Power fully restored in Smithville after overnight storm

By Kristen Meriwether, Publisher

Powerful storms pushed through Smithville overnight, causing electrical surges and widespread power outages around 1 a.m. Saturday. City crews worked through the night and all day to repair utility equipment, and City Manager Robert Tamble confirmed just before 6 p.m. Saturday evening that all power in the City of Smithville had been restored.

“Edward’s guys truly knocked it out of the park,” Tamble said in a text, referring to Public Works Director Edward Balusek and the public works team.

City crews were dispatched shortly after 1 a.m. after a lightning strike in the hospital area caused a tree to fall into a main electrical feeder, Tamble said in an update at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. At that time, nearly 300 customers were affected, primarily in the Pecan Shores neighborhood.

By 6 p.m., Tamble reported that power had been restored throughout town and that all streets and intersections were clear. He noted a few alleys were still blocked with trees or limbs, but city crews will be out Monday to pick up fallen debris.

“Storm did damage, these city workers have been out all night and day working to restore power and remove tree trunks,” Council Member Jimmy Jenkins said on Nextdoor. “Smithville is blessed to have such a dedicated group. Thank you guys.”

Smithville Police reported no major injuries or fatalities from the storm and no major structural damage other than downed power lines at Barry Field, which were fixed.