wyoming power outages: Widespread power outages affecting thousands in Wyoming and South Dakota- here’s the latest update
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In which regions do the most power outages occur?
Thousands of homes and businesses in Wyoming were left without power following a major outage Thursday afternoon. Rocky Mountain Power confirmed that approximately 55,000 customers were affected and more than 26,000 outages were reported in the Casper area alone. Other affected cities include Douglas, Glendo, Riverton, Buffalo and Gillette, according to a report from Oil City News.
The City of Gillette announced on social media that the entire city’s electricity was cut off until 13:00. Outages were also reported in South Dakota, Montana and Utah, but officials have not confirmed whether the incidents are related, Oil City News reported.
How do officials and citizens react?
Rapid City officials urge drivers to be extremely careful at intersections without traffic lights and treat them as four-way stops. “If you don’t need to travel, stay put,” city officials advised.
Meanwhile, the Rocky Mountain Power outage map showed outages in Casper, Mills, Evansville and Bar Nunn. Power first went out around 12:45 p.m., and although some areas briefly restored service at 1:15 p.m., others are still dark. An Evansville resident reported “the power there was going on and off,” Oil City News reported.
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Equipment problems caused the Rapid City Public Library to close. According to the Rapid City Fire Department, residents should only call 911 in emergencies and should not report or obtain information about outages. This is done so that lines can remain open in case of emergency, according to a report prepared by the KOTA District.
A representative from Black Hill Energy told a KOTA reporter that a third-party utility was involved in the transmission issue, as cited in a report.
According to a statement from Black Hills Energy, the company has triggered its response plan based on a report prepared by the KOTA District and its staff is prepared to deal with such situations.
What closures and events occurred following the outage?
The Natrona County Library’s downtown Casper branch and several non-essential county offices were closed for the day due to the outage. According to a report by Oil City News, the Natrona County School District stated that schools remain open but will notify families if conditions change.
Shortly after the power outage, firefighters responded to alarms at the Casper Business Center. Officials said the alarms were triggered by smoke from generators that started working after a power outage.
As of Thursday afternoon, restoration efforts were ongoing and Rocky Mountain Power crews were working to restore power to areas affected by nightfall.
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On November 13, the Pennington County Courthouse was evacuated due to electrical problems. The courthouse is now closed for the remainder of the day, according to a report by KOTA District.
This comes as the region is still recovering from a major power outage that affected Montana, the Black Hills and northeastern Wyoming, according to a report by KOTA District.
FAQ
Which regions were most affected by the power outage?
Casper County in Wyoming and Western South Dakota, including Rapid City, are among those hardest hit by the outbreak.
When is electricity expected to be restored?
Rocky Mountain Power’s estimated restoration could take until 9:45 p.m. Thursday.
