Windy conditions coupled with overnight rainfall likely led to 735 Brainerd Public Utilities customers out of power Wednesday afternoon when a tree fell and hit a powerline in the area of Jackson Street.
Power went out just before 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, for customers near Riverside Drive, Beaver Dam Road and Jackson Street. The National Weather Service reported 21 mph winds at the time, with gusts up to 36 mph. The Brainerd area saw about a quarter-inch of rain the night before.
Lights came back on after about 45 minutes to an hour, but not before disrupting traffic and business in west Brainerd.
Brainerd police officers directed traffic at the intersection of Washington and Northwest Fourth streets as cars became backed up when the signal light went out.
Employees at Ace Hardware off Washington Street walked out the front door to tape a sign on the door announcing they were closing for the day due to the power outage. Nearby Caribbean Beach Tanning Salon also had an employee standing outside as the power went out.
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"We had customers here," salon employee Jackie Gruber said. "We talked with them and told them what was going on and that the power went out. Some of them are going to wait to get the power back on and some went home and may come back later before we close."
Work momentarily halted at the Brainerd Dispatch during the outage as well.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.
JENNIFER KRAUS may be reached at jennifer.kraus@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5851. Follow me at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl on Twitter.
