By TIM PRESTON — The Independent
Ashland — A few inches of wet, clinging snow caused problems for many in the area Saturday morning, and left some families without electricity.
The combination of weighted tree limbs and power lines affected rural communities and city neighborhoods alike, with many of the problems occurring as the snow began to melt around noon.
Kentucky Power advised customers: “Heavy snow covered much of Kentucky Power’s service territory Friday and Friday night causing extensive damage to power equipment and approximately 70,000 customers to lose power. Wet, heavy snow has brought down trees and tree branches across power lines throughout the service area. As the snow continues to fall today, the company expects additional outages to occur.”
As of Saturday afternoon, Kentucky Power crews were dealing with 2,792 outages in the Ashland area, which included Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lawrence counties. More serious outage problems were reported in Johnson, Martin, Morgan, Magoffin, Pike, Knott, Floyd, Letcher, Leslie, Breathitt and Perry counties.
Repairs are expected to take several days to complete, according to a statement from Kentucky Power.
“At this time, the best estimate the company can provide for full power restoration to all of its customers is Dec. 27, although this estimate is subject to change for the better or worse as the storm continues to manifest itself. The vast majority of customers will have their power restored before that date, however. Damage to power company facilities is extensive,” the company advised on their web site.
Several minor accidents were reported along local highways and streets, although city crews and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet workers were up and ready with salt and snow plows before sunrise. State highway officials, who have a crew of 100 workers with 75 snow plows and salt trucks to battle winter storm conditions, measured precipitation at near two inches in Boyd County at 4 a.m. Saturday, with accumulations around four inches in Carter County.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.
