Times-Journal News Editor

Selma residents still in the dark after Thursday’s Hurricane Ivan could have power back by the time they sit down for their morning coffee, Alabama Power spokesperson Jan Ellis said.

“In Selma, we have around 5,000 customers out right now, but it’s not going to be that bad in the morning,” Ellis said. “The guys are out working and they’re getting things fixed.

Between now and in the morning a lot of these customers will have their power restored.

The majority (will have power) no later than tomorrow night.”

Ivan, which blew down trees and debris all across the county, has been described as the worst natural disaster to hit the state of Alabama.

With 150,000 people still out of electricity for Alabama Power alone, there is still a lot of work to be done to get the state back up and running.

“We normally have about 12 people working in Selma,” Ellis said. “Today, we had 303.”

Alabama Power is using help from crews from 21 different states including as far away as New Mexico and Vermont.

“As of right now we’ve got 79 percent of our customers statewide back on,” Ellis said.

Dallas County Probate Judge Johnny Jones said he is impressed with the way the power companies have worked to turn the lights back on.

“I just hope people can understand that Alabama Power and the cooperatives and especially Pioneer Electric are working just as fast and furious as they can and have really done a great job,” Jones said. “I’ve just never seen things go as quickly and as smoothly. That being said it will still be a few days before they can get power to some areas.”

Ellis said Alabama Power employees have worked around the clock to get service back across the state.

“I think our workers have done a fantastic job with their restoration efforts,” she said. “They have worked long hard hours and many of them are working while their families are home without power.”

Still some residents have expressed frustration at having to wait.

“I would just want to continue to ask our customers to be patient because we are working around the clock,” Ellis said.