( KLZA ) Winds estimated at 50 miles per hour or more blew down approximately a mile of Omaha Public Power District transmission lines along Highway 73 Wednesday night.  Currently Highway 73 is closed to traffic from Highway 67 to Highway 75 because some of the lines ended up on the highway.
    OPPD provides Falls City with power and with the lines down, there is no incoming supply.  OPPD has approximately 800 customers without power at the present time.
    Falls City Utilities are generating power for the community but a problem has also developed there.   There are 8 generating engines at the power plant.  The six largest ones are used.  However, one of the two largest engines, a 1972 engine, which is the newest at the plant cracked a head Wednesday night and is currently not in use. 
    Repairs for the machine will be made as soon as possible.  City Utility Superintendent Alan Romine said that as of 8 a-m the electrical demand in Falls City was nearing capacity with the large generator out of service.  It is important that everyone in Falls City conserve as much power as possible,  including turning your thermostat up a few degrees,  avoid doing laundry and take all measures possible for conserving energy including turning off unnecessary lights and unplugging appliances that are not in use. 
    OPPD spokesperson Paula Lukowski talked about the damage caused by the storm.  ( play audio  :30 seconds )
    Lukowski talked about the number of power outages caused by the storm.  ( play audio  :16 seconds )