Severe winds overnight broke utility poles, blew down trees and severed power lines, cutting power to more than 8,800 American Electric Power customers in southern and central Ohio and eastern Kentucky.

Tuesday, December 12, 2000

Severe winds overnight broke utility poles, blew down trees and severed power lines, cutting power to more than 8,800 American Electric Power customers in southern and central Ohio and eastern Kentucky.

AEP crews worked throughout the night to restore power, but many homes remained without electricity this morning, officials said.

In southern Ohio, particularly Scioto and Lawrence counties, about 550 customers were without power at 5:30 a.m.

Of that number, an estimated 100 customers in Ironton and Lawrence County and 450 customers in Portsmouth and Scioto County were without power. In the Ashland-Cannonsburg, Ky., area, about 285 customers were without electricity.

There are also downed power lines in the area, which prompted AEP to caution the public never to approach or handle fallen power lines.

Anyone finding a fallen line should stay clear of the area and notify AEP as soon as possible by calling 1-800-277-2177, AEP officials said.