Power crews face challenges restoring electricity

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By Dustin Lemmon | Friday, July 25, 2008 11:29 PM CDT | () comments

Many of those still without power Friday had downed lines in hard-to-reach places that required more time-consuming individual attention, a MidAmerican Energy spokesman said.

As of 10 p.m., Friday, 7,184 customers were without electricity in the Illinois Quad-Cities, including 3,070 in Rock Island and 3,058 in Moline.

Corinne Potter was sitting on her front porch on 27th Street in Rock Island on Friday afternoon, watching utility trucks occasionally drive by. Each time, she hoped they would stop at her house.

Several trees and power lines were down near a creek behind her home. Two trees were resting on her roof.

“I don’t know how much longer it’s going to be,” she said. “That’s why I’m sitting on the porch, hoping they come by.”

Mark Reinders, communications manager for MidAmerican Energy, said the remaining power restorations are taking more time because crews are having to go into ravines and other narrow spaces where they can’t fit trucks and other machinery.

“It’s physically impossible” to get trucks in there, “so crews are doing more hand-to-hand work,” he said.

Reinders said there were 1,400 front line utility workers in the Quad-City area Friday working to restore power. “We believe this is the largest storm and largest restoration effort” ever for the Quad-Cities, he said.

Several utility trucks were parked down the street from Potter’s home.

Potter had to buy a car charger for her cell phone and has been trying to limit the minutes she uses since the power outage also took out her phone line. She said it was hard getting by without television and access to her computer all week.

Potter also had three coolers filled with ice to keep some cold food items fresh.

“I’m getting to the point where I’m tired of going to the store to get ice,” she said. “I’m trying to keep enough milk for my cereal.”

On 35th Avenue near 38th Street in Moline, a severed light pole was lying on a sidewalk. Three replacement utility poles were sitting on the back of a truck nearby.

A generator was humming in Moline resident Donna Anderson’s garage. She and her husband have spent well more than $100 on gas this week keeping it running. The generator does not keep the air conditioner running and the microwave occasionally doesn’t work, she added.

“We’re thankful the weather has been cool,” she said.

Jean Kohls and her grandson, Ronnie Gass, were sweeping up downed limbs and leaves across the street. Kohls, of Moline, also was without power.

“They’re covering a lot of territory,” she said of the utility workers. “I’m just thankful my health is OK and I don’t have any little kids to take care of.”

Kohls had stayed in a hotel for three nights and was eating out a lot.

John Phillips, Rock Island’s city manager, said he still didn’t have electricity Friday at his home but thinks most residents understand the situation.

“There are some people frustrated and asking for information,” he said. “I think for the most part people have been very understanding. They can see the extent of the damage. As time goes on (without power), I think they will become more frustrated.”

Phillips said there are ravines in Rock Island where lines may be hard to reach.

“You can’t even get a vehicle down through them,” he said. “That’s how my neighborhood is.”

Phillips said residents have been working together through the power outage.

“One thing positive about this is a lot of citizens have looked out for one another,” he said. “That’s a positive reaction to a very negative, serious situation.”

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.