Columbia line workers are continuing to make progress with power restoration and repairs in neighborhoods damaged by Monday night's storms. The city's most recent outage map indicates that the number of customers currently without power is down from 16,000 Monday night, to a little more than a thousand customers affected this morning.
Work on the major problems on Fairview Road, where six 80-foot utility poles were broken by the storms, continues, and is expected to be completed this (Thursday) evening. The areas of Spring Valley, Lynwood and Brandon Road seem to be at the forefront of repairs this morning, and a statement from the city says these have presented some of the biggest difficulties in restoration efforts because the electric lines are located in backyards.
Columbia Water & Light crews have worked with crews from across the state to restore power to customers, but the city says progress has been hindered by the amount of debris and damage crews are encountering at neighborhoods, streets and homes.
The city's press statement released yesterday evening also urges caution for residents: "Private tree trimmers are urged to not to block roadways when clearing debris. Electric crews need street access for large trucks and equipment. If private tree trimmers are working near downed power lines, they are urged to stay away from any downed lines. Lines could be energized at any time by electric crews."
In the released statement, Columbia officials say crews have been working 16 hour days.
