Garvin County Residents Regaining Power after January Ice Storm

By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

LINDSAY, Oklahoma -- More than a week after a winter storm that left more than 100,000 Oklahomans without power, some residents are still in the dark. In rural parts of Garvin County, utility crews spent the day trying to restore power to every resident, but downed power polls still pose a problem.

This has been a long week for people who don't have power. Garvin County was one of the hardest hit areas, but power crews have been putting in long hours to get things back to normal.

"We're replacing some of the cross arms on some of these poles so we'll be able to get part of this line up as we go," said Jim Carner with Houston Pole Line Co.

They're stringing new lines, putting in new transformers and installing new poles. Crews came from neighboring states and as far south as Houston after the storm hit and many have been working every day since.

"It's been going alright. It's pretty tough. The ice was pretty thick and it was tough, but everything's going alright now," Carner said.

Lindsay saw the most power outages in Garvin County. But more than a week later, nearly everyone has power restored. The problem now is the rural areas of the county where crews have to go house to house. Some of the homes are miles apart. Donald Johnson lost his power for 10 days.

"It's been okay, we've been getting by. We had a generator. We got rural water out here so we did have water," said Johnson.

Johnson said this was the longest he's ever been without power. Saturday the power came back on.

"It's been good. It was a long time coming," Johnson said.

A lot of the families in those rural areas are staying with relatives or in hotels. Some may have their power back, but may not even be aware of it.

City officials in Lindsay say customers who are still without power probably have an issue that will require in electrician before power can be restored.