A strong storm ripped through the area over the weekend, leaving as many as 2000 Lawrence County residents sitting in the dark.

Monday, March 11, 2002

A strong storm ripped through the area over the weekend, leaving as many as 2000 Lawrence County residents sitting in the dark.

Lawrence County Sherrif’s Office dispatcher Shirley Mannon says most of the reports of electrical outages were from the Lawrence Township area, and were caused by trees and tree limbs that fell on power lines.

American Electric Power Company spokesman Ronn Robinson says crews were able to restore service to homes in Lawrence County by Sunday evening, but continue to work to restore service in other counties.

More than 19,000 homes in Southeastern Ohio were without electricity during the weekend.

AEP field personnel warn residents not to approach fallen electric lines, but to contact the utility company

immediately.

National Weather Service meteorologist Hunter Coleman says the winds were part of a cold front that

moved through the region Saturday afternoon.

"The wind gusts were imbedded in that storm," Coleman said.

One wind gust of 70 miles an hour was reported at 6:12 p.m. Saturday in Parkersburg, W Va. A windgust of 62 miles an hour was reported at 5:30 Saturday in Huntington, W. Va.