Eduardo Medina is reporting for the Times Union approximately 68,000 National Grid customers in the Albany area were still without power on Fri., Oct. 9. A deadly thunderstorm knocked down trees and power lines throughout the region mid-week. Many of those without power in their homes started queueing up in their vehicles at Crossgates Mall at 8 a.m., Friday, for a handout of dry ice promised by National Grid that never materialized. The giveaway was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and by 11:30 a.m., it was clear the dry ice would not be arriving any time soon. A National Grid spokesperson on the scene said a shipment of dry ice might arrive later; she attributed the no-show delivery to a short supply of the product. Similar giveaways were also scheduled in Schenectady and Rensselaer counties. WNYT-Albany is reporting thousands in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts were also without power. For some, restoration was not expected until Sat., Oct. 10. A family in West Springfield said they were lucky to be alive after a massive tree came crashing through their roof. "My power line is sitting on my front yard over there coiled up; it's not even hooked to the house anymore, so I have no idea when I'm going to get power back,” said Edward Pajak. The power utility Eversource Energy released a statement saying it understood the frustration experienced by its customers as the effort to get the lights back on continued.