Power outage could have affected elderly

IRONTON -- Local emergency officials considered moving residents from several elderly housing complexes during a power outage over the weekend, but Ohio Power restored service before any move was required, county officials were told Thursday.

"With the July heat and humidity, the lack of air conditioning can potentially pose a greater risk to our older citizens and medically fragile people," said Mike Boster, Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency director.

Lonnie Best, county 911 supervisor, said a power substation at South 3rd and Mastin Streets failed Saturday, leaving hundreds of Ironton area residents without power or air conditioning. From 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, the 911 dispatching center received 687 calls, most of them from residents calling to see when the power would be restored.

"Citizens should not call 911 unless they have an emergency," Boster said. "Dispatchers do not know when power will be restored in most cases."

He said residents should call the power company with concerns about power service. Residents also should make an emergency plan with family members, neighbors and friends and have an emergency disaster supplies kit on hand that includes a flashlight.

"Some areas got service restored quicker than expected, but some areas were without service for quite a while," Boster said.

Boster contacted Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon, who contacted residents in the Park Avenue Apartments to check on some elderly residents. Not long after he returned to the 911 center, the power was restored, Boster said.