MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — Severe storms Saturday knocked electricity out for nearly half of the Mon Power customers in Monongalia County and caused multiple reports of tree damage.

On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” MECCA 911 Executive Director Jim Smith said damage reports began flooding the dispatch center around 6 p.m. Saturday and fielded more than 250 calls. The calls came in so quickly that first responders had to prioritize the calls, taking care of the most serious issues first.

“Responders were trying to get to the most critical calls first,” Smith said. “You only have so many responders out working, and when you receive that call that quickly, they start stacking.”

Smith said at one point as many as 48,000 county residents were without electricity, but he said there were no injuries reported.

“We had 94 calls for trees down, we received 15 calls of trees down into structures, and we were looking at 54 calls for wires down or wires arching,” Smith said.

Mon Power spokesman Will Boye said their crews are working as quickly and as safely as possible to restore service, but crews will need a significant amount of time to make repairs in the hardest-hit areas.

While repairs are underway, Boye urged caution for residents using generators. Always keep generators outside, away from windows and doors, and well ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Right now, we expect to have most of our Mon Power customers by the end of the day today and by 11 p.m. tomorrow for some of the hardest-hit areas in Monongalia, Marion, and Preston Counties,” Boye said.

Boye said crews have been working since Saturday, and in some areas assessments are continuing as restoration work continues.

“We had a lot of extensive damage. We had 40 to 50 broken poles, lots of wire down, a lot of tree damage, and broken cross arms,” Boye said. “That system included winds of 60 to 70 miles per hour.”

Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground Superintendent Corwin Hoban said a guest was staying in the Klaer Cabin when a tree was blown onto the roof. The occupants were able to escape uninjured. But, he said the Pine Cabin was extensively damaged by a tree and may not be salvageable.

“We have to see how much damage is done to the roof and get some windows replaced, and other things at least,” Hoban said. “Pine Cabin? I’m not sure we’ll be able to reopen; it might be done for.”