Candles and flashlights were the only sources of power for many Athens County residents last night, as a windstorm ripped through Southeast Ohio, leaving about 3,000 American Electric Power customers without electricity.
The storm knocked out power for residential and commercial parts of East State Street and several side streets at about 5 p.m. yesterday. Donatos did not lose power, but Kroger and Wal-Mart weren't as fortunate.
Wal-Mart could potentially lose $2.3 million in cold food merchandise because of the storm, said Alicia Smith, a Kroger employee whose husband works at Wal-Mart.
When the power goes out for more than 10 minutes they send refrigerated trucks to the store
Smith said, but Wal-Mart sent the trucks to Texas because of Hurricane Ike.
Kroger's generator also lasts for only several hours, prompting them to sell meat for half-off.
Not only businesses were affected by the storm. Residents on Franklin Street also were dealing with the power loss.
Flashlight in hand, Jenna Bridgewater of 35 Franklin St. walked down to her boyfriend's house, at 14 Franklin St., which was not affected. - 17
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Rebecca Black
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Matt Emmons, a junior music composition student at Ohio University, reaches for items under the garbage bags hung over cold food at Kroger on East State Street after the store lost power last night.
