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Thousands in Louisville still waiting for power to return after severe storms 2 days ago

From the Highlands to Highview, people are figuring out how to deal with the outage.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Tuesday was a peaceful day by the pool at Myriad Hotel about 48 hours after Sunday's severe storms shook-up power lines in Louisville and across Kentucky.

Bartender Ashley Kesting is one of thousands in Louisville working while the lights are out at home.

"My first thought was all of the groceries I just bought," she said during a shift mixing margaritas. 

But she set those concerns aside temporarily, booking a discount room at the hotel where she works. 

"So I got to spend my Memorial Day out by the pool, having a great day, not worrying about what's going on at my home and my power," Kesting said. "And also another good night's rest and a hot shower this morning before I had to hop behind the bar."

RELATED: Louisville power outage update: More than half of LG&E customers have power restored

RELATED: At least three tornadoes hit Kentucky over Memorial Day weekend

Until power is mostly restored, the hotel is offering a few dozen rooms for $70 a night, about half their usual rate. 27 of the special rooms were already booked as of midday Tuesday. 

"We are keeping an eye on the pulse of what's happening as power is being restored to folks," sales director Sarah Harris said. "There are still some people without power in the community. So we intend to offer it up to at least 10 more rooms." 

Credit: Emma Gefter/WHAS-TV
The Myriad Hotel

Residents of the Kellerman Place subdivision in Highview have grown accustomed to waiting three or more days for power to return. 

Nathan Scott can see the issue from his backyard, a downed power line feeding their subdivision power on a lot separate from his neighborhood. It's overgrown with trees, which frequently fall on the utility lines, Scott explained.

"We're having storms more consistently," he said, "And every time, this line goes down and we're out of power. We're the only whole subdivision that's out."  

As WHAS11 came through the area, 10 frustrated neighbors gathered at Kim Hill's place, echoing concerns. 

Residents of the Kellerman Place subdivision in Highview have grown accustomed to waiting three or more days for power to return.

"Almost every home back here has to go buy a generator because they know it's gonna happen," Hill said.

The neighbors said the issue costs thousands of dollars between missed work time, the generators and spoiled food. 

"We understand the weather is out of LG&E's control," neighbor Brian Mucker said. "But that maintenance of that lot is in somebody's control and they need to get that rectified as quickly as possible. It's gone on too long."

In a late update to WHAS11 News, neighbors said the power within the subdivision was restored a little over 10 minutes ahead of when LG&E said the job would be done. Overall, the utility company is still estimating most power will be restored by 11 p.m. Wednesday night.

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