Storm Updates: Electric companies continue to restore power

FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — 4:30 p.m. Update: According to Duke Energy there are 1,927 customers remaining without power as of 4:30 p.m.

Duke Energy officials said as many as 400 line-workers were actively continuing to work at the time and that they expect the majority of outages to be restored by 6 p.m. tonight.

“I think another big thing is the partnership that we have with the county and the city,” Vice President of Power Grid Operations for Duke Energy Midwest Chris Lange said. “It is an outstanding partnership and we appreciate all the help and assistance we get from them. That goes a long way for us to be able to restore power quickly.”

11:45 a.m. Update: As of 11:45 a.m. WIN Energy REMC is reporting just 536 customers remaining without power in the area.

Duke Energy’s outage map shows about 3,000 customers remaining without power in the Terre Haute area with an additional 643 customers in the Clay City and Jasonville area remaining without service. The Bloomington area is still reporting 15,000 customers without power.

Click here to view WIN Energy’s outage map. Members experiencing an outage can report it through their automated outage line at 888-456-9876 or by texting OUT to 85700.

Click here to view Duke Energy’s outage map. Most Terre Haute outages are estimated to be restored by 6 p.m. on Thursday.

9:53 p.m. Update: As of now Duke Energy’s outage map is showing a significant amount of power restored to the Terre Haute area with around 3,500 left without power.

6:08 p.m. Update: A meeting was held by Vigo County officials today on the response to the storm damages. As of the meeting Duke still has 8,000 customers without power. Duke also said their goal is to have the power fully back on by Thursday. City officials also said that they have a plan to have all roads cleared and re-opened by Thursday. For more information on the meeting check here.

4:27 p.m. Update: Vigo County Commissioners have established a location for tree limb disposal.

According to Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard, the site will operate free of charge for Vigo County residents, however it is not open to professional trimming businesses.

Residents can bring their tree waste from the storm to the South Highway Garage at 10970 South Sullivan Place.

The site will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. next week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Clinkenbeard also reported that Griffin Bike Park and Fowler Park experienced quite a bit of damage and as a result the trails are closed.

3:45 p.m. Update: WIN Energy REMC is estimating that a significant portion of the 1,700 customers remaining without power will have their service restored by late tonight.

A release noted that travel for work crews has been difficult due to the extensive number of downed trees, power lines, and poles.

“Members in the hardest hit areas should make provisions and expect power to remain off overnight as work continues,” the release states.

Click here to view WIN Energy’s outage map. Members experiencing an outage can report it through their automated outage line at 888-456-9876 or by texting OUT to 85700.

1:30 p.m. Update: Vigo County Commissioners will be holding a meeting at 2:30 p.m. to discuss the response to widespread damage in the area following Tuesday’s storm.

Additionally, Commissioners have signed a declaration of emergency in response.

“Now, therefore, we, the Vigo County Board of Commissioners, declare that a local disaster emergency exists in the county and that we hereby invoke and declare those portions of the Indiana Code which are applicable to the conditions and have caused the issuance of this proclamation, to be in full force and effect in the county for the exercise of all necessary emergency authority for protection of the lives and property of the people of Vigo County and the restoration of local government with a minimum of interruption,” the declaration reads.

As part of the order it asks all public offices and county employees to use diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the emergency. And requires agencies to cooperate with the Emergency Management Agency.

12 p.m. Update: Duke Energy has announced that 52,000 customers across the state remain without power as of 11 a.m. today. Duke said a total of 95,000 outages occurred due to the storm on Tuesday.

A reported 730 additional workers have been brought in to supplement their statewide workforce.

A restoration time for those remaining without power has not been determined. Duke Energy said their assessment efforts are still underway.

“Extended outages are possible, however, in the hardest-hit areas. Rough terrain, in particular in Monroe County, is making assessment and power restoration challenging,” the release reads.

“We have brought in more than 730 additional resources – linemen, damage assessors and tree clearing workers – to supplement our statewide workforce and speed power restoration,” said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. “We’re also moving crews from areas less affected to those hardest hit. We also had damage on our electric transmission system, which includes power lines and structures that are our major carriers of power, but have made good progress on restoring those major ‘power highways,’”

11:15 a.m. Update: Officials at Ivy Tech have announced that their campus will be reopening at 4 p.m. with evening classes and events to take place as scheduled.

11:09 a.m. Update: Sullivan County Emergency Management Director Jim Pirtle reported this morning that Sullivan County saw high wind damage throughout the county.

There were trees and powerlines down in Dugger, Sullivan and Farmersburg, Pirtle noted, there were also roofs that were damaged. Pirtle added the storm came through the area very quick and hard. 

10:40 a.m. Update: WIN Energy REMC as of 10:30 a.m. are reporting approximately 1,900 customers remaining without power.

The company said there is no estimated time of restoration due to the extent of the damage involved. Customers experiencing an outage are asked to call their automated outage line at 888-456-9876 to report their outage, or text the word OUT to 85700.

10:03 a.m. Update: Officials in Vigo County have declared an emergency in response to the damage created by severe weather on June 25.

“This is the first step in attempting to get aid into the area,” Vigo County EMA Director Dorene Hojnicki said. “The declaration is being signed, a verbal declaration was sent to the state this morning. This is a long process and not guaranteed to get funding. The most important thing is for individuals to submit damages to 211 so we can get an accurate assessment of damages through the county and city. Thanks for your assistance.”

9:31 a.m. Update: Officials in Vigo County are assessing the damage left in the wake of severe weather from Tuesday.

Vigo County EMA Director Dorene Hojnicki asks residents with damage to call 211 or use 211.org to report damage.

Officials in the town of West Terre Haute are asking residents to place their downed tree limbs and branches on the curb row, so the street department can pick them up.

8:43 a.m. Update: The morning after severe weather struck the Wabash Valley with high winds knocking down trees and power lines causing power outages across the area, as many as 10,000 customers remain without power.

According to the Duke Energy Outage Map, as of 8:15 a.m. there were approximately 10,000 customers without power in the Wabash Valley. Moving further east the Bloomington area is reporting much higher numbers of power outages with nearly 42,000 customers remaining without power.

WIN Energy REMC is reporting 1,931 customers remaining without power with the majority being in their northernmost areas of coverage.

Update: Rick Burger with Duke Energy has given an update that by morning a total of 75 crews from Ohio, Kentucky, and the surrounding area will be in to help with repairs. Currently they have 13,000 customers without power and the locations with the most worry are Terre Haute and Bloomington. The crews with continue working through the night and Rick asks that people watch out for the crews as they continue to asses the issues and provide everyone with restored power.

Update: We have heard from Rick Burger, District Manager with Duke Energy. He has relayed information that they are still looking at the full severity of the damage and should have a better idea of the situation come morning. However he also let us know that they have 50 extra crews coming from out of state and that work will continue throughout the night.

Chief Meteorologist Jesse Walker also gave some statistics regarding this evenings storms saying that the top recorded wind was recorded as 78 mph out of Monroe County and that similar speeds were in Vigo County. The peak of the winds lasted about five to six minutes but the worst of the winds actually ran for about 15 minutes. Jesse Walker more warns about the storms coming tonight after midnight. Even though the coming storms will most likely not be as severe he urges those to watch out for trees and poles that may have been compromised by the heavy amount of earlier reported wind damage.

Update: Power lines are currently down across Margaret Street. Utilities are currently out in the area.

Update: Vigo County Transit has said that busses will be down due to damage sustained from the storm earlier this evening.

Original: Straight line wind gusts and hail have been reported across the Wabash Valley leaving thousands without power.

Vigo County Emergency Management Agency Director Dorene Hojnicki reported that Vigo County has numerous trees and power lines down. She noted that south of I- 70 has been the hardest hit. According to Hojnicki, the 641 area, Honey Creek and Riley have been the hardest hit as of 4 p.m.

While there have been numerous EMS calls, she could not say if those were storm related.

According to the Duke Energy outage map for Indiana, approximately 24,000 customers were left without power as high winds hit Vigo, Sullivan, and Clay Counties at the start of the 3 p.m. hour. As of 4:21 p.m. another 33,000 customers in the Bloomington area are listed without power.

According to WIN Energy REMC, 2,192 of their customers are without power due to damage from the high winds knocking down power lines and tree branches in the area.

WTWO Chief Meteorologist Jesse Walker called the storms round one of a potential two round situation with more storms expected to come later in the evening.

According to reports, the primary area of damage is in southern Vigo County with a number of trees and powerlines being affected. WTWO has crews headed out to learn more about the damage caused and will continue to update this article as we learn more.