BECKLEY, W.Va. –It’s going to be at least Sunday before more than 9,000 Appalachian Power Company customers in Raleigh County get service back following a heavy storm that moved through the area Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Appalachian Power began Saturday with 17,530 customers without electricity in Raleigh County. The company’s 10:30 p.m. update had that number down to 9,507. Beckley Mayor Rob Rappold told WVVA-TV the city’s water and sewer plants had power restored Saturday evening.
The storm, which had wind gusts of more than 70 mph, knocked out service to 27,000 Appalachian Power customers in 13 counties. The overall number was down to just more than 12,000 Saturday night.
The high winds knocked down dozens of trees in Raleigh County, many of them breaking power lines and poles.