As Debby moves through the Tri-state; utilities and charities expect the worst

PURCHASE, N.Y. (PIX11) -- The combination of high winds on Friday, combined with the rains of the last week, along with the rain that's in the forecast has made for some potentially hazardous conditions in areas north of the city. 

It's why Con Edison, the local utility, created a massive deployment of utility trucks, personnel, and equipment based out of a lot at SUNY Purchase. 

It was in anticipation of a need to restore power to customers affected by the remnants of the hurricane. 

Deanne Ostrowski supervised the emergency reaction force assembled in the northern suburban location. She explained why it was needed. 

"The ground is really saturated, as far as the amount of rain we have had," she said in an interview in the middle of the emergency deployment lot, "and the wind, as you can see, is blowing."

"When the wind hits those leaves," she continued, "there's a good chance that trees may come down and impact our overhead systems."

Anticipating that impact, the deployment location she'd set up had some 600 technicians who'd been brought in from other utilities from as far away as Indiana and North Carolina. In addition, there were hundreds of dumpster-sized crate...