ASHLAND — Approximately 1,600 Ashland County residents were still without power Monday afternoon after an especially windy morning, according to Ashland County Emergency Management Agency’s director Mark Rafeld.
By nearly 3 p.m., he had spoken with Ohio Edison several times, but did not know when power would be restored.
“Much of Ashland’s is back, and they are working on in now in the Jackson Township area,” Rafeld said. “Some locations will take longer than others.”
He estimated about 800 Jackson Township residents and 400 Ashland residents were affected, referencing his conversations with the electric company. The other outages were scattered.
Earlier today, the National Weather Service office in Cleveland had predicted southwest winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts that could reach up to 50 miles per hour across Northeastern Ohio. It issued a wind advisory for from 4:23 a.m. through 1 p.m.
A portion of Claremont Avenue was closed early Monday, and remained blocked off into the afternoon with a fallen power line. Fallen trees and branches blocked other roadways and damaged property.
Several restaurants, including Tim Hortons, closed because of the power outage.
“We were close to needing to evacuate a nursing facility,” Rafeld said. “The power came back on as we were about to make the decision.”
Rafeld reminded residents to keep their houses closed up, as to keep heat inside.
“The temperature is supposed to drop to the low 40s, upper 30s tonight, so stay inside if you can,” he said. “And if you get to a point where you say, I just can’t rake it anymore, call 911.”
At this point, the EMA hasn’t and doesn’t plan to open any warming centers, but Rafeld says the EMA will consider that if a need surfaces.
