MOUNT VERNON — The fifth day without power looms as electricity crews scramble to restore massive windstorm damage across the state of Ohio. As of 9 a.m. this morning, approximately half of Knox County remains powerless.
American Electric Power, the largest supplier in the central part of the state, projected that 9,596 of its customers— over half— are still without electricity. Although it may not come as much consolation to those still in the dark, Knox County’s percentage is well ahead of other outlying areas in AEP’s service area. Ross County has less than 1 percent of customers reconnected. The company reported that more than 3,000 line employees, contract line personnel and tree trimmers are working throughout the state to repair connections.
A statement from AEP said it is important to note that AEP Ohio cannot connect power to any home or business where there is damage to the service entrance. The service entrance is the area located 1) at the meter, 2) between the meter and the home’s electrical panel, or 3) the location where AEP Ohio’s cable connects to the home/business owner’s cable. According to the statement, customers must have any such damage repaired by a qualified electrician before power can be restored to the home or business. AEP is not projecting when Knox County will be restored to power.
First Energy was reporting less than 1,000 outages in Knox County as of 9 a.m. today. The Energy Cooperative reported that as of 7 a.m. today, its 300 Knox County customers were still without power. Consolidated Electric Cooperative stated at 8 a.m. that it has less than 100 customers without power in Knox County, and requested that any customers still lacking power call the company to make sure that no one is overlooked.
According to the Knox County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the following Union Township roads are still reported closed: Body Road, McElroy Road, Pritchard Road and Mowery Road. The Knox County Water Department is asking residents in Apple Valley and Howard to continue to conserve water as much as possible. The water supply has been on generator at the well field since Sunday.
Comfort stations in the Knox County area have served over 200 people during the past 24 hours, according to the Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross. The stations will be in operation from noon to 5 p.m. today at the following locations:
•Martinsburg Fire House, 3051 Millersburg Road, Martinsburg.
•Salvation Army, 206 E. Ohio Ave., Mount Vernon.
•Howard Fire Station, 23059 Coshocton Road, Howard.
•Fredericktown First Presbyterian Church, 17 S. Main St., Fredericktown.
The Knox County compost site on Thayer Road has been opened for tree and limb debris only. The site has been expanded due to the amount of debris. The new site is across from the current site, in an area marked with yellow tape.
Residents are also reminded not to touch, contact or drive under downed power lines, and to treat nonfunctioning traffic lights as four-way stops.
