Kosciusko County hit hard by winter weather

By John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com)

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By WSBT News1

Story Created: Dec 19, 2008 at 5:49 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 19, 2008 at 5:50 PM EST

The wintry-mix produced heavy ice accumulations on trees and power lines on Friday. As temperatures move above freezing, it's still a challenge for electric companies to restore power. But they're working fast.

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Thousands of customers are still in the dark, and some of the hardest hit areas were in Northern Kosciusko County. WSBT trailed crews for an hour, watching as they stopped in neighborhood after neighborhood to restore the juice.

The ice accumulations didn't just leave trees sagging, many were toppled.

“Oh yeah you could hear it crackling and crinkling,” Said resident Lydia Ramos.

The weight of the ice brought power lines to levels that were dangerously low. Ramos lives next door to a low line.

“I'm really amazed that we still have electric,” she said. “I talked to my sister and they don't have power…I've never seen them that low.”

Poles and pines, encased in ice, began to melt. But warmer temperatures didn't come fast enough for REMC crews in northern Kosciusko County.

The blast of wintry weather was a heavy burden on lines.

“I heard a pop, a flash and a bang...another loud pop, and flash, and one more. Then the power was out,” said Jeff Shaver, whose neighborhood lost power.

At its peak, 7,000 people were still without power around noon.

“I came over to my mom and dad's house for lunch, and then they lost their power,” said Shaver.

REMC crews were busy, moving quickly across the county. Officials said extra work crews from other operations were brought in to help. Especially near Wabee Lake.

Shaver, though, is holding out for hope that power is restored soon.

“Everything in the fridge is still good,” he said. “I think the freezer is still good, but if we're out too much longer, we might have problems with that.”

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