Westar working to restore power to South Wichita

(WICHITA, Kan.) — Some people in the hard hit Oaklawn area are without power for another day, and it may be a while before everyone is back on line.

A lack of power hasn't stopped Gerardo Hernandez from having hot water. He just has to heat it in his Oaklawn back yard over an open flame.
 
"I used to be in military, so we know how to handle deals like this," Hernandez said.

He may have to deal a little longer.

"We're basically rebuilding the electrical system in several different places," said Westar Energy spokesperson Nick Bundy.

Westar has 400 workers pulling 12 to 14 hour shifts trying to get these neighborhoods back on line.

"We've got to get the main, larger transmission lines back on first before we can get the neighborhood lines back on," Bundy said.

Homeowners may need to do some work of their own before they get power again.

The wires that go to their home and the device that receives it, all of that has to be intact for Westar to restore energy. If any of that is damaged, homeowners have to fix it before power can be turned back on.

That wasn't a problem for Serena Elwood

"I was actually going through the kitchen, and heard the refrigerator click on and I was like what is that noise? I hadn't heard it for a few days," Elwood said.

Her lights turned on early Tuesday afternoon. The same was true for some of her neighbors.

"Last I knew we weren't supposed to get power back again until Thursday," Elwood said. "Everyone is working really hard to get everything back on track and I think they are doing an outstanding job."