UPDATE: State of Emergency declared for Hazard water crisis
UPDATE POSTED 8:30 P.M., DEC. 30, 2020
HAZARD, Ky. (WTVQ) – Around 400 of 10,000 water customers in Hazard are without water due to waterline leaks and breaks, according to city officials who gave an update at a City Commission meeting Wednesday evening.
Most of the affected customers are in the Ary, Bulan, Dwarf, Pine Valley and Rowdy communities of Perry County, according to officials.
The city says the water tank in Bulan is refilling.
City officials say three tractor-trailer loads of bottled water have been brought-in for affected customers who can pick up the water at Robinson Elementary School or the Lost Creek Fire Department.
Mayor Donald “Happy” Mobelini says it’s the first big water outage the city has had in two years.
As part of a state of emergency declared on Wednesday, car washes are being told to temporarily close.
Officials say the leaks and line breaks happened after Christmas week snow and bitter cold temperatures.
During Wednesday’s water outage update meeting, the mayor dispelled a rumor circulating in the community.
“We are not cutting-off the water for the whole county, I mean, that’s a myth and everybody starts filling-up their bathtubs and everything. It’s going to take us longer for the tanks to fill-up. All we’re concentrating on is those 400 families out there that we’re trying to get water back to,” said Mayor Mobelini.
City officials say repair crews continue to work around the clock as parts of the city continue to deal with outages and boil water advisories.
The Hazard Police Department is helping people facilitate showers for affected customers at the Hazard Pavilion.
UPDATE POSTED 4 P.M. DEC. 30, 2020
HAZARD, Ky. (WTVQ) – A state of emergency has been declared for the City of Hazard as water leaks increasingly cause problems in the city.
City Commissioners are scheduled to get an update at 6 p.m. Wednesday (watch it here) on all of the current water outages.
“This is a complex and ever changing issue so this will be the most up to date information at that time,” according to acting City Manager Tony Eversole who declared the state of emergency Wednesday to give the city more authority to respond to the crisis.
The city continued water distribution Wednesday.
ORIGINAL STORY POSTED 7 P.M. DEC. 29, 2020
HAZARD, Ky. (WTVQ) – Several water line leaks this week in Perry County resulted in outages, boil water advisories and bottled water distribution, according to City of Hazard Utilities.
Water was given out on Tuesday and will resume on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., according to the utility.
The water is being distributed at Robinson Elementary School and the Lost Creek Fire Department.
The utility says crews are working around the clock repairing water lines.
For updates from the utility, click here.
*Note: The photo that accompanies this story is courtesy of the City of Hazard Utilities/Facebook
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