The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
By KEN BRADLEY - Staff Writer
As hurricane Sandy barreled up the East Coast Monday, coming ashore in New Jersey, strong winds whipped up Monday night in Franklin County and continued through Tuesday, causing over 1,100 power outages.
But by 11 a.m. Tuesday, the number of power outages had been reduced to 794, according to Appalachian Power Co.
Daryl Hatcher, Franklin County public safety director, said Tuesday morning that the power outages in the county, caused by limbs or trees falling across power lines, were not concentrated in any one area of the county.
"The power outages were spotty, occurring in various parts of the county," Hatcher said. "So far, we have fared pretty well."
The public safety department had not received any damage reports or injuries related to the storm as of Tuesday morning, Hatcher said.
Public safety started planning for the hurricane Sunday by notifying first responders to be on alert, checking equipment and making sure adequate staff was on hand to respond to emergencies.
Conference calls with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for daily briefings began last week, Hatcher said.
No emergency shelters were opened, "but we were prepared if they had been necessary."
Wind gusts Monday and Tuesday ranged from 40 to 50 mph with sustained winds between 25 and 40 mph.
As a cold front from the north pushed downward, meeting the wind from the hurricane, temperatures plunged into the 40s Monday and Tuesday with the wind chill factor making it feel much colder.
The strong wind and cold temperatures prompted Franklin County school officials to close school Tuesday.
Temperatures today (Wednesday, Oct. 31) and Thursday in Franklin County are expected to be in low 50s during the day and drop into the low 30s at night.
|
| |
|
|
|
