Conditions improve; power returning

Approximately 4,500 LREC customers remain without power, down from 12,500 at the ice storm’s peak.

By BOB GIBBINS

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — As conditions continue to improve so does the number of Cherokee County residents without power.

Temperatures in Tahlequah made their way to 55 degrees Friday afternoon at the airport. Highs were expected to approach 60 Saturday before cooling again slightly today.

The latest figures from Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma show 750 Tahlequah customers without power. The number of Lake Region Electric Cooperative customers without power had dropped to approximately 4,500 by 5 p.m. Friday. At its peak, the storm had resulted in the interruption of power to 12,500 members.

LREC CEO Hamid Vahdatipour said Friday morning the cooperative’s broken pole count is up to 153.

“I’m sure that will go up more as we start working on the smaller tap lines and individual homes,” he said.

Vahdatipour said early damage estimates for the cooperative are approximately $2 million.

LREC’s main priority to date has been to restore power to the main distribution feeders.

When that task is complete, service personnel will continue to branch out from substations to repair the damages and restore power to members.

Fourteen main feeders were initially out of service and that number has been cut to a single feeder.

Westville, in Adair County, took a turn for the worse Friday, said Red Cross Director Hope Margarit. She said 60 percent of the town had electricity Thursday and, on Friday, 85 percent of the town was without electricity.

“We expect that the situation may get worse in many areas so we are continuing to shelter and feed people,” she said. Shelters are open in Cookson, Tahlequah, Tailholt, Stilwell and Westville. Those in Cherokee County needing to be transported to a Red Cross shelter may contact the emergency management office at 456-2894, Tahlequah Police Department at 456-8801 or the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 456-2583.

LREC customer service representatives have been answering phones and will continue to do so 24 hours a day until power is restored to all who can safely receive it. The high volume of calls may cause some to receive a busy signal during certain periods of the day.

The cooperative estimates all customers should have power restored by Tuesday, Feb. 3.