction in that area. We are working to restore full service as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
Along Kingston Avenue, many stores were forced to close due to the blackout. The power outage left them unable to stay open, with some shutting early and others not opening at all.
Despite the blackout, the main mikvaos in Crown Heights stayed open. Generators kept them running, allowing regular use even as much of the neighborhood lost power.
Traffic lights at several intersections, including Crown and Kingston, and Crown and Albany, are also out. Residents are urged to use extreme caution when traveling through these areas.
Con Edison encourages residents to report outages online at conEd.com/reportoutage, through the mobile app, or by calling 1-800-75-CONED. “We know how hard this is,” the company said. “We are committed to getting your power back as soon as possible.”
Customers can report outages and check service restoration status at www.conEd.com/reportoutage, or with our mobile app for iOS or Android devices, or by calling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When calling, customers should report whether their neighbors also have lost power.
Customers who report outages will receive updates from Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available. Information on outages and restoration times is also available at the Con Edison outage map.
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