Storm damage leaves 306 customers without power

Thursday's late afternoon thunderstorm packed some punch for Elizabethton Electric customers as high winds associated with the storm broke eight poles and damaged five transformers.

 

According to Elizabethton Electric General Manager Brandon Shell, a total of 26 electric system employees responded to the wide spread damage running from Stoney Creek and Dennis Cove to Milligan College. The only areas not impacted were Dry Creek and Sciota.

 

Trees also fell across lines and took out power.

 

"Everywhere we went the job wasn't a quick fix," Shell said. "Most repairs took anywhere from one and a half to two hours to repair."

 

Shell said that fortunately the system received a shipment of 40 foot poles recently after having been out a month ago as the poles are like most other things that are related to supply chain issues.

 

Crews left the electric system around 4 am on Friday morning only to return for regular shift duty at 7:30 am. Shell said that he was working to get the remaining issues left by the Thursday storm corrected as soon as possible so he could get his crews home for some rest should the snowfall that was being called for on Friday night occurred which might require the crews to respond once again.


Thursday's late afternoon thunderstorm packed some punch for Elizabethton Electric customers as high winds associated with the storm broke eight poles and damaged five transformers.