Crews Working to Restore Power
Local News
by
Nicole Sabbatino
last edited on
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Repair crews in the Dakotas have been working round-the-clock to restore power to thousands of customers who lost service during icy weather.
South Dakota officials say about 7,400 customers are still without power Sunday, down from 12,000 since Friday.
Power companies expect it to take several days, possibly even a week, before services are restored in all areas.
Heavy wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour have been thwarting power crews' efforts.
Twenty-two shelters remain open state wide for people without electricity.
Governor Mike Rounds is asking South Dakotans to check on their neighbors.
“The best thing in the world we can do is to find the individuals who might need assistance. If we can get individuals out there who are listening to these broadcasts to take the time to check on the elderly, to check on anybody in their neighborhood that they think might need medical assistance, or maybe a shut in. This is a time in which they can really help us in our efforts," says Rounds.
Although temperatures have been relatively mild for the past few days, forecasters say temperatures will be significantly lower.