/ WSIP AM 1490 | CBS Sports
Feb 18, 2021 7:33 PM
Today, Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews worked overnight and into this morning to maintain mobility along critical routes across the state following the third winter storm to strike the commonwealth in a week.
More than half of customers impacted by power outages in Eastern Kentucky have had power restored.
“State road crews and contractors have been focusing on high-priority routes, and in some areas they are tackling secondary routes as well,” Gov. Beshear said. “In Eastern and Northeastern Kentucky especially, the challenge of clearing roads continues to be made more difficult by downed trees and power lines. Electricity has been restored to approximately 85,000 customers after outages peaked at 154,000. That’s substantial progress, but much work remains to be done until power is restored to every Kentuckian who has been impacted.”
In case you missed it:
We spoke on-air with Bruce Aaron Davis of Big Sandy RECC on Thursday afternoon for an update on power restoration in the area. You can hear that interview in it’s entirety using the player below.
The Johnson County Health Department reported 6 new COVID-19 cases in the county on Thursday. These 6 newly-reported cases bring Johnson County's tota.
The following is a release from Kentucky State Police:
On Tuesday, February 16, 2021 shortly after 12:00 PM, Kentucky State Police Post 11, London responded to assist local emergency services on a carbon monoxide poisoning call at a residence on Spring Cut Road in southern Laurel County.
The initial investigation revealed the home was without power due to the winter weather and the occupants of the residence had been using a fuel-operated generator to help operate a basement sump pump.
The victim, Darlene G. Skinner Ragland, 61 years old of Corbin, was transported by Laurel County EMS to Baptist Health in Corbin where she was subsequently pronounced deceased by the emergency room doctor. Her husband, Tony Ragland, and their grandchild were taken to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. They both have been treated and released.
Big Sandy RECC crews on Route 1092 in Flatgap, Kentucky (Johnson County) Photo: Big Sandy RECC
With yet another winter storm forecast to dump freezing rain, sleet and snow, especially on southeastern Kentucky, crews are continuing to work in frigid conditions Wednesday. After outages rose overnight to about 60,000 consumer-members, the statewide total for electric cooperative outages now stands at 45,840. At its height Tuesday morning, total outages for Kentucky co-ops surpassed 100,000.
Electric cooperatives report multiple broken poles. Big Sandy RECC alone reports an estimated 200 broken poles that need to be replaced before electrical equipment and wires can be installed.
“As we feared, the scope and scale of the damage suggests a prolonged outage. If you are currently without power, it is advisable to prepare for days without service, with the likelihood that it will take more than a week to restore power to all members,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of Kentucky