By Edward Lynn
Editor
CLARION, Iowa — Nearly 2,000 Wright County utility customers lost power early April 18 as a strong storm system swept across Iowa, triggering widespread outages and damage in rural areas. Ironically, the outage occurred on Lineworker Appreciation Day—which really puts the day of recognition in perspective.
An automated outage report from FindEnergy.com showed 1,990 out of 7,628 tracked meters in the county were without electricity following the storm. MidAmerican Energy confirmed that approximately 2,000 customers were affected.
City workers in Clarion moved quickly to address storm-related disruptions, including issues at the water treatment facility, while linemen worked through the storm to restore electricity.
Winds peaked at 41 mph during the multi-day event, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. On April 17, gusts reached 34 mph, and on April 18, 32 mph. Rainfall totals for Wright County measured 0.08 inches and 0.27 inches on those days, respectively, though other parts of the state saw over two inches of rain.
Wright County Emergency Manager Jarika Beecher told Iowa Public Radio that most damage was concentrated in rural areas. “Some hog facilities had damage to their roofs,” she said, along with reports of damage to outbuildings and hoop barns.
Emergency crews and local officials continue to assess storm damage and lead clean-up efforts across the county.
