MORGANTON, NC (WBTV) -
Across the western Carolinas on Monday triple digit temperatures could not be found but it was still quite warm with thermometers hitting the upper 90's in many spots.
While that was some relief, many people were still sweltering.
Storms on Sunday afternoon knocked power out to more than a thousand Duke Energy customers in Caldwell County and most of them were still without electricity as temperatures rose on Monday.
"It is really hot," said 89 year old Lillian Crisp as she sat in the shade of her front porch. She was hoping one of the Duke Energy trucks that passed in front of her home would bring some good news that her power was back on, but as of noon, they hadn't. "I would love for it to come back on," she said.
Duke Energy hopes to have everyone back on line by Tuesday but was working hard to accomplish the task sooner. "We're doing what we can," said one crew member as new lines and a pole were being installed along Valway Road in Lenoir.
Down the road in Hickory, homeless men and women have gathered at the Grace House during the day and the Salvation Army Shelter at night. "We have no place else to go," said Lewis Cousart.
Cousart said it is just too hot to walk the streets. Felicia Hagerty said her blood pressure was at dangerous levels last week as she tried to weather the heat outdoors.
Now she is trying to stay in air-conditioning as much as possible. "Thank God."
Forecasters think the triple digit temperatures are gone for now, at least, but do expect warmer than normal temperatures for some time to come.
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