News

Utility crews restore power to nearly all homes

By Bill Moss, Published: January 6, 2014

The frigid weather overnight caused widespread power outages in Henderson County and forced officials to close schools because several schools had no electricity, school administrators said. A large area in Edneyville and parts of downtown Hendersonville were blacked out before 10 a.m. but by 4 p.m. all but 121 customers had their power back on, Duke Energy said on its website.

The area was under a wind chill warning until noon today.

Duke Energy reported at 10 a.m. that 7,638 customers were without power in Henderson County, making it the hardest hit county in Duke's service area. More than 1,000 customers were without power in Edneyville, the utility's map of outages said. Other hard-hit areas were along U.S. 276 between Cedar Mountain and Brevard in Transylvania County. By 1 p.m. crews had restored power to 4,500 households and businesses, leaving 3,109  in the cold. Three hours later, the number without power dropped to 212 in isolated pockets.

"The major problem we had this morning was due to a 44 kV (44,000-volt) transmission line going out,” said Craig DeBrew, a Duke Energy district manager. The electric line fed the Beech Street substation off Seventh Avenue, which powers parts of downtown. That outage also affected an Edneyville substation that serves more than 5,000 customers. “We were able to do some switching and isolate the damaged facility and get those substations reenergized,” he said.

“Our guys have done an outstanding job today in very difficult conditions and we certainly appreciate the patience of our customers,” DeBrew said. “Thankfully it was a sunny day, which tends to warm things up some.”

The county Emergency Management Services office and the Red Cross opened shelters at the Red Cross, 203 Second Avenue, and at First Baptist Church, at 10 a.m.

Duke crews traced the county's largest outage to a transmission line leading to a substation in Edneyville, said county Fire Marshal Wally Hollis. Another substation serving fewer customers had gone out in downtown Hendersonville, he added. Duke expected to have power restored countywide by 10 p.m. Tuesday, he said.

The Flat Rock Park and Recreation Foundation meeting scheduled for Monday evening was postponed for a week because of the weather.

The Sheriff's Department Animal Enforcement Unit warned that the extreme cold could cause hypothermia in dogs and cats.

"Despite their 'fur' coats, domesticated animals like cats and dogs depend on humans for protection from elements such as freezing temperatures. PROLONGED TEMPS BELOW 32 DEGREES CAUSES HYPOTHERMIA IN DOGS AND CATS.  We strongly urge pet owners to safely secure animals inside a warm garage, enclosure or the home during the current winter conditions," the department said in a news release.

Here is the information from the sheriff's animal protection unit:

Signs of hypothermia include: weak pulse, dilated pupils, decreased heart rate, extreme shivering, pale or blue mucous membranes, body temperature below 95 degrees, stupor and unconsciousness. Consequences of extreme hypothermia may include neurological problems including coma, heart problems and kidney failure. Remove the animal from the cold, wrap the animal in a blanket and place warm water bottles, also wrapped in towels, next to the animal. Call a veterinarian immediately for further guidance.

Suggestions:
* Don't leave pets outdoors when the temperature drops below freezing as they will be today and tonight. Dogs and cats will be safer indoors.
* Wind-chill can also threaten a pet's life, no matter the temperature. Outdoor dogs must be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his/her body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with a flap of heavy waterproof fabric or heavy plastic.
* Pets spending a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter. Keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet's water dish to make certain the water is fresh and not frozen. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet's tongue can stick and freeze to metal.
* Keep cats inside. Cats are in danger of freezing and suffering frostbite or hypothermia when left outside. Warm car engines are especially attractive and dangerous for cats and small wildlife who may crawl up under the hood looking for warmth. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car's hood to scare them away before starting your engine.
* Limit dog walks and outdoor play. The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet's feet. Wipe the feet with a damp towel every time after coming in from outdoors even if you don’t see salt on walkways.  Shorthaired breeds will benefit from a dog sweater with a high collar and coverage of most of their body.

* Antifreeze is a deadly poison. However, it has a sweet taste that attracts animals and children. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze out of reach. Better yet, use antifreeze-coolant made with propylene glycol; if swallowed in small amounts, it will not hurt pets, wildlife, or people.
If you see an animal being mistreated or neglected, please call the Henderson County Sheriff's Office at 697-4911.