MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – MLGW CEO Doug McGowen said it will be a few days before power is restored to every customer following Saturday’s storms.
The outages affected homes and schools. Memphis-Shelby County Schools campuses were closed Monday because of the power outages.
McGowen said he is confident classes will resume Tuesday.
MSCS announced schools will reopen, but there is a list of nearly 20 schools that will remain closed, because of continued power outages.
These schools include:
A.B. Hill ElemmentaryA. Maceo Walker MiddleAlcy ElementaryBalmoral ElementaryColonial MiddleFox Meadows ElementaryGermanshire ElementaryHollis F. PriceIda B. Wells AcademyKirby HighNorris Achievement AcademyOakhaven ElementaryOakhaven HighOakhaven MiddleSherwood ElementarySherwood MiddleWillow Oaks ElementaryWooddale High
All other MSCS schools will operate on normal schedules following a district-wide off day Monday.
More than 50 schools were without power after the storm. That number is now down, McGowen said, and he expects the number to drop to a handful after tonight.
MSCS Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond said there was a lot to assess in deciding to cancel classes Monday, including transportation routes and food supply.
“We’ve had to look at transportation routes. So, for example, our buses, when you think about debris, when you think about traffic lights possibly being out, we have approximately 25,000 students who ride the bus. Of those 40 schools, it probably impacts about 20,000 of our students,” Richmond said.
McGowen said the number of schools without power has steadily declined.
“It started with 50 schools then 34, then 14, we’re down to 9 now and of those 9 I believe we’ll get about half of those on tonight as our crews continue to work so we’re talking about a handful of schools,” McGowen said.
The community center in Hickory Hill was packed Monday. Thousands remain without power, particularly in the Hickory Hill area. McGowen said it was the hardest hit by the storm.
MLGW had the EPIC, Emergency Preparedness Information Center, stationed at the Hickory Hill Community Center, to give residents resources about the power restoration process, snacks, water, and charging areas.
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