UPDATE: RESTORING TO 'NORMAL' BY MONDAY? - 'A Very Trying Time' Says Wood

(07/07/2012)
AEP has nearly 4,000 workers in the state restoring electric power, with crews doing work in every area of Calhoun county.

The power company is now saying Calhoun customers will be restored by the end of the day Monday.

The report indicated 2,100 Calhoun customers did not have power Friday.

The restoration effort is worse in some neighboring counties, including Clay.

Calhoun's regular group of volunteers have been at it for a week, from clearing highways to staffing centers or making well-being checks, and neighbors have been helping neighbors.

Despite severe temperatures and some storms crossing the area, power crews say they are making headway.

While Frontier does not provide numbers of customers without service, reports indicate many Calhoun citizens have not had phone service for a week. Crews are working on the restoration.

Calhoun OES/911 Director Kathy Wood, said yesterday that it has been non-stop finding solutions and answering calls since last Friday.

Wood has been sleeping at Calhoun Control. She expressed appreciation for the cooperation of citizens in a very trying time.

Power company officials say they are challenged by the heavily forested mountains and steep, hilly terrain and in many areas have been dealing with new thunderstorms.

Some of those storms, like in Roane County, are either knocking out power that had been restored or darkening homes that weren't affected last Friday.

During a tour of the county Tuesday by the Hur Herald, it was astonishing the number of poles and lines down, particularly on the side roads.