Hartwell was already at work when the power went out, and it
was back on by the time he returned home. While his apartment was a few degrees
colder than normal, he was very lucky it came back on when it did.
"Definitely," Hartwell said. "Heat is very
important.”
The city's warming center at Hornet Park Community Center is
directly across the street from Hartwell's apartment complex, but that was also
in the dark.
“I was panicked this morning because we’re the warming
center, and to not have power means we don’t have warmth,” said Hornet Park
Community Center Facility Manager Angel McKenna.
Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley was on his way to the
warming center when he realized what had happened.
"I got up to Main Street and noticed everything south of Main Street was just dark," said Buckley. "And I said ‘ohhh no.’”
As the staff thought of a backup plan, crews fixed power
lines and within a few hours, power was restored power to most of the area.
With the heat back on, Hartwell won’t have to search for a place to stay.
"There’s a hotel right down the street," Hartwell
said with a relieving smile. "I would've just went to a hotel."
The warming center in Beech Grove will remain open until
about 8 p.m. Wednesday and will also be open on Thursday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no one came by the center.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no one came by the center.
SOURCE: FOX 59
