Feb. 23, 2023 5:15a; Updated at 5:40a with school info; 6a with Conway statement; 6:25 with new numbers
(WGTD)---If you live in Racine County and have power this morning, count yourself lucky.
As of 6:15 a.m., almost a-third of We Energies' customers in Racine County were without it because of the ice storm.
According to the We Energies' outage page, some 30,000 homes and businesses were dark. And that number didn't account for customers who lost it but regained it since the storm began.
Because of the numerous outages, Racine Unified is closed for a second day. Students were initially asked to take part in remote instruction, but that request was canned at 5:30 because of the large number of students and teachers without power.
Drivers on the road should drive with extra caution---at least some traffic signals are undoubtedly out.
Reached last night, We Energies' spokesman Brendan Conway said crews were encountering ice-laden branches having fallen on power lines, and utility equipment that was damaged by ice coatings.
Outside crews were being brought in, said Conway, adding that private contractors were supplementing the work of We Energies' crews.
This morning, Conway said fresh crews were arriving. "In the daylight, restoration efforts will be easier and hopefully it warms up enough to keep ice from forming and causing issues," he said. "We appreciate our customers' patience."
The situation in Kenosha County was much better, but thousands of customers still woke up in the dark. As of 5 a.m., the number was put at just over 8,000.
Kenosha Unified announced that schools would be open, but Gateway Technical College delayed its start for the day at all of its facilities in the tri-county area. Campuses would open at noon, it announced.
As the storm wound down, the National Weather Service early Thursday morning replaced its ice storm warning with a weather advisory.
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