News release from Indiana Michigan Power:
June 29 Severe Thunderstorm Update: 10:15 PM, 7/5/2012
Power restoration in Allen County from the June 29 storm was about 96% complete when another storm moved througharound 7 p.m. on July 5 causing additional interruptions in the area. I&M estimates that as many as 10,000 customers experienced an interruption in service as a result of the most recent storm. The exact number of customers affected could be more or could be less. Crews will be assessing the impact of the storm over night and I&M will be able to provide more detailed information on how the storm will impact overall restoration efforts Friday morning. I&M has temporarily deactivated its online outage map because restoration reports are coming in faster than the automated system can process the information.
Never touch a downed utility wire, no matter how harmless it looks. It can be difficult to distinguish between a power line and a cable or telephone line. All downed lines should be considered energized and dangerous. And don’t touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences or puddles of water, since they can conduct electricity. Keep children and pets away from this potential hazard. Call Indiana Michigan Power to report any downed lines or equipment.
For safety reasons, Indiana Michigan Power cannot reconnect power lines to damaged service entrances. Home and business owners should look to make sure that the service entrance has not been pulled away from the home or building. The service entrance is considered to be everything between the buildings breaker or fuse box to the point where it connects to the power lines, including the electric meter. If the service entrance is damaged, customers are advised to contact a licensed electrician to make the repair.
Normally, property owners must contact the County Building Department to obtain an electrical permit for the repair before service is connected. After the repair to the service entrance is completed, the property owner must call for an electrical inspection. The inspector will then contact Indiana Michigan Power to reconnect its power lines to the repaired service entrance. See a list of licensed electricians from the Allen County Building Department. The Allen County Building Department is located at 200 E. Berry Street, Suite 180 and may be reached at 260-449-7596. More information about building permits is available at www.allencounty.us Because of the extensive damage caused by this storm, I&M will temporarily connect service to a repaired service entrance, but the property owner must call for an inspection before service the permanent connection can be made.
The American Red Cross has a Heat Safety Checklist that contains information about what the public should do during a heat wave. The following cooling centers have been opened in the Fort Wayne area:
NEW HAVEN: New Haven United Methodist Church, 630 Lincoln Highway East 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
FORT WAYNE: Jerry Fox Lifetime Support Academy, McMillen Park Golf Course, 3900 Hessen Castle Road 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
Jennings Center, 1330 McColloch Street, Noon to 5 p.m.;
Community Center, 233 W. Main Street Noon to 6 p.m.;
Red Cross Shelter, First Assembly of God, 1400 West Washington Center RoadElectric consumers who have had power restored are asked to turn on their porch lights so that patrolling service technicians can better spot residences that are still without power in the neighborhood.
Electric consumers are asked to report their outage again if they have not called within the past 24 hours. This will ensure that all consumers’ electricity is restored as quickly as possible.
Indiana Customer Service (800) 311-4634
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