Appalachian Power has informed residents of Bassett, Virginia, that power will be restored by 6:00 PM today, following significant delays caused by icy conditions impacting the area.
The utility company issued a statement early this morning explaining that freezing rain had caused ice accumulation on power lines, leading to sagging lines and fallen tree limbs, which resulted in widespread power outages.
Crews have been working tirelessly throughout the day to address the issue and restore service to affected areas.
"Due to the ice build-up, several power lines were weighed down, causing outages in Bassett and surrounding areas," said a spokesperson for Appalachian Power. "Our teams are actively addressing the damage, but the hazardous conditions have made it difficult to restore power as quickly as we had hoped. We anticipate that service will be fully restored by 6:00 PM today."
At the time of the announcement, several hundred residents in Bassett and neighboring communities were without power. Emergency crews have been clearing trees and repairing damaged lines, but the icy conditions are expected to cause further delays.
Appalachian Power is urging residents to stay indoors and avoid any downed power lines, as they could still be live and dangerous. The utility company also reminded residents to keep flashlights, batteries, and other emergency supplies on hand until power is restored.
"We understand how difficult and frustrating this is for our customers, and we are doing everything we can to get power back as quickly and safely as possible," the spokesperson added.
As temperatures remain below freezing, residents are also advised to take precautions to protect their pipes from freezing and to stay informed through local news channels for additional updates.
Appalachian Power will continue to provide updates throughout the day and expects to have all services fully restored by this evening.