Widespread power outages and road closures caused by downed trees and utility poles followed a severe storm system with strong winds Sunday in Hopkinsville and Christian County.
Hopkinsville Electric System and Pennyrile Electric crews were working to restore power into the evening Sunday and again on Monday.
As of Monday afternoon, Fort Campbell Boulevard remained closed to traffic on the southbound side as utility crews worked to repair downed power lines from Lovers Lane to Interstate 24.
Substantial damage, including uprooted trees and broken power line poles, was evident along U.S. 41 in Pembroke, at Pembroke’s Rosedale Cemetery and between Pembroke and Hopkinsville on Fidelio, Bradshaw and John Rives roads. Some barns and farm structures were destroyed. Several houses had roof damage.
Early Monday morning, HES announced it was working to restore service to Wayne and Blane drives — and that anyone still without power should call 270-887-4200.
Pennyrile Electric, with a larger coverage area, reported that 21,880 customers still had outages at about 6 p.m. Sunday.
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“We will continue to work as fast and as safe as possible,” Pennyrile announced in a Facebook post. “However, due to the extent of damage to our system and number of outages, if you are currently without power, be prepared for extended outage times. We anticipate full restoration later in the week.”
Both utilities have been posting updates on their respective Facebook pages.
The storm pulled down more than 20 utility poles along Fort Campbell Boulevard in the area near the Murray State University regional campus, Hopkinsville Fire Department officials reported.
Nearby the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West sustained damages, and officials there said the Memorial Day ceremony is canceled.
In Pembroke, fire officials said, more than 30 power poles were damaged and a number of trees were damaged.
This story was updated with additional photos and information about storm damages in the southern part of Christian County.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
