Power outages continue throughout area

Power outages continue throughout our area, with more than 3,600 outages in and around Columbus according to Duke Energy.

More than 1,000 customers are without power in Jennings County and more than 600 around Seymour.

Bartholomew County REMC is reporting 135 customers without power.

Crews have placed stop signs at busy intersections in Columbus as power outages continue. As of 5 p.m. those intersections included National Road and Washington Street, 25th Street and Central Avenue and the streets around Columbus North High School.

Chip Orben, with Duke Energy, says crews are still assessing damages in areas including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties. No restoration time has been established for those areas.

He says crews are working as quickly and safely as they can to restore power. Reports earlier in the day put the number of outages at more than 10,000 in our area. But the freezing rain is causing the conditions to continue to worsen.

“Freezing rain causes more damage to our electrical system than any other form of precipitation,” Orben said. “It clings to tree limbs, causing them to lean or fall on power lines. This has caused extensive damage to power lines in certain areas.”

Orben suggested that people with special needs or medical concerns may want to to make alternative arrangements in the vent of an extended power outage. He also urged people to check in on family members, friends and neighbors to ensure they are safe and have necessary supplies.

At about 3:15 p.m., a large tree fell into power lines taking out the power in the area around Columbus North High School, Northside Middle School, Schmitt Elementary and St. Bartholomew’s Catholic School and affecting about 700 other customers. Orben said a contractor has been called in to clear the damage but there is no estimate yet on when that might happen.