North Dakota Power Outages Down

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The power outages in the Dakotas caused by

storms late last month are now down to only a few hundred rural

electric customers.

Utility officials estimate about 250 households without power in

South Dakota and about 65 still in the dark in North Dakota. At the

peak of the outages, more than 20,000 people in the two states were

without electricity.

South Dakota Rural Electric Association spokeswoman Brenda

Kleinjan says damage in that state has topped $10 million. North

Dakota Gov. John Hoeven says the Federal Emergency Management

Agency has agreed to begin damage assessments in that state.

Both Dakotas are seeking presidential disaster declarations to

clear the way for federal aid.

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