Kentucky Power Ice Storms Response
Thursday, February 18, 7 p.m.
Situation
Kentucky Power is diligently working to address power outages that occurred as a result of two destructive ice storms and one snow storm that moved through the area in the past week.
Storm response efforts
So far today crews have restored power to approximately 5,000 customers. Dangerous situations continue to hamper restoration efforts including today with melting snow and ice bringing down trees and heavy limbs. Crews also continue to encounter difficult conditions on back roads and in hollows, while also finding more damage along the way. Because of the way the weather changed today, additional outages occurred throughout the day leaving a total of 29,000 currently without power.
More than 2,000 line employees, foresters and assessors are working on service restoration. Crews from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee are assisting Kentucky Power and its business partners.
Estimated restoration times
Broad estimated restoration times are available for most areas. Boyd, Carter and Lawrence counties were hardest hit and there is extensive damage to the circuits providing electricity in these areas. Weather permitting, additional aerial damage assessment will take place tomorrow and hopefully estimated restoration times can be made available for the remaining areas.
95% of customers in the following areas will be restored by the dates below. Keep in mind, thousands of customers will continue to see power restored each day, meaning many more will receive power before the stated date.
Kentucky Power’s Ashland District:
Olive Hill: Friday night, February 19
Ashland (City): Monday night, February 22
Grayson (City): Monday night, February 22
Greenup County: Monday night, February 22
Kentucky Power’s Hazard District:
Hazard and surrounding areas: Friday night, February 19
Kentucky Power’s Pikeville District:
Harold: Friday night, February 19
Left Beaver: Friday night, February 19
Prestonsburg: Friday afternoon, February 19
Right Beaver: Friday night, February 19
Inez: Saturday afternoon, February 20
Paintsville: Sunday evening, February 21
Virgie: Sunday evening, February 21
West Liberty: Sunday evening, February 21
This hopefully will give customers an opportunity to plan for outages that will continue through the weekend and beyond. We realize that some customers have been without power since the first storm and we continue to make them a priority.
Outages:
Counties with the most outages include:
Boyd—11,000 customers
Breathitt—350 customers
Carter—4,000 customers
Greenup—1,750 customers
Johnson—800 customers
Lawrence—5,500 customers
Magoffin—1,500 customers
Perry—1,200 customers
Rowan–1,000
Safety Message
Do not go near any downed wires. Consider all wires live and dangerous even if you think they are phone or cable. Report hazardous situations immediately by call 1-800-572-1113 or 911.
Available Warming Stations available
Breathitt County
First Church of God (1772 Hwy 30 W, Jackson) is open as a warming center. Contact Jackson Police Department for more details at 606-666-2424 or 606-666-2425.
Boyd County
Boyd County Convention and Arts Center 15605 KY-180 Catlettsburg
Center is open 24 hours a day. It has chairs and cots; social distancing guidelines will be enforced. National Guard Crews are on site to assist in operations and transportation to the center. Anyone who needs assistance should call Boyd County Emergency Operations Center at 606-393-1801 or 606-393-1842.
Carter County
First Baptist Church of Grayson (162 North Court Street, Grayson) is open as a warming center. The church is open 24 hours a day.
Elliott County
Whitt and Sons Funeral Home (Highway 7 & 32 North, Sandy Hook) and Route 504 Volunteer Fire Department (6794 State Hwy 504, Olive Hill) are open as warming centers. Contact Elliott County Emergency Services (606) 738-6000 for more information.
Floyd County
Floyd County Community Center (Route 80, Martin) is open as a warming center. Please call (606) 886-9193 for more information.
Knott County
The following locations are open as warming stations:
- Hindman Volunteer Fire Department, 89 Cowtown Road, Hindman
- Human Services Center, 40 Center Street, Hindman
- Fisty Volunteer Fire Department, 1736 Trace Branch Road, Fisty
- Kite Topmost Volunteer Fire Department, 10018 S Highway 7, Kite
- Lotts Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 6894 Lotts Creek Road, Lotts Creek
- Vicco Sassafras Volunteer Fire and Rescue, 357 Main Street, Vicco
- Ball Creek Fire Department, 4874 Possum Trot Road, Leburn
- Carr Fork Fire Department, 25 Ky-582, Pine Top
- Jones Fork Volunteer Fire Department, 9671 Ky-550, Mousie
- Knott County Fire & Rescue, 2048 S Hwy 7, Dema
- Pippa Passes Fire Department, 16 Service Drive, Pippa Passes
If you need additional assistance, contact Knott County Emergency Management 606-785-9386 or 606-276-7178 or Jeff Dobson, County Judge Executive 606-785-5592.
Letcher County
Letcher Co Recreation Center (1505 Jenkins Rd, Whitesburg) is open as a warming center. Contact Letcher County Emergency Management for more information 606-633-0429.
Magoffin County
Lloyd M. Hall Community Center (88 Church House Road, Salyersville) is open as a warming center. Contact Magoffin County Emergency Management for more details 606-349-2313.
Salyersville Fire Department at 379 Maple Street. Contact the fire department at 606-349-3256 for more details.
Perry County
Perry Co Courthouse (481 Main St, Hazard)
Contact Perry County Emergency Management for more information 606-439-1816.
Gospel Light Baptist Church (100 Independence Drive, Hazard) is open as a warming center. Please contact Chris Fugate at 606-233-5660 for more details
Rowan County
A warming center at the Laughlin Building (Morehead University Campus) is open. There is a lot of space at this facility, and social distancing guidelines will still be able to be enforced, and masks are available. The doors are unlocked Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Call 606-207-5028 if you require entry after these hours.
For More Information
Customers can report outages and check the latest restoration information for their account anytime at kentuckypower.com/outages or by downloading the Kentucky Power mobile app at kentuckypower.com/app. The outage map is updated every 15 minutes. Restoration information is added when known. Click on “View Outage Map” to access the map on a computer, cell phone, or tablet. Customers can report outages online, on their mobile device or to our Customer Operations Center at 1-800-572-1113. Information also is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyPower and on Twitter at twitter.com/KentuckyPower or @KentuckyPower.
Next Update:
Friday, February 19, 10:30 a.m.
Thank you to all those out there working day and night to restore the power for all of us!! I hope they know just how much we appreciate all they’re doing for us!!
I appreciate all of the AEP workers and the out of state workers. 🙌🏻 I know you guys are working hard. Thank you!!
P.S. Hopefully we get to see y’all out Fallsburg.