UPDATE 9:30 a.m
Westar Energy issued an update on the company’s response to hundreds of power outages overnight due to a winter storm.
Power may not be fully restored to everyone in Sedgwick and Butler Counties until Saturday night, according to Westar spokesperson Gina Penzig. The original estimated restoration time was 4 p.m. Saturday.
“Crews went to work right away and will continue to restore power until everyone is back on,” Penzig stated. “We have many small outages to repair, so we estimate that it may be overnight tonight before everyone has power again.”
You can report a power outage at WestarEnergy.com, on the MyWestar app, by texting OUT to 97827 or by calling 1-800-LIGHTKS (800-544-4847).
ORIGINAL STORY
Rain and drizzle Friday turned to ice and snow Friday evening, and a winter storm dropped between one and three inches of snow in Sedgwick County.
Slick roads and blowing snow led to dangerous driving conditions overnight, and city snow removal crews have been working to treat roads. You can keep up with the dozens of trucks plowing roads or spreading a salt and sand mix by clicking here.
Ice on tree branches and power lines likely contributed to hundreds of separate power outages in Sedgwick and Butler County. Westar Energy stated 360 outages in Sedgwick County knocked out power to 3,615 customers by around 6:30 a.m. Saturday. In Butler County, 154 outages affected 1,049 customers. That does not include customers who use Butler County Electric Cooperative service. Those outages also affected traffic signals.
Westar stated the outages are due to the winter storm, and the estimated restoration time is 4 p.m. Saturday. You can check for updates to the outage by clicking here.
Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said a couple of police vehicles were struck at separate crash scenes overnight, and one officer suffered minor injuries. He reminded drivers to slow down.
Two occupied police squads were struck at different crash scenes this morning with one officer sustaining minor injuries. Please slow down and give our emergency workers extra room.
— Chief Gordon Ramsay (@chieframsay) January 19, 2019
