The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Front Page

November 2, 2012

Over half of Wyoming is without electricity

By Mary Catherine Brooks Wyoming County Bureau Chief

— More than 50 percent of Wyoming County residents were still without electricity Thursday as a result of damages inflicted by Superstorm Sandy, according to Dean Meadows, Emergency Services director.

Oceana customers were still without water due to the lack of a generator at the water plant.

Meadows, who before has always been able to obtain a state-owned generator to provide temporary power to the Oceana water plant, said that will be unlikely this time.

“The storm was so wide-spread, those generators are going to hospitals, nursing homes and the like, and Oceana is down on the priority list,” he explained.

To complicate matters, the problem with the electricity running to the water plant is in such a location that crews cannot drive to the area. Instead, they are forced to drag the equipment to the site, Meadows explained.

Crews are still working around the clock all over the county, Meadows noted, and were bringing communities back online as soon as possible.

Three schools were still without power Thursday afternoon — Herndon, Road Branch, and Glen Fork, according to James McGrady, assistant superintendent of county schools.

That is unlikely to change by Friday morning, according to officials.

“With so many people still out of power and Oceana still without water, it makes it tough for the students and employees,” McGrady explained.

Thursday afternoon, officials were still assessing the feasibility of having school Friday.

Shelters remained open at Mullens Opportunity Center, Oceana City Hall, and Cook Memorial Baptist Church in Pineville.

— E-mail: mcbrooks@register-herald.com

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