GRUNDY, Va. — Appalachian Power should take steps to improve communications between citizens and emergency officials during major storms, and should take a more active role in protecting its system against fragile trees, according to a report issued by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
The commission issued its special report in response to multiple problems reported in Southwest Virginia, including Buchanan and Dickenson counties, following the so-called monster snow storm of Dec. 18, 2009.
While the report did include several recommendations for the company, including improved communications, it also concluded that Appalachian Power’s overall preplanning and restoration efforts following the snowstorm were — except in some isolated areas — “reasonable and satisfactory by historical levels of performance after catastrophic storms.”
The report concluded that the loss of power to water and sewer pumping stations created a number of problems, including a loss of water to Buchanan and Dickenson counties. It also concluded that the utility may have utilized inadequate vegetation management, insufficient resources and/or inadequately trained personnel in localized areas.
It further concluded the company didn’t communicate with the public as effectively as possible during the restoration process, including system restoration goals and customer specific restoration times.
John Shepelwich, manager of corporate communications for Appalachian Power, said the company was still reviewing the report Thursday.
“It is relatively early to do an in-depth response as the report is pretty fresh,” Shepelwich said. “Appalachian Power will continue to review it. We have a number of people who are involved in that whole response. We’ll have a written response to the SCC that is required by late in the year. But beyond that I think the snow, ice and wind storms in 2009 did indeed combine to create one of the most serious and widespread restoration efforts we’ve ever experienced in Southwest Virginia, and it was just as bad in West Virginia. We certainly agree with the commission staff that it was unprecedented in impact beyond the control of the utilities.”
Shepelwich said Appalachian Power is already taking steps to address some of the concerns outlined by the commission.
“I think for the most part we are taking steps to correct the reported isolated communication difficulties that were encountered during these unprecedented storms, particularly the contacts with the EMS personnel and the local government,” Shepelwich said. “So we feel much more up to speed with those efforts, and we are also working to provide better information more quickly to the customers who may be affected during those severe storms. We will continue to look at all of our procedures on an ongoing basis just to ensure we can have the safest, most responsible and speediest restoration we can provide.”
Shepelwich said customers also are reminded to have emergency preparedness kits on hand for when severe storms do occur.
– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
Local News
August 20, 2010
APCO's handling of snowstorm examined
- Local News
-
- Hatfield-McCoy Trail opens for business in Mercer County
- Judge lifts block of W.Va. mining permit
- MSHA conducts three-state Alpha inspection blitz
- Mail carrier truck overturns on U.S. Route 52
- 1 indicted on drug charges
- PAC sues Mercer prosecutor over contribution limit
-
Mountain Fest kicks into high gear
- Friends, fans mourn death of former WVU coach
- W.Va. women plan strip mining protest on holiday
- Two suspects arrested in robbery of a Tazewell County convenience store
- More Local News Headlines
