Tornado recovery: Power back for most as DP&L focuses on hardest hit areas

All DP&L customers that can receive power have been restored as of Thursday night, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

“We have crews in the hardest hit areas rebuilding the backbone of the system,” DP&L spokeswoman Mary Ann Kabel said Friday. “The equipment and the materials have to get here, the plans have to be laid down and the crews and contractors have to be here.”

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This is the first time in recent history that DP&L has done work on such a large scale while working on high voltage power lines. A helicopter from Haverfield Aviation, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has been brought in to handle some of the heavy lifting as crews are working to restore and re-position utility poles.

Some Beavercreek Twp. residents have front row seats to watch the helicopter fly pieces of equipment into position.

“It’s exciting when you forget the context that there was a tornado that caused all the damage,” Katrina Wrzesinski told News Center 7’s James Rider.

“(My kids) have had nightmares from seeing all the devastation, but it’s pretty neat to see a helicopter come down in you neighborhood over and over again.”

Kabel said the number of affected customers is “almost unfathomable” and there is no concrete timeline for restoration.

“It will take quite awhile,” Kabel said. “Our heart goes out to those who are truly not only rebuilding their homes, but their lives.”

Anyone who sees a down or sagging power line is encouraged to call DP&L at 877-468-8243.