Power companies head east

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Hurricane Sandy's force winds could topple power lines, leaving thousands without power. Those left standing could be hit by snow.

Sunday along I-70, lines of power company trucks were heading east.

At a truck stop near Mount Comfort, crews from Kansas City, Missouri stopped for a break.

“We’ve got about 75 personnel, and 45 trucks,” said Bryan Bergeson, with Kansas City Power and Light. “Mutual aid assistance called us yesterday, and wanted us to be set up and ready.”

They’re heading to Connecticut.

“There could be snow, could be rain, could be winds. We’re prepared for all types of conditions,” said Bergeson.

This crew is just one of hundreds heading the same way.

Indianapolis Power and Light Company and Duke Energy have no official plans yet to head east.

Spokespeople said Sunday they’re monitoring the situation and will evaluate where help is needed once the storm hits.

Three crews from Miller Construction in Vincennes are heading east already, and others will hit the road this week. They specialize in power line construction.

Townsend Corporation based near Muncie already sent more than 300 employees from across the Midwest to the east coast. They work on fallen power lines and remove branches that fell on the lines.

Two Red Cross volunteers from central Indiana took off Saturday for Pennsylvania.

Sunday, the two were in a holding pattern, waiting to see where they would be needed.