CHARLESTOWN, Ind. — A huge power outage will affect over a thousand people in southern Indiana this week.
Starting Wednesday night, Duke Energy is shutting off the power for approximately 1,265 customers in Charlestown.
The power outage is scheduled to be from Dec. 13 at 11 p.m. to Dec. 14 at 5 a.m.
"Believe me; we would have rather had this scheduled in the late spring or early summer when the temperatures are cooler but not too overbearingly hot," Mayor Treva Hodges said. "That's not the way repairs work sometimes and we just have to adapt."
This outage is being conducted so crews can work safely while they replace cross arms, Duke Energy officials say.
There are some "severely damaged" cross arms on power poles that could cause an unplanned, much longer outage if not replaced soon.
Officials chose this time so as not to interrupt school hours. Duke Energy officials say they have attempted to reach customers that will be affected by the outage with an automated phone message.
"We apologize for the inconvenience, and it is our hope that we will be able to complete the work in less time than estimated," Duke Energy said.
Anxiety among neighbors mounted as temperatures were supposed to drop below freezing Wednesday.
"They really picked the worst time because it's only 20 degrees outside," Ajelet Dominguz-Perez said.
She said friends have offered to take her family in for the night. Others aren't so lucky.
Kelli Fischer told WHAS11 News she's worried about her mother, who is nearly 90 years old and suffers from memory loss.
"So I'll be checking on her all night, making sure she's warm, covered up real well," she said.
The City of Charlestown will have an emergency shelter available overnight on Wednesday. For access to the shelter, call (502) 297-4390.
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