Some Still Without Power 7 Days After Irene, Most Back On Grid

May 20, 2013

Posted: Fri 10:20 PM, Sep 02, 2011

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Reporter: April Davis

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Some Still Without Power 7 Days After Irene, Most Back On Grid

While most communities here in the east are getting back on the power grid, there are a few pockets that are still waiting. We spoke to a family in Kinston who waited seven days for the lights to come back on.

Corey Lawson came from Georgia to help his parents out once he got the call.

"I immediately packed everything to come help her get the tree out of her roof," said Lawson.

The tree was chopped off the roof Friday and a power crew was working around the mess of power lines trying to get the Lawson family back on the grid.

"Day seven. No lights, no hot water, it's just been frustrating, no air conditioning. No... you know. It's been ridiculous," said Lawson.

It's easy to understand why it took time to restore power. Lines are still trapped all around the Emma Webb Park community in Kinston. While trees are pulling at lines, neighbors like Lawson are pulling together day after day.

"My neighbor next door- she's 80 years old. She can't clean her own yard. My neighbor here, she has 5 kids with asthma, so I had to get a generator to make sure that they was, you know, the kids were- it got hot," said Lawson.

With no air conditioning, the heat has been on for these crews to get things moving quickly. They're hailed as heroes when they can. If not, a neighborhood will once again be left in the dark for another night.

The City of Kinston says power was restored to the Emma Webb Park community Friday, and as of Friday afternoon, the city had about 200 homes without power.

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