According to numerous reports Wednesday, thousands of homes and businesses across the central Kenai Peninsula lost power for an extended period as a massive windstorm raked the landscape.
The outages started Tuesday afternoon in an area covering Homer, Nikiski, Kenai, Soldotna, Kasilof, and Sterling, and at the peak of the storm, Homer Electric Association's Joe Gallagher told APRN, "At one point we had about 7000 homes and businesses without power on Tuesday evening."
Winds died down Wednesday, allowing crews to start cleaning up and restoring service, but as of that evening, Gallagher estimated that around 4,000 homes were still without power.
The damage is so scattered and extensive, he said, that crews are facing a big job and that residents still without power should prepare for an extended outage, which might not end until Friday according to The Associated Press.
The AP also reports that the Red Cross has set up shelter at the Kenai National Guard Armory for people needing a warm place to sleep, and for more information should call the Kenai Peninsula Borough emergency management department at 714-2484.