Following this week’s Superstorm Sandy, thousands of Lakewood residents are still without power.
FirstEnergy’s online outage map reported that 12,987 residents were still in the dark on Wednesday night.
Many of those residents could be waiting a few days.
FirstEnergy representative Mark Durbin said that power may not be restored until this weekend.
“That’s our goal,” he said. “There may still be an isolated case or two that is longer.
“We don’t want to be locked into a timeframe.”
As the power remains out for thousands in Lakewood — as well as neighboring communities — the county and the American Red Cross opened a 24-hour emergency shelter at Garfield Middle School.
Dozens of Lakewood residents showed up on Wednesday night — as did Gov. John Kasich.
Dennis Pell, the shelter manager for the American Red Cross, is one of five experienced volunteers from the Firelands Chapter of the American Red Cross based in Sandusky.
"We're getting ready for 150 people," said Pell, who's also volunteered to help with relief efforts for Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Irene.
"It's probably overkill, but we'd rather be prepared."
In addition, the city set up an “emergency reception center” at the Lawther Senior Center to give residents a place to go during the day.
Trees and tangled power lines are still down throughout the city, particularly on the city’s north side, where many of the outages are concentrated.
Crews from around the country arrived in Lakewood on Wednesday to begin the restoration. Mayor Michael Summers told Lakewood Patch that high winds made using the elevated lifts difficult.
Durbin said crews are scattered throughout Northeast Ohio and there was no set plan to get one community restored over another, but the company would devote workers where the most restoration is possible.
He said the wind combined with the rain was especially problematic and the storm was "serious."
“The wind blows the tree and the limbs, but the rain saturation caused the ground to soften for ” he said.
Power remains out at Hayes, Emerson andGrant elementary schools, as well as Harding Middle School.
Read more of the coverage:
- City Warns Residents About ‘Unscrupulous Storm Chasers’
- Lakewood Schools are Closed Thursday Nov. 1.
- No School? Free Student Matinee Offered
- 24-Hour Emergency Shelter Opens at Garfield Middle School
- American Red Cross Delivers Meals to Lakewood Seniors
- How Long Will Food Last in the Fridge if You Lose Power?
- Lakewood Opening ‘Emergency Reception Center’
- Hurricane Sandy: How Can You Help?
- Lakewood Trick or Treat Is Rescheduled for Nov. 4
Lori Switaj contributed to this report.
With much of Lakewood still without power for days, I humbly feel that Hashem is trying to send us a message that "we" are putting out the light of the beauty of Lakewood, the largest town in the US of Torah learning. The light of the Kedusha the light of thousands of Torah learners right here in our town of Lakewood is being distinguished by us with our actions We have more Yeshivas and Mesiftas than in any other town or city in America BY"H so we have more responsibility to keep Hashem happy with our way of life SEE PART # 2 It's time for all of us to make a Cheshbon Hanefesh and see what could be corrected to bring back the light of the Schinah to Lakewood the town of Torah and Chessed
It's time for all of us to make a Cheshbon Hanefesh and see what could be corrected to bring back the light of the Schinah to Lakewood the town of Torah and Chessed If we don't take this storm seriously who knows what other difficult message Hashem might have to send us in order to wake up and do Teshuva? Take a moment and think...are we living a spiritual life at least similar to our great grand parents, the way they lived when they arrived in America some 70 years ago? or are we indulged in our clothing, i.e. shoes, jewelry, belt, coat, & mink coats, handbags, boots, shopping, hunting for bargains, living in restaurants, redoing our kitchens every so often, always planning our next vacations, now Leshem Mitzvah we are busy planning our winter vacation, and of course don't forget Motzai Shabbos hot Pizza & fries, eating it in the pizza shops in mixed company, we have turned into a major planning board not leaving enough time to see and plan our lives as "how to serve Hashem better” Lets be honest it's almost impossible to walk the streets and keep our eyes clean, and yes, I am referring to neighborhoods of Bnai Torah and Chasidim, not in Harlem, Miami Beach or Las Vegas see part # 3
Lets be honest it's almost impossible to walk the streets and keep our eyes clean, and yes, I am referring to neighborhoods of Bnai Torah and Chasidim, not in Harlem, Miami Beach or Las Vegas This "FrankenStorm" has been felt by many of us we are all suffering because of it in one way or another, but..... The million dollar question is: are we waking up to Hashems cry? Now let’s be strong and say to Hashem: OK we are ready to change our ways of life, our materialism life style that we have lived up to now will change!!! We’ll start getting ourselves ready for the coming of Moshiach by living a true Torah life. BTW When Moshiach arrives there will be nothing left of all our Gasmius, so get a head start...and get rid of it now lets be more careful with all of the Halocos and Mitzovos of our special sweet Torah s.p. It would be nice to see everyone taking this Frankenstorm warning that came from Hashem very seriously
Kim Wenger-Devor Lakewood Resident
I couldn't agree more with your statement above. The worst part of the situation is they aren't even providing us with accurate information regarding the repairs and why it could possible take 7 days to repair the situation, when my family and friends electricity in Manhattan has already been restored. But this is what happens when company have no compitetion and are provided a government sponsored monopoly. Best of luck, Mario Lakewood Resident
Kelsey
Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/northeast-ohio-still-grappling-with-power-outages-road-closures-debris-from-superstorm-sandy#ixzz2B00mPENA
http://photos.cleveland.com/plain-dealer/2012/11/c02sstormbjpg.html Duke Energy workers repair electrical lines along Lake Rd. in Lakewood in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Lake Rd. was closed west of Cove Ave. and east of Nickolson Ave. Many residents are still without power. (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)
Duke Energy workers repair electrical lines along Lake Rd. in Lakewood in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Lake Rd. was closed west of Cove Ave. and east of Nickolson Ave. Many residents are still without power. (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)