Wind brings power outages in DeLand, Pierson

Red flag condition due to winds

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Apr 7, 2009 - 12:43:49pm

The lights went out at Stetson University around 11 a.m. this morning. They also went out in other spots in north DeLand, and in scattered locations around West Volusia this morning.

Around 1,500 customers lost power, Progress Energy spokesman Tim Leljedal said. "It's weather-related, due to high winds."

The majority of customers, 965, lost power in the DeLand area due to a single outage, Leljedal said. "We have crews that are out or sent out, working across the area," he said.

Smaller outages affected areas like Pierson, where 160 customers were without electricity.

Stetson University spokeswoman Cindy Brownfield reported the university's power came back on just before noon.

"They had estimated we would be back in service around 12:30 or 1 p.m.," she said, "so we're happy."

Brownfield said, "Right before it went out, we heard transformers popping."

Winds were gusting forcefully, and she assumed the outage was related to the wind.

According to accuweather.com, high winds out of the north and northwest at 20-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph will continue this afternoon.

A red flag condition is in effect for all East Central Florida counties, meaning there is an increased risk of brush and wood fires, whipped up by wind.

— pat@beacononlinenewscom

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