In final report, Lincoln Electric System says July windstorm cost $2 million

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lincoln Electric System presented a final review Friday of the damage and costs of the July 31 windstorm.

Winds got up to 80 to 90 mph, causing tree limbs to come crashing down, snapping powerlines in half and leaving more than 30,000 Lincolnites without power.

LES estimated that the storm cost the utility nearly $2 million between labor, hardware, hotels for out-of-town help and much more.

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This was deemed the third-largest storm in LES history.

The utility said up to 280 of its employees worked nonstop to get the lights back on, with help from utility companies from Norris, Grand Island, Hastings and Nebraska City.

“We had so many people asking us, ‘What can we do to help?'” said Paul Crist, vice president of LES. “We had people taking Popsicles out to the crews in the field. We had people helping with laundry and all that kind of stuff.”

Most people had their power back on within 48 hours, but for some people it took nearly 4 days.

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