WINTER STORM: Schools reopening, electricity mostly restored
A Pedernales Electric Cooperative crew works to restore power in Dripping Springs after a tree fell on transmission lines during an ice storm that started Jan. 31. Courtesy photo
Highland Lakes students will return to class Friday, Feb. 3, after three days off due to a winter ice storm that covered most of Texas from Tuesday through Thursday.
No campuses were damaged and classes should start at their regular times, said Jeff Gasaway, interim superintendent for the Marble Falls Independent School District.
Burnet Consolidated ISD and Llano ISD are also reopening at its regular times on Friday.
Pedernales Electric Cooperative crews are continuing to respond to multiple power outages across the service area. As of 3:45 p.m. Thursday, about 85 percent of PEC members had power.
“Though the ice is thawing, this event is not over,” a PEC spokesperson told DailyTrib.com. “The cooperative is all hands on deck working to restore power to our members. It can be difficult to estimate restoration times.”
Crews are dealing with extensive damage to poles, lines, and other equipment.
“We are also seeing an increased number of isolated outages that can be difficult to access quickly and take time to repair,” the spokesperson said. “We ask for our members’ continued patience and to trust that we are working as quickly and safely as possible to get their power back online.”
PEC members in the Highland Lakes area were not severely affected by outages, according to reports. Most of the problems happened in the Spring Branch and Bulverde areas, which continue to experience prolonged outages.
“This outage is not due to equipment owned, operated, or maintained by PEC,” reads a media statement from the co-op. “However, we are working closely with our transmission service provider as they make repairs to their equipment. We are hopeful these members will have power later today and we appreciate their continued patience.”
Crews from across the state and country are joining restoration efforts.
“We will continue to work around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible,” reads the media release.
PEC asks that downed lines be reported by calling 911 or 888-883-3379 and cautions people to stay away from them.