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Back-to-back storms cause power outages and road closures


		January 28, 2010

Fulda Free Press/Darcy Uttech Road closed signs blocked State Highways during the Monday storm	By Norma Dittman

According to Tracey A. Haberman, Communications Specialist with Nobles Cooperative Electric, scattered power outages due to an ice storm, began being reported around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, January 22nd. By 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning, it was reported that approximately 500 Nobles Cooperative Electric members were without power in Murray and Nobles counties.

“At the peak of the ice storm on Saturday afternoon, we estimated 700 to 800 members were without power,” Haberman stated. “All Nobles’ crews and two trucks with crews from both Benco Electric Cooperative from Mankato and Brown county Rural Electrical Association, of Sleepy Eye, MN, had everyone restored by 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, with the exception of a few scattered outages due to powes being down.”

Haberman said that Nobles Cooperative Electric has estimated that 30 to 40 poles had to be replaced and numerous lines were downed.

Nobles Cooperative Electric cautions people to be sure to stay away from any downed power lines and to be sure to report the location.

The company also expressed their appreciation to all members for their patience and understanding as crews worked diligently to restore the power as fast and as safely as possible. “We would especially like to thank those members that plowed areas so crews could get to the downed lines,” Haberman said.

And then the next round of this winter’s storm hit the area on Monday mornng in the form of a ground blizzard. With winds whipping the snow at 40 miles per hour, the result was that all Minnesota state highways were closed across southwest Minnesota. Interstate I-90 was closed from Chamberlain, South Dakota, to Albert Lea, Minnesota. Zero visibility was reported in all areas of eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota.

Most schools either closed for the day and did not bring students to the schools or closed soon after opening. Westbrook-Walnut Grove schools were in session and announced that they would be closing at 11:30 a.m., but it was soon decided that the weather conditions were bad enough that the students would remain at the school and not be sent to their homes.

From 6 a.m. Monday, January 25th to 6 a.m. Tuesday, January 26th, the Minnesota State Highway Patrol reported that during the 24-hour reporting period, they responded to 180 property damage crashes, 36 person injury crashes (no fatalities), 230 vehicles off of the roadway, 188 motorist assists, and 30 assists to allied agencies statewide due to the weather. There was a report of a car and semi-truck accident near Avoca, MN, and also a snowplow and pickup accident north of Brewster.

Many people were stranded away from home with most able to stay withh family or friends. Those who could not were treated to the kindness of others as they shared motel rooms with those who were not able to find one. All of the motels in Worthington, Minnesota, reported no available rooms by 8 p.m. on Monday evening.

As Tuesday morning dawned clear and calm, roads were re-opened to traffic and residents of the area began to wonder when the next winter storm of 2010 would make its appearance.