Shelters provided but few need them
By SARA HILL
Staff writer
Hillsboro city employees were hard at work Wednesday manning a Red Cross emergency station for those seeking shelter from Tuesday's winter storm.
Hillsboro lost power at 3 a.m. Wednesday. Residents were without electricity until after 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
Jeannie Helman, city employee, stayed until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and was at work by 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, answering the phone and advising residents about available help. Helman estimated she had taken more than 100 phone calls by noon.
City employees Mona Voth and Glenda Stoppel worked in the community room, providing food and drinks to residents. Some people dropped by to get out of the cold or get a hot drink; some, to socialize.
Volunteers transported 5 to 10 people needing help to the community building.
Hillsboro Community Medical Center served as a Red Cross emergency shelter. According to officials there, HCMC had two people take advantage of the shelter. There were no other weather-related emergencies.
Parkside Homes also served as a Red Cross center. Approximately 12 people from Parkside apartments took advantage of a warm place to be.
Hillsboro True Value Hardware was one of few stores open Wednesday morning. Tom and Lori Koslowsky opened their business at 7 a.m. and were open until 6 p.m.
They sold the only two generators in their stock on Tuesday and by noon Wednesday, they had served more than 70 customers.
"Most people wanted batteries or flashlights," said Tom. "We sold out of lamp oil early."
Hillsboro Post Office was open during regular hours.
"We're just selling stamps," said postmaster Norman Bouwie Wednesday morning.
Westar officials informed the city at 10 a.m. that they were waiting for a part for the Hillsboro substation. They expected the part in four-to-six hours.
Power returned to Hillsboro at approximately 1 p.m. but Westar employees were still waiting for the parts.
"One part is in Emporia and one is in Wichita," said a Westar employee. "We wanted them three hours ago."
Westar workers managed to get the power going without the new parts.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed the power will work until we can change the parts," the Westar employee said.
According to city administrator Steve Garrett, residents in the south and west parts of town experienced low gas pressure due to people re-lighting furnace pilot lights. The problem resolved itself.
"We don't know of any power lines down," he said Wednesday morning. "We have some service lines down and some street light circuits down."
According to Garrett, damage in the city mainly was downed tree limbs.
"We try to be prepared for emergencies," he said. "City crews worked late Tuesday and were back at work early Wednesday. You could even say they worked round the clock."
Garrett said city crews were concerned about identifying people who needed help and providing them with assistance. As of Wednesday afternoon, he had no reports of any major damage in the city or structural damage to buildings.
"I'm proud of our staff," Garrett said. "We were as prepared as we could be and everyone did a good job."
Hillsboro Police Department investigated two fender-benders in the city limits. However, they helped with wrecks in the county.
"Most of the vehicle accidents we worked were cars sliding in the ditch," said Hillsboro Police Chief Daniel Kinning.
USD 410 dismissed classes at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday and canceled classes Wednesday and Thursday.
The basketball game scheduled for Tuesday was postponed until Jan. 25.
Tabor College canceled classes for Wednesday but the cafeteria was open for meals and as a gathering place for students.
As many as 50 students were in the cafeteria for breakfast by 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Church and other meetings on Wednesday also were canceled.
