(10/27/06) MAMARONECK - Westchester and Hudson Valley officials, as well as power companies, are preparing for the worst as more bad weather nears this weekend.

After months of harsh criticism for its response times, Con Edison took extra precautions for this weekend's upcoming storm. Con Ed predicts more than 9,000 Westchester homes will experience power outages. Officials say there are an increased number of repair crews on hand and additional customer service representatives are available to answer questions across the county. Orange and Rockland Utilities, serving parts of Hudson Valley, also announced additional crews availability throughout the weekend.

County Executive Andrew Spano (D-Westchester) says after a call with the National Weather Center, efforts across the area have been coordinated for a quick response. He warns residents to take extra caution on the roads and to watch for falling trees due to expected brutal winds.