Community Corner

The Cavalry Has Arrived In South Whitehall ... To Restore Power

Crews from seven states are helping PPL Electric Utilities restore power to the Lehigh Valley and surrounding region, a PPL spokesman has said.

Patch caught a caravan of utility trucks from Elliot electrical contractors about 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Woodlawn and Marshall streets in South Whitehall, as they waited directives from PPL Electric Utilities in the effort to restore power.

Crews from the company, based in Kentucky, are among those who are helping PPL bring back power to customers in South Whitehall and the rest of the region.

PPL spokesman Joe Nixon said earlier this week that more than 400 crews were in the field, including 100 crews from seven other states who are helping with the effort.

Find out what's happening in South Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As of noon Tuesday, PPL had restored power to 17,000 customers in South Whitehall, but 2,124 customers remained without power, according to its website.

The Morning Call reported that managers with PPL Electric Utilities who are prioritizing projects and making decisions that determine whose power is restored are operating out of a building on Hausman Road in South Whitehall. As they did following Hurricane Irene, crews focus on areas that will bring back the most customers before tackling other smaller areas.  

Find out what's happening in South Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Meanwhile, for those without power remained open at Parkland School District's building. Lehigh County, with help from the American Red Cross and South Whitehall's emergency management people, opened the shelter overnight on Sunday.

Parkland spokeswoman Nicole McGalla said about 60 people and a dog stayed at the shelter overnight Tuesday. The district's Food Services department will be preparing breakfasts for Wednesday morning for the people staying at the Troxell building and other shelters.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from South Whitehall