LEXINGTON, Ky. — A severe storm swept through the region on Friday, leaving thousands of residents without power. Kentucky Utilities (KU) reports that around 200,000 people were impacted by the storm, with approximately 40,000 customers affected in Lexington alone.
According to KU spokesman Daniel Lowry, the storm caused the downing of more than 250 power lines. As of Saturday afternoon, the restoration efforts were underway, with estimates indicating that power might not be fully restored until Tuesday night.
Mike Heath, a Lexington homeowner who lost power, expressed frustration over the situation. “I really do not recall a storm of that magnitude since we’ve lived in Lexington,” he said. Heath had to dispose of food due to the delay in restoration, estimating the loss would amount to several hundred dollars.
“Be patient because they are out there on the ground really trying to get the power back on,” Heath added, acknowledging the hard work of the utility crews braving the inclement weather.
Lowry confirmed that KU has deployed approximately 500 line technicians and is set to receive an additional 400 technicians from neighboring states to assist in the power restoration efforts. While frustrations are high, he stated that the utility company has a plan in place to restore power to all affected customers.
Mayor Linda Gorton shared her concerns about the impact of the storm and emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by residents. “We’re making progress and hope to have everybody restored by Tuesday night,” said Lowry. This timeline indicates that some residents may face an extended outage of four to five more days.
As efforts continue, the community is urged to remain patient and supportive of the restoration work underway.
