Westar Energy blamed a squirrel for causing a power outage mid-morning Wednesday on the northwest side.
The outage affected traffic signals at some of the city's most-traveled intersections -- Prairie Street and U.S. Highway 50, 15th Avenue and Industrial Road, and 12th Avenue and Industrial Road, among others.
"A squirrel got into one of the substations on the west side of town," Westar spokeswoman Erin La Row said shortly after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Details about the outage were sketchy at the time.
"I'm not sure beyond that yet," La Row said. "We do believe it was a squirrel and they expect to get everyone restored here shortly."
Approximately 2,685 of Westar's 14,876 Emporia customers were affected by the outage.
gpaul519 (anonymous) says...
Again !!!! It's always" Squirles" Someone call Homeland Security, please !!!
November 18, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tallicamantw01 (anonymous) says...
Shoulda had Bud, our squirell hating dog on the scene. He'd of got them critters!! Ain't that right, Bud :)
November 18, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
The saddest part was that very few of the drivers in that area had any idea how to observe the intersections and know how to navigate them. Stop signs were placed, but people that had no sign were stopping while others going the same direction were going ahead, leaving those who needed to wait for traffic to clear in order to go were left waiting or taking their chances on the stopped vehicle remaining stopped. It was very unnecessary and pathetic chaos, and it was 100% the fault of the uneducated drivers, not the city or law enforcement.
November 18, 2009 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Those darn kamikazee squirrels!
November 18, 2009 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tomorrowsangel (anonymous) says...
They must have been something other than geico squirrils!
November 18, 2009 at 4:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gpaul519 (anonymous) says...
Maybe a radicalized suicide bomber squirrel. : )
November 18, 2009 at 6 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Hey guys...this was no laughing matter. I got stuck on an elevator for about 15 minutes during this outage before I was finally rescued....and I had to pea. (sic). :-)
November 18, 2009 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Sorry biscuitboy, but there's just something about squirrels constantly getting into substations that is humorous. I'm glad no one was hurt.
November 19, 2009 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
madpoet
No offense taken. The story is true but I was laughing about it not being a laughing matter. The only uncomfortable thing about it was my particular need at the time. :-)
November 20, 2009 at 6:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Man, the Northwest side o' town can't catch any breaks! It is too bad with such fine folks living in that area... I say we use some city money to squirrel-proof the substations on the Northwest side of town so these people can live a normal life without such inconveniences. Are you listening, city managers? Don’t let your people suffer! ;)
'enry
November 20, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )