Powerful Storms Cause Widespread Damage and Outages in West Virginia
Powerful thunderstorms wreaked havoc across central and southern West Virginia on Friday, resulting in extensive damage and widespread power outages. Karen Wissing, spokesperson for Appalachian Power, revealed the extent of the storm’s impact during a Saturday morning update on the recovery efforts.
At its peak, more than 52,000 customers in the West Virginia service territory were left without power. However, as of Saturday afternoon, that number had been reduced to approximately 25,000. Despite the progress made, power company officials expressed concern about the possibility of more storms and high winds in the forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening. These unfavorable weather conditions might hamper the restoration efforts and delay the anticipated full restoration, originally scheduled for 11 p.m. Sunday.
The storms’ ferocious winds caused significant damage, primarily resulting from fallen trees and downed power lines. Karen Wissing explained that the repair work involves the installation of new poles and the replacement of damaged infrastructure. To expedite the power restoration process, over 800 line workers and appraisers from six states are diligently working alongside 700 tree clearing crews to remove storm debris and clear the way for repairs.
With assistance from crews hailing from Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Ohio, Appalachian Power strives to restore electricity as quickly as possible to those affected by the storms.
Apart from power outages, the storms also inflicted considerable damage on structures in the affected regions. The roof of Logan Elementary School was torn off, and part of the sign atop the Logan Regional Medical Center was twisted off due to the powerful winds.
Nicholas County, in particular, bore the brunt of the storm, with over half of its residents left without electricity at one point. Furthermore, a pontoon boat on Summersville Lake was overturned by the high winds on Friday evening, coinciding with the peak of the storm. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
The aftermath of the storms highlights the resilience and dedication of the power company’s personnel, as well as the collaboration between different states. Their concerted efforts guarantee a prompt response and a concentrated approach to restoring power to the affected areas. As they work tirelessly amidst the challenging conditions, their contributions play a significant role in bringing relief and normalcy back to the affected communities.
While the power company hopes to achieve full restoration by the previously set deadline, the unpredictable weather presents a potential setback. However, the commitment of these hardworking crews remains unwavering, keeping the affected residents’ needs at the forefront of their efforts.
