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Power Outage Displaces WKU Students

Lisa Autry

A dormitory on the WKU campus remains without power after a high voltage cable failed Tuesday, initially impacting four buildings. 

Students living in Pearce-Ford Tower remain displaced with some of them setting up camp at the Downing Student Union.  Freshman Ashley Hilgore says her preparations for the winter storm were made in vain.

"The worst thing is that we all went out and bought all this food preparing for the snow storm and now it's all spoiled because there's no power," Hilgore tells WKU Public Radio.

As temperatures over the next couple of days plummet below zero, Thompson says she’s just thankful for a warm place to stay.   She has a blanket spread on the floor with a few essentials like her textbooks, laptop and phone.  Like Hilgore, Freshman Courtney Thompson traveled lightly.

"The elevators are still out at PFT and I live on the 14th floor.  Everything we wanted to bring had to be carried up and down the stairs," says Thompson.  "I've just been sleeping with a blanket and pillow on the floor."

Repair work to PFT is expected to be complete by late Thursday.  Meanwhile, 24-hour visitation is in place for all residence halls to allow students to stay with friends on campus.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.