Majority of Small Town Without Power - ABC5 News Des Moines, IA

Majority of Small Town Without Power

By Alex Schuman

aschuman@myabc5.com

@alexschuman

It looked like no one was home in Polk City for most of Thursday.  The blizzard knocked out power for several thousand, which left pretty much the whole town without heat.

"You can't really do anything, but go outside in the cold," said Abbey Brunsvold, who went to Ankeny, where there was power, to spend her day.

Polk City's Fire Dept. opened their doors and the community center for anyone who needed to get warm.  They did not mind the company after having spent the last 24 hours in the station responding to a steady stream of emergency calls.

"There were some electrical lines down and some fires caused by electrical lines," said Lt. Chris Weishaar, Polk City F.D.

They asked their entire staff to come in early Wednesday, which is rare.  Fire fighters tried to sneak in naps when they could, but spent most of their time heading out onto the dark streets, which Mid-American says they are still trying to fix.

"Our crews were able to get to where they needed to pretty easily," Weishaar said.