UPDATE: Polls to remain open extra hour, most power restored after county-wide power outage

WAYNE COUNTY (IN) — UPDATE @ 2:06 p.m.:

100% Power has been restored in Richmond, after a “major power outage.”

“I’m very grateful for the work of the entire RP&L crew, our police department, and our street department,” Mayor Snow said on social media.

Polls will be open for an additional hour until 7 p.m. due to the outages. All ballots cast after 6 will be provisional ballots, and will still count.

“Please take the time to go to the polls and make sure your vote is heard for the future of our city!” Mayor Snow said.

UPDATE @ 11:35 a.m.:

Power has been restored to most in Wayne County after a “major power outage.”

The latest update from the Richmond Power & Light outage map shows that 119 customers remain without power.

UPDATE @ 9:45 a.m.:

Richmond City Schools is dismissing students early due to the major power outage across Richmond.

All 7th - 12th-grade bus riders will be taken home on school buses, and all Pre-K- 6th-grade students will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian, according to a statement from the school.

“I just received an update from RP&L. They continue to investigate this outage, as it did not originate from within RP&L structure,” Mayor Snow wrote on social media. “RP&L is slowly restoring power to the city, however, it will happen over stages and take some time throughout the day.”

He warned people to be cautious as they navigate traffic this morning, temporary stop signs will be set up at intersections without power.

“Power is back up at some polling locations, and those without power are working to accept provisional ballots,” Mayor Snow said, “Wayne County Clerk, Debra Berry, is determining at this time whether the polls need to be open later than planned to accommodate for lost time.”

The Richmond Power and Light outage map shows just under 2000 reported outages at this time.

UPDATE @ 9:15 a.m.

The mayor of Richmond, Indiana said the city is experiencing a major power outage Tuesday morning.

>>Election Day 2023: Ohioans to decide on 2 statewide issues today

At least 4,400 Richmond Power and Light customers are without power and it’s affecting areas outside Richmond, Indiana, according to the Richmond Power and Light outage map.

The number was over 12,000 at one point this morning.

“We are experiencing a major power outage,” Mayor Snow wrote on social media. “I have been in contact with RP&L, and upon their inspection, they’ve informed me this is not an issue caused by our local power agency. This is a major transmission issue, and it appears as though other power agencies in surrounding cities have also lost power.”

He said power is out south past Richmond, and east into Ohio.

“I am working with RP&L, our Police Department, and our Street Department to keep traffic moving safely,” he said.

We will continue to provide updates on this developing story.

-INITIAL STORY-

Thousands of people are without power in Wayne Tuesday morning.

>>Election Day 2023: Ohioans to decide on 2 statewide issues today

At least 6,100 Richmond Power and Light customers are without power and it’s affecting areas outside Richmond, Indiana, according to the Richmond Power and Light outage map.

“This is a regional outage. Centerville, Liberty, and Hagerstown and other areas are experiencing outages as well,” the company wrote on social media. “We are working to restore as quickly and safely as possible.”

Richmond Power and Light said they are “experiencing a widespread outage,” and crews are accessing.

This is also affecting Richmond City Schools.

“All RCS schools will stay in their buildings for the next 30 minutes to afford RPL the opportunity to address our countywide power outage,” the school wrote on social media.”

They said if power is not restored, they would begin measures to possibly dismiss students early.

©2023 Cox Media Group