More than 14,000 Hoosiers are without power just ahead of a days-long heat wave, according to a outage maps from AES and Duke Energy.
Powerful storms that came through central Indiana on June 18 knocked out electricity for more than 67,000 AES customers and 69,000 Duke Energy customers. Most, but not all, have since had their service restored.
As of about 8:30 a.m. on June 20, Duke reported 4,235 customers without power throughout the state. AES had 10,279 without power.
“Due to the extent of the damage to our service territory, and based on our assessment, we anticipate most remaining customers to be restored by midday Sunday,” a statement from AES read in part.
An extreme heat wave will be in its second day at that point, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service. Heat indices could spike into the triple digits on June 22 and June 23 as both the temperature and humidity levels climb to their highest levels so far this year.
“We know being without power in this heat is difficult … our crews continue working around the clock to restore service,” an AES spokesperson said.
The “vast majority” of Duke’s power outages in Avon, Plainfield, Greencastle and New Castle are expected to be restored by noon on June 20, according to a news release. Bedford, Bloomington, Noblesville and Terre Haute are expected back online by 6 p.m., and Columbus by midnight on June 21.
“I think we’re on track to meet those ETAs,” said Duke spokesperson McKenzie Barbknecht.
Indianapolis cooling centers
High temperatures can be extremely dangerous, especially for young children and the elderly. Indy Parks family centers and public libraries will be open to those seeking respite from the heat.
The following Indy Parks facilities will be open as cooling centers this weekend. Their hours of operation can be found at https://parks.indy.gov/extremeweather/.
Public libraries will also be an option for people seeking cool air. The Indianapolis Public Library has branches at the following locations. Their hours can be found online at https://www.indypl.org/locations.
What are the symptoms of heat-related illness?
The three main heat-related illnesses to look out for are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If any of the following symptoms are evident on you or another person: move to a cooler area, loosen clothing and sip cool water. Seek a medical professional if any of the symptoms don’t improve within an hour.
Heat cramps may be the first sign of illness that could lead to more serious symptoms. Cramps show up as painful muscle cramps or spasms along with heavy sweating, according to NWS. Use firm pressure on the cramping muscles and massage them gently.
Heat exhaustion will show up as heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness with cool and clammy skin. The person’s pulse may be quick but weak and they may exhibit dizziness or nausea. Immediately move the person to an air-conditioned room, loosen clothing and apply cool, wet cloth to the skin.
Heat stroke needs immediate medical attention, so call 9-1-1 or get the patient to a hospital. Heat stroke can appear as throbbing headaches, confusion, nausea, dizziness, body temperatures above 103 degrees. The patient’s skin can also appear red with a lack of sweat. This is a serious illness and delays in medical care can be fatal.
Where to report power outages and downed lines
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: AES repair time estimates leave some without power as heat wave moves into Indy
Reporting by Ryan Murphy, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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