HIGH WINDS CAUSE 3 POWER OUTAGES

SIOUX CITY RESIDENTS WERE HIT WITH POWER OUTAGES IN THREE DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN THURSDAY.

OVER 260 CUSTOMERS OF MID AMERICAN ENERGY LOST POWER AROUND 5:45AM WHEN HIGH WINDS CAUSED EQUIPMENT TO BREAK ON TOP OF A NEIGHBORHOOD POWER POLE. THAT CAUSED A TRANSFORMER TO CATCH FIRE AT 15TH AND PIERCE.

THE SIOUX CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS FORCED TO USE BACKUP SYSTEMS FOR POWER FOR A SHORT TIME.

THEN AT 10:15AM, AROUND 1750 CUSTOMERS LOST POWER IN AN AREA RANGING FROM 9TH AND STEUBEN OVER TO CORRECTIONVILLE ROAD. THAT OUTAGE WAS BLAMED ON A BROKEN POWER POLE.

LATER, ANOTHER TRANSFORMER CAUGHT FIRE NEAR WEST THIRD AND COLLINS, CAUSING AN OUTAGE FOR 52 CUSTOMERS. WINDS HAVE BEEN GUSTING TO 50 MILES AN HOUR IN SIOUX CITY THROUGH THE DAY BLOWING WIRES INTO EACH OTHER AND CAUSING THE DAMAGE.