As the wind scrambled power lines and tree limbs, some school superintendents in the area had to scramble as well as the weather turned the lights off at their schools.

Dr. Scott Howard of the Chesapeake School District was on the phone by 7 a.m. calling radio stations trying to get the word out that the elementary school would be closed. Howard also had the challenge of notifying the local television stations.

Also affected was Fairland East Elementary School and the Collins Career Center.

Normally when there is a calamity such as extreme weather at Chesapeake there is an automated system whereby the district puts in a code that allows the television stations to put that information on its school closing crawl. However, that only works if the entire district is closed.

Both Chesapeake Middle and High School were in session today.

Adding to the situation was the fact that Armstrong Cable, that supplies television to the Chesapeake, was down.

As of 8:30 this morning American Electric Power reported 8,023 customers were without power in Lawrence County. That was about 30 percent of the service area.

As far as getting the power back on, AEP spokesperson Vikki Michalski said as of 9 this morning the utility was still assessing the damage.

“We’re seeing the extent of the damage and until we get it fully assessed won’t be able to do any good,” she said.

The high winds hit the area around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“It was widespread, from the Ohio River and went all the way to the mountains and beyond,” Chris Leonardi, Weather Service meteorologist, said.

“There was a strong cold front last night with a thin line of thunderstorms along the front. It was a very quick period, 15 to 30 minutes but it came with a punch.”

Wind gusts were recorded from 60 to 70 miles per hour putting the area in a high wind weather advisory.

Today will be a bit calmer with just a wind advisory on. That means wind gusts will be 46 mile or greater. The wind advisory will remain until 5 p.m.