BEND, OR -- Central Oregon Community College suffered a major power outage on Monday, at least partially impacting eight buildings, including the Science building (pictured), Juniper and Grandview. Ron Paradis, with the college, says classes were in session, despite the Presidents Day holiday.
Paradis tells KBND News, "There was a fuse that went out sometime overnight, and it affected six or seven buildings on the COCC Campus. We were able to get some of the power back to them right away using emergency generators, but some power, and including the heat, were off." That lack of heat was a big problem, given Monday's high temperature reached just 25-degrees. "Not a great day for the heat to be out, obviously one of the colder days of the year. We worked with many of the classes that were taking place and gave them the option of moving, if that seemed most convenient. Most I think, stayed where they were and just endured the cold weather, but some did move; in particular those that needed more technology, because not all of that was running with the power down."