While the northeast is hammered by the remnants of Superstorm Sandy, Winchester prepares for more than just the fallout of nasty weather.
East Kentucky Power is ready should other states need help, public and media relations representative Nick Comer said.
“We’re working with our state-wide association, the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, and they coordinate with other states when these things happen,” he said. “They determine where the greatest need is and how we can have the greatest impact.”
As the storm moves inland, most of the cooperatives are in a holding pattern.
“We’ve been in a wait-and-see mode,” Comer said. “We’re waiting to see the impact and what impact there is here. We face the prospect of high winds and the potential of heavy snow. It’s looking like this morning that might not be the case, but we’ve experienced that in the past.
“First and foremost, we want to be ready here at home with the impact here and look where we can provide a hand in other areas.”
Clark County can expect winds up to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and a 90 percent chance of rain, according to the local forecast at the Weather Underground’s site. Snow is also a possibility as temperatures drop as low as 37 degrees. The cool weather continues into tomorrow as a low of 28 is expected and a 30 percent chance of rain.
Winds reached those speeds last night, Emergency Management Director Gary Epperson said. The winds topped out at 40 mph at 10 p.m. and sustained winds of around 20 mph, though those have produced little damage so far.
“We had a traffic sign blown down and had a tree down on Athens/Boonesboro Road, but no significant damage,” Epperson said. “The winds have dropped off dramatically overnight.”
Epperson also said this is as good a time as any to work on emergency preparedness.
“Everybody be prepared, we could have a substantial weather here,” he said. “Good time to make sure you have a disaster preparedness kit. Make sure you have what you need to survive for three days.”
The weather shouldn’t dampen tomorrow’s Halloween festivities. As of now, there are no plans to postpone trick or treating in Winchester, city officials said.
The “Thriller” flash mob and other events of Halloween Main-ia are still a go, as well.
