Thousands without power in Fort Scott-Nevada area

High winds and heavy rains took out electricity for more than 5,000 customers -- mainly in Bourbon County, Kan., on Friday.

KCP&L, which provides power to the Nevada, Mo., area, said on its Web site that 794 customers were without power Friday afternoon. The utility has 8,865 customers, the site said.

In Bourbon County and into Bronson on the Bourbon-Allen County line, 4,500 customers were without electricity, Westar Energy spokeswoman Erin La Row said. She said the company has 6,049 customers in Bourbon County and the hardest hit area was in Fort Scott.

The culprit was a strong cold front moving into a mass of warm, moist, unstable air, according to the National Weather Service in Springfield, Mo.

La Row said preliminary damge estimates indicate about 40 transmission poles down in the area. As of about 5:45 p.m. Friday, La Row did not have a good estimate on when power would be restored. She said crews have been mobilized and supplies, such as new power poles, are being prepared.

"We have to make sure we have everything we need to get the repairs made," La Row said. "Unfortunately, pole repairs take longer. In some cases, customers may be without power 24 hours or longer."

Downed trees and power lines are among the reports reported over the police scanner. A tree on a house and power line down were reported at 903 W. Sycamore.

A truck was reported blown off Missouri Highway 43 north of Bronaugh, a tree was reported donw on Spring Street, just south of Austin Boulevard and numerous traffic lights out or blinking were reported around Nevada and Fort Scott.

A tree was reported down in the 600 block of South Commercial, on the road at the entrance to the Nevada Country Club and an overturned pool, but no location was available.

Fort Scott Police Department Lt. Shaun West said damage was still being assessed, electrical poles were reported down and trees had taken some lines down in the city.

A few minor vehicle accidents were reported in Fort Scott, West said.