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Chardon hit by back-to-back storms
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - May 12, 2010)
Chardon hit by back-to-back storms
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
A lightning strike near the top of Chardon Square last week fried electric lines and the roadway during an electrical storm.
"One officer said it looked like a bonfire," Chardon Police Chief Timothy McKenna said after two electric lines fell on Center Street after taking a hit from one lightning bolt. The power lines burned an approximately 3-by-4-foot hole in the roadway as they sizzled for about an hour until crews could make repairs, he said.
The storm that rolled through May 5 was followed two days later by a storm that brought strong winds and heavy rains. The city escaped major damage from the second storm, although power outages were reported in Newbury and Chester, Mr. McKenna said.
Mark Durbin, a spokesman for the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., said the company was responding to numerous calls after the lightning storm May 5. He said the area took an estimated 5,000 lightning strikes.
In Chardon, one lightning strike brought down two of the three primary power wires one a pole at 115 Center St. (Route 44), Mr. McKenna said.
He said Center Street had to be closed after the lines came down at about 11:15 p.m., although minimal traffic was affected at that time of night. He said temporary stop signs were erected at Center and Washington streets to keep traffic moving.
Mr. McKenna said the strike also left many homes without power, especially in the southern part of the city and in Munson Township.
The city's road crews filled the hole with cold patch and things were back to normal by the next morning, Steve Borawski, city street superintendent, said.
Mr. Durbin said, although the downed lines in Chardon were visibly dangerous, people should not assume because there is no fire that there is no danger from downed wires. He said people coming upon downed wires always should assume they are live and not attempt to cross them. He said people should contact police when they see downed lines.
During the first storm, about 1,900 people were affected by power outages, Mr. Durbin said. The company restored power to about 1,200 of those customers by about 1:30 a.m. May 6. He said almost everyone was restored by 3:30 p.m. that day.
Mr. Durbin said the strong winds that followed the first storm caused problems, but not ones that were unanticipated. He said a staff meteorologist had issued warnings and crews were on stand by in anticipation of numerous power outages.
Mr. Durbin said the county's rural environment gives it a higher chance of suffering power outages during severe windstorms. He said trees and branches inevitably come down and bring down power lines.
He said crews have to clear debris before they can make repairs.
Newbury and Chester homes that lost power during the second storm were restored by late Sunday afternoon, Mr. Durbin said.
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