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Trees, lines down due to weather events |
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Thursday, 30 October 2008 |
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By MICHELLE ZLOMKE
Chief Managing Editor
Two weather events in four days caused extensive damage to trees and utilities throughout the area
“From what I understand, the major problems were with trees and branches falling on power lines and lines coming down,” said Custer County Emergency Management Director Troy Smith.
A weather system overnight last Wednesday prompted severe weather warnings and brought heavy, wet snow to the area.
Smith said that event brought down large trees throughout the area and knocked some trees into power lines.
Utility crews in and around Broken Bow worked to restore power where it had been cut off by the damaged lines.
“A good chunk of the town was without electricity,” said Broken Bow Utilities Lineman Roger Aveslgard.
A power outage in Merna resulted in water restrictions for that community.
The community’s Utilities Superintendent, Ivan Phelps, said power was out in the community for about four hours.
When that occurred, the town’s water pumping system shut down and the lift station filled up.
Phelps explained that the system relies on positive pressure to keep untreated water from entering the system. When that pressure is absent, water is allowed back into the system.
“We want to protect the citizens,” Phelps said. “Don’t use your ice or water system built into your refrigerator. Boil your water before drinking or using it in cooking.”
Bottled drinking water is available at the village office.
He said the community will have to wait for a state inspection before the boil water order is lifted.
A wind storm Sunday multiplied the problems in the area.
Smith said wind gusts as high as 74 miles per hour in the region again damaged trees.
Also, he reported, the high winds knocked over utility poles near Broken Bow.
Smith also noted that the wind storm caused property damage in the area.
Near the police station in Broken Bow, a dumpster was blown across the parking lot, damaging a State Patrol car and a vehicle belonging to the Custer County Sheriff’s department.
He said he also knew of other vehicles that were damaged by falling trees.
Stuart Fox, co-owner of Tiffany Theater in Broken Bow said the wind peeled back the roofing at the top of the two-story building
As a result, one heating unit for the building was completely destroyed and another sustained extensive damage, Fox said.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 November 2008 )
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