2,150 lose power as storms rip county

Published 12:20 am Sunday, August 14, 2011

A fast-moving thunderstorm slammed parts of Warren County Saturday evening, knocking out power to about 2,150 county residents, knocking down trees and power lines and causing traffic hazards.

“It looks like we’ve got a good bit of damage,” Entergy spokesman Don Arnold said Saturday night. “Any time you get a storm with wind like this trees will come down and take power lines with them.”

Arnold said he was expecting Entergy crews from Jackson to come help restore power Saturday night. He added that he hoped to have all power restored today.

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Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said no structural damage was reported during the storm, but deputies responded to 20 traffic calls between 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. that arose because of fallen trees. No major accidents or injuries were reported.

“We had stuff everywhere,” Pace said. “The majority of trees were down in the central and southern parts of town, but overall damage was widespread throughout the county.”

Pace said deputies had the majority of roadways cleared two hours after the storm, but some traffic was still moving slowly at 10 p.m.

“Especially with larger trees down, you cannot allow road service crews to clear the roadway until the power company has insured the power lines are not active,” Pace said.

In the city, trees and power lines were reported down on Halls ferry Road, Iowa Boulevard, Mission 66, Drummond Street, Cain Ridge Road, Wisconsin Avenue, Poplar Street and Roseland Drive. City of Vicksburg police were reporting two transformers and a power pole down near DiamondJacks Casino on Washington Street.

The storm was part of a front moving from the northwest. Temperatures were expected to stay hot today, with highs reaching into the upper 90s, but less humid conditions are expected in the early part of next week with chances of rain midweek.