Storms ripped through the Tri-State area Tuesday evening causing power outages and damage in several areas, mostly in Proctorville and Huntington, W.Va.

AEP reported a power outage from the storm in Proctorville at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday evening.

“Trees damaged some electric poles,” said Vicki Michalski, spokesperson for AEP.

Most of the 4,800 customers that were affected had service restored at 7:30 p.m., however, 54 customers were out of power until 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, she said.

About 7,500 AEP customers were out of power in the Huntington area.

The Lawrence County Fairgrounds sustained substantial damage.

“We had the wood fence and about half of it blew down,” said Doug Clark, president of the Lawrence County Fair Board. “One of the concession people had a motor home there and it blew over on its side. I’m so glad it didn’t hit last week.”

Clark said it tore part of the roof off the restrooms and the 4-H horse barn roof is damaged. Also, the lemonade stands were destroyed and one of the board member’s trailers was scooted about a foot.

Several trees were knocked down in Proctorville also.

The storm tore part of the roof off the gym at Fairland Middle School and a house across the street from the school lost a room.

“It was bad where I live. The wind was fierce and the rain was fierce, knocking trees down,” said Dollie Williams, secretary for the Fairland Board of Education.

Proctorville Mayor Jimmy Buchanan said that officials were meeting this morning to assess the damage.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington reports that another storm system is expected today.

“There’s a possibility of another repeat,” said Forecaster Sam McNeil. “There is a chance of widely scattered thunderstorms. To our knowledge, we have not heard of any tornadoes, just high winds. Winds were between 50 to 75 miles an hour.”

See Thursday’s edition for more information.