COLUMBUS, Ohio — A powerful windstorm that hit central Ohio on Friday left a trail of downed trees, snapped utility poles and damaged power lines, and days later, some residents are still without electricity.

Hundreds of thousands of customers across the region lost power during the storm. AEP Ohio reported that 258,000 customers were impacted at the storm’s peak, with about 1,500 still without power as of Monday.

More than 4,000 line and tree workers have been deployed across Ohio to restore service, many brought in from outside the region, according to AEP Ohio.

Crews are working around the clock in shifts, repairing storm damage and clearing neighborhoods of fallen trees and debris, according to Dylan Brown, central Ohio operation manager for AEP Ohio. He said crews are “strategically placed throughout our entire footprint.”

In Delaware County, some residents have been without electricity since Friday afternoon like Katie Mathews, a Shawnee Hills resident.

“I’m using a flashlight to get dressed, and it’s completely dark in the morning,” she told 10TV. “I have great friends, so I showered at a friend’s house, did some laundry there, but it’s eating out every night. That’s a challenge. Can’t use microwave, can’t get in the refrigerator or freezer.”

Mathews said trees and poles in her neighborhood were toppled by the storm.

“We have a lot of lines down and poles broken and trees uprooted, and we have very mature, old trees which are scary,” she said.

AEP Ohio warned residents to stay clear of downed power lines and any objects touching them, emphasizing safety while repairs continue.

“If you see a downed power line, stay away from it and anything that is touching,” Brown said.

“It’s not as easy as plugging in a wire. I wish it was, but it does take some time for us to do it safely and make those repairs, so that customers may not experience an outage in the future,” he added. 

Brown said the complexity of the damage — including large trees and lines in difficult-to-access areas — is one reason restoration is taking time.

Service providers, including AEP Ohio, expect crews to be working in neighborhoods through the evening.

“I already know my food is probably going to be in the trash,” Mathews said. “We’re fine. It’s just uncomfortable and just can’t take electricity for granted.”