Remnants of Ike

Tropical storm winds leave damage in Marshall County

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – Residents of Marshall County and the surrounding areas were blown away by incredible winds that ripped across the region early Sunday morning.
With winds reaching upwards of 60 miles per hour, an estimated 9,000 residents were without power in western Kentucky, many of which remained without as of press time. Officials estimated full-power might not be restored in some areas until Wednesday.

“It’s my understanding that many of the West Kentucky Rural and Jackson Purchase electric staff are in Galvaston, Texas to aid with the hurricane,” said Marshall County Judge-Executive Mike Miller. “I’m not sure where that puts us, but I know Benton and Draffenville have power. From Draffenville, south, I’m not certain as of yet.”

The power outages had many area businesses locked, and Marshall County Schools cancelled classes for the following day.

Winds were responsible for much strife on roadways, as well. Three 18-wheeler semi-trucks were reported blown off roadways in Grand Rivers and Paducah.

As many of the roads remained impassable from downed trees and limbs, emergency personnel spent much of the day and well into the night Sunday in clean-up efforts.

“We had crews go out first thing this morning [Monday],” said Keith Todd, information officer for the Kentucky Department of Transportation. “We’ve got all of the state roads cleared, but some of the secondary roads only had one lane open as of last night.”

Todd said it was reported that some trees that had been weakened by the storm fell across roadways in Calloway County Sunday evening, and that motorists across the region should continue to exercise caution.

“We continue to urge people to avoid unnecessary travel,” Todd continued. “Be careful and watch for debris on roadways.”

It’s the same story all over the west Kentucky region. Ballard, Hickman, Fulton, Carlisle and Graves counties have all declared a state of emergency.

“We’ve declared a state of emergency, as well, so we can go ahead and open up shelters if need be,” Miller said. “We’ve got emergency management personnel on stand-by to do so.”

Miller said all the county nursing homes and medical facilities had power as of Monday morning, however, and reserve generators are on hand.

“We’ve had crews out since yesterday, and I won’t say that we’re caught up, but we’re getting there,” Miller said. “We’ll do everything we can to get up and running again.”