Published: January 31, 2009 12:25 am      

No relief in sight

Still digging out with more bad weather on the way

Fallen trees and power lines on Friday continued to plague emergency crews attempting to restore power, water and a semblance of order to northeast Kentucky.

Power company crews were working non-stop to mend poles and lines. Rescue workers pushed into the remotest hollows to check on rural residents. The Red Cross kept open emergency shelters for residents whose homes had lost electricity or water.

Emergency officials said keeping ahead of the next storm system is the top priority for the weekend.

“I can’t call this anything less than a devastating ice storm,” said Kentucky Power spokesman Ronn Robinson. The company brought in around 800 contract workers to augment its regular crews in restoring service, Robinson said.

By Friday they had gotten the power back on to about half the 33,000 customers blacked out by the storm, he said. About 90 percent of customers should have their power back by midnight Sunday.

The remainder, customers on single service drops or whose mastheads were damaged, should get juice by Wednesday, he said.

The power outages were caused primarily by ice-covered trees and limbs falling on lines. The extended cold made the situation worse because the ice remained on the limbs and caused more of them to crack.

Trees and ice also blocked roads, further hampering power company trucks from access to repair areas, Robinson said.

GREC update

The Grayson Rural Electric Cooperative had about 2,000 customers still without power Friday afternoon; CEO Carol Fraley estimated two or three more days would be necessary for complete restoration. Icy roads have been taking a toll on workers and equipment, she said.

The Boyd County Chapter of the American Red Cross has set up shelters in Boyd, Carter and Lawrence counties, said chapter executive Vicki James.

The Boyd shelter is at the Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department in Burnaugh, the Carter shelter is at the First Church of Christ on Pomeroy Street and the Lawrence shelter is at Appalachian Outreach in Louisa.

Hot meals are being served at the Rush Baptist Chapel. The Red Cross is considering setting up another shelter in Rush, James said.

Quite a few people still without power are hunkering down in their homes, but still need food, water and other basic items, she said. The best way to serve them is to get them to the shelters, she said. Emergency workers and resources are stretched thin and making repeated trips to deliver supplies is difficult.

Deliveries can be arranged for some elderly and shut-in residents. People needing help should call the Red Cross chapter at (606) 325-1626, James said.

Dispatchers for 911 services throughout the region are being overwhelmed with calls, officials said. People with non-emergency requests should call the Red Cross or their county emergency management agency.

A state of emergency remains in place in Boyd County and people should stay off the roads when possible, said deputy emergency management director Amber Russell. Primary routes are mostly cleared but some secondary roads are still clogged with snow and blocked by trees. Trees are still falling and causing further blockages.

Road crews in Greenup County were making headway Friday, said emergency management director Dennis Bass. Power had been restored to two pump stations that supply water to parts of the county.

Bass suggested residents conserve electricity and water as much as possible and keep emergency kits of flashlight, water and food handy.

Water service to parts of Lawrence County also had been restored Friday, said emergency management director Harold Sloan. All major roads were open and most secondary roads were passable. A shipment of bottled water was on its way and is to be distributed at the Fallsburg Volunteer Fire Department and Walnut Grove Church in Lowmansville.

All roads in Carter County are at least passable, said Judge-Executive Charles Wallace. Every available county worker and some volunteers have been toiling to clear snow and cut away fallen trees, he said.

State highway crews are still treating roads across the area, according to a release from the Kentucky Department of Highways.

Reports are being received about snow and ice still covering some secondary state roads in Boyd, Greenup and other counties. They include Ky. 966, Ky. 766 at Ironville, Ky. 854 near Rush and Ky. 757 (White’s Road). Problems include power lines down or trees in utility lines that are blocking access to portions of roadways.

The crews will work this weekend to prepare for more snow next week.

Motorists should be alert for highway crews and remember that ice may remain on roads, especially in areas of snow melt or flooding.

Power outages could still be affecting traffic lights. Intersections with lights completely out should be treated as four-way stops. If lights are flashing yellow, proceed with caution. If lights are flashing red, wait for a gap in traffic.

Meals on Wheels deliveries have been hampered by the storm but should be resumed Monday, weather permitting, according to a release from Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital.

The hospital suggested people check on neighbors who depend on the service.

The weekend may grant a short respite, with temperatures expected to rise near 50 by today. But more bad weather is on the way and may arrive Monday, said John Victory, a meteorologist for the Charleston office of the National Weather Service.

Moderate temperatures today and Sunday won’t be enough for significant thawing, Victory said. The freezing rain that saturated the snow has made it denser and harder to melt.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.