Jonas Ridge still iced over

Power could be out to some for up to a week

Credit: Sharon McBrayer | The News Herald

North Carolina Department of Transportation crews work to remove fallen trees and limbs along N.C. 181.

By: Sharon McBrayer | Morganton News Herald
Published: December 28, 2009

Jonas Ridge --

Folks in the Jonas Ridge area are cutting their way out from an ice storm that left fallen trees, limbs and power lines in its wake on Christmas Day.
North Carolina Department of Transportation officials, fire departments in Burke County, including Jonas Ridge, and individuals have been trying to clean up after the storm.
Lola Fleming, a transportation worker for DOT, said crews have been working around the clock to clear downed trees in the area since the county and other parts of the state got heavy snow on Dec. 18.
Driving up N.C. 181 into Jonas Ridge, no matter where the eye turns, are fallen trees or trees snapped in two like toothpicks. Downed power lines make some roads through neighborhoods tricky to maneuver.
Subcontractors of Mountain Electric, which Jonas Ridge First Department officials say supplies power to the area, were working on lines and downed power lines were tagged with red ribbons.
Jonas Ridge Fire Department Assistant Chief John Franklin said many in the area are still without power. It's been off since 5 a.m. Christmas Day, he said.
The fire department set up a shelter for those seeking a warm meal and place to sleep. It appears many in the area, though, are sticking it out at their homes.
The Jonas Ridge Post Office lost power on Christmas Day but Alan Johnson, acting postmaster, showed up on Saturday to make sure people got their mail, even if he had to do it without power. The Post Office got power again on Sunday, he said.
Franklin said those along the N.C. 181 corridor have power again.
Johnson said he was told, however, that it will be about a week before people in Gingercake, Joe Poore Road, Beam Avenue and Upper Creek Acres would get power back in their homes.
The ice storm left more damage than anything, including flooding and hurricanes, Franklin has ever seen in 29 years living in the area.
"I've never seen anything like it," Franklin said. "It looks like God took a mower and cut all the trees off at 40 feet."
While residents are without power, damage to homes has been minimal, Franklin said. Some have suffered damage to roofs and sheds. No injuries have been reported, he said.
"We've been very fortunate," Franklin said. "We've not had anything really bad happen."
Franklin's biggest concern now is power surges when residents get electricity again. Many homes in the area are vacation homes and people may not have prepared for the possibility of a power outage, he said.