Saturday, December 19, 2009
Winter Storm Leaves Thousands Powerless
KENTUCKY...
Heavy, wet snow that began falling Saturday morning has left half of Pike County’s residents without power.
Nearly 35,000 people were powerless as of midday Saturday, and nearly 10,000 were without water.
“The number of people without water is probably going to grow,” Doug Tackett, Pike County Emergency Management Services director said.
It was first estimated that power would not be restored fully for seven to 10 days, but Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said that time period had to be decreased.
“We are bringing crews in from everywhere we can,” Rutherford said. “We have to cut that time period down. We are in a disaster and we know it will take some time, but we have to move as quickly as possible.”
Pike County officials are coordinating with each other as well as officials from the electric and water companies in an attempt to get power restored as soon as possible.
“We have people from the solid waste department helping the road crews and all volunteer fire departments have been cutting fallen trees since last night,” Tackett said. “We are out buying chainsaws to distribute to people the downed trees removed.”
The county government has instituted an emergency health plan to aid those residents who are in need of their prescription medication, are on dialysis or need oxygen or heat.
“Gov. Beshear will be here tomorrow,” Rutherford said. “The Red Cross has been activated and we are putting together an emergency meal plan.”
There are currently seven shelters open around the county, including Belfry, Phelps, Pike Central, Shelby Valley and East Ridge high schools, Phelps/Freeburn Senior Center and John Creek Elementary School.
County officials are also coordinating with employees from the state’s emergency management office and deputy judge-executive John Doug Hays is coordinating with jailer Rodney Scott in regard to work-release inmates who are available to go out and assist in any way.
(Release from Judge-Executive's Office)
Heavy, wet snow that began falling Saturday morning has left half of Pike County’s residents without power.
Nearly 35,000 people were powerless as of midday Saturday, and nearly 10,000 were without water.
“The number of people without water is probably going to grow,” Doug Tackett, Pike County Emergency Management Services director said.
It was first estimated that power would not be restored fully for seven to 10 days, but Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said that time period had to be decreased.
“We are bringing crews in from everywhere we can,” Rutherford said. “We have to cut that time period down. We are in a disaster and we know it will take some time, but we have to move as quickly as possible.”
Pike County officials are coordinating with each other as well as officials from the electric and water companies in an attempt to get power restored as soon as possible.
“We have people from the solid waste department helping the road crews and all volunteer fire departments have been cutting fallen trees since last night,” Tackett said. “We are out buying chainsaws to distribute to people the downed trees removed.”
The county government has instituted an emergency health plan to aid those residents who are in need of their prescription medication, are on dialysis or need oxygen or heat.
“Gov. Beshear will be here tomorrow,” Rutherford said. “The Red Cross has been activated and we are putting together an emergency meal plan.”
There are currently seven shelters open around the county, including Belfry, Phelps, Pike Central, Shelby Valley and East Ridge high schools, Phelps/Freeburn Senior Center and John Creek Elementary School.
County officials are also coordinating with employees from the state’s emergency management office and deputy judge-executive John Doug Hays is coordinating with jailer Rodney Scott in regard to work-release inmates who are available to go out and assist in any way.
(Release from Judge-Executive's Office)
# posted by Homer Owens @ 1:58 PM 
