News
Snow and Ice Hampering Power Restoration Efforts
By: Atish Baidya
Posted on:
Update 3/6/15 @ 10:35 a.m. AEP Ohio says more than 800 people are working on power restoration efforts in the aftermath of a winter storm that dumped at least seven inches of heavy wet snow across the region Thursday.
The power company says much of the affected areas are heavily forested with deep snow and bad road condition which is hampering repair efforts. Crews are also reporting the snow and ice on lines and equipment are preventing crews from seeing potential damage.
According to AEP Ohio’s outage map more than 16,000 customers across 12 counties are still without power Friday morning. The power company is asking customers affected by the outage to turn off their appliances and lights, including heating systems, to help prevent circuit overload situations as power is restored. Here is the estimated restoration times from AEP:
Southeast Ohio
Athens: 11:59 p.m. today
Glouster: 11:59 p.m. today
Jacksonville: 11:59 p.m. today
Marietta: 11:59 p.m. Saturday
Murray City: 11:59 p.m. today
Pomeroy: 11:59 p.m. Saturday
Trimble: 11:59 p.m. today
Southern Ohio
Chesapeake: 11:30 p.m. Saturday
Ironton: 11:30 p.m. Saturday
Portsmouth: 11:30 p.m. Saturday
Seaman: Noon. today
Wellston: 11:59 p.m. today
With frigid temperatures overnight and into Friday a number of shelters and warming stations are open for those without electricity:
Salvation Army
1001 9th Street
Portsmouth, Ohio (SCIOTO COUNTY) (NOTE: To open at 7:00 P.M. this evening)
First Baptist Church of Ironton
304 South 5th Street
Ironton, Ohio (LAWRENCE COUNTY) (NOTE: Open now. No posted closing time. Behind the church at their Faith and Fitness Center on the Vernon Street side)
Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Department
Sixth Street
Jacksonville, Ohio (Athens County) (Plan to be open for duration)
Glouster Fire Department
1 Firehouse
Glouster, OH. (Athens County) (Plan to be open for duration)
Manchester Community Building
4th & Pike Streets
Manchester. OH (Adams County)(Warming station only. No cots)
West Union Fire Department
57 Logan Lane
West Union, OH (Warming station only. No cots)
Green Township Fire Department
2243 Blue Creek Road
Stout, OH (Warming station only. No cots)
Middleport Village Hall
Pearl Street
Middleport, OH (Meigs County)
Chester Fire Department
St. Rt. 248
Chester, OH (Meigs County)
AEP is expected to provide another update Friday afternoon.
Update 5:40 p.m AEP Ohio estimates it won’t be until Saturday until some of its more than 24,000 customers without power have their service restored.
With temperatures expected to dip below zero Thursday night, a number of shelters and warming stations are open for those affected by the outages:
Salvation Army
1001 9th Street
Portsmouth, Ohio (SCIOTO COUNTY) (NOTE: To open at 7:00 P.M. this evening)
First Baptist Church of Ironton
304 South 5th Street
Ironton, Ohio (LAWRENCE COUNTY) (NOTE: Open now. No posted closing time. Behind the church at their Faith and Fitness Center on the Vernon Street side)
Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Department
Sixth Street
Jacksonville, Ohio (Athens County) (Plan to be open for duration)
Glouster Fire Department
1 Firehouse
Glouster, OH. (Athens County) (Plan to be open for duration)
Manchester Community Building
4th & Pike Streets
Manchester. OH (Adams County)(Warming station only. No cots)
West Union Fire Department
57 Logan Lane
West Union, OH (Warming station only. No cots)
Green Township Fire Department
2243 Blue Creek Road
Stout, OH (Warming station only. No cots)
Middleport Village Hall
Pearl Street
Middleport, OH (Meigs County)
Chester Fire Department
St. Rt. 248
Chester, OH (Meigs County)
The company estimates it will have some areas Athens County back up by 8 p.m. Thursday. Here is the estimated restoration times listed on AEP Ohio’s website.
Southeast Ohio
Athens: 11:59 p.m. Friday
Glouster: 8 p.m. tonight
Jacksonville: 8 p.m. tonight
Marietta: 6 p.m. Saturday
Murray City: 8 p.m. tonight
Pomeroy: 11:59 p.m. Friday
Trimble: 8 p.m. tonight
Southern Ohio
Chesapeake: 11:30 p.m. Saturday
Ironton: 11:30 p.m. Saturday
Portsmouth: 11:30 p.m. Saturday
Seaman: 11:59 p.m. today
Wellston: 11:30 p.m. Saturday
AEP Ohio says it has more than 830 line, tree, assessment, and support personnel working to restore power across 12 counties. Crews are reporting damage from falling trees, broken cross arms, and downed wires.
Update 11:30 a.m. More than 22,000 AEP Ohio customers are without power across 12 counties in southeast Ohio.
AEP Ohio says it could take up to 48 hours for power to be fully restored. The company is bringing in outside crews to help with restoration efforts.
Some area fire departments are setting up warming stations for those affected by the outages. The Jacksonville and Glouster volunteer fire departments are both open to those needing someplace warm to stay. Ohio University’s Baker Center is also open as a warming station. AEP Ohio customers in Scioto and Lawrence counties can go to the following shelters:
Salvation Army
1001 9th Street
Portsmouth, Ohio (NOTE: To open at 7:00 P.M. this evening)
First Baptist Church of Ironton
304 South 5th Street
Ironton, Ohio
(NOTE: Open now. No posted closing time. Behind the church at their Faith and Fitness Center on the Vernon Street side)
According to power company’s outage map, Scioto County has 6,770 customers without power. Other counties include:
-Athens: 3,894
-Meigs: 4,667
-Lawrence: 2,760
-Jackson: 2,772
AEP says it will begin providing restoration time estimates Thursday afternoon.
Thousands of people in Southeast Ohio are without power as a result of a strong winter storm which dumped several inches of wet snow across the region.
According to AEP Ohio’s outage map, just over 19,000 customers across 12 counties are without electricity. Those counties include:
-Athens: 3,655
-Meigs: 2,853
-Scioto: 5,275
On its website the company says the outages are primarily due to heavy snow on power lines and trees. Road conditions and flooding is hampering crews ability to get to certain areas to assess damage. The power company says restoration times will be provided as soon as possible.
Some area fire departments are setting up warming stations for those affected by power outages. The Jacksonville and Glouster volunteer fire departments are both open to those needing someplace warm to stay. Ohio University’s Baker Center is also open as a warming station.