Power crews labor to restore service
Hundreds of customers whose communities were affected by the heavy rains and flooding on Friday are still without power in Fayette and Greene counties. As of Sunday night, 800 Allegheny Power customers in Fayette County were still without power. The outages were scattered throughout the power company’s coverage area, including the communities of Brier Hill, Confluence, Masontown, Smithfield Uniontown, Perryopolis, Dunbar, Dawson and Connellsville.
Janice Lantz, spokeswoman for Allegheny Power, said some people were left without power since Friday when the storm struck.
In the small community of Bitner located in Franklin Township off Route 51, residents were left without heat, electricity and even water after the creek nearby crested and torrential winds and rains knocked down power lines and trees. Power in Bitner was back on as of 7 p.m. Sunday after residents suffered almost two days without electricity.
Township Supervisor Tim Franks said he has never seen worse conditions.
“This year has been the worst for water,” he said. “It’s the 100-year rain.”
It was a group effort from the residents, firefighters and power officials that pulled the community through the ordeal, he said.
“It was a very good effort from Allegheny Power,” he said. “I can’t say enough about our fire departments – Flatwoods and Smock – and the people who were working together.”
He said residents were pitching in and working hard to clean up the area on Saturday and Sunday, and he was glad the weather cooperated for the cleanup.
“There were neighbors who usually don’t get along who were helping each other,” he said. “It was a group effort. Everybody was working in unison.”
In Greene County, Allegheny Power reported 370 customers without power in scattered areas such as Dilliner, New Freeport, Spraggs and Waynesburg on Sunday night.
Lantz said the power company is hoping to have power restored to all affected customers by today at 5 p.m.
Lantz said crews pulled from other service areas in addition to outside contractor hired to assist in the effort are working around the clock to restore power to customers.
She made a special request to those who have been without power for days, such as the case in Bitner.
“We ask for their patience and want them to know that we are working around the clock but there are some areas our crews couldn’t get into because of the weather conditions,” Lantz said.
In areas near rivers, flood waters denyed power crews access to problem areas, she said.
“We’re getting them in service as quickly as possible,” Lantz said.
She cautioned residents who reside in problem areas to stay away from downed power lines.
“We still don’t want to take any chances there,” she said.
In addition, customers can continue to call 1-800-ALLEGHENY for updates about power in their communities.