Families gathered around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve were unable to bask in the glow of the lights after heavy snow snapped power lines for the second time this winter.

Homer Electric Association's first reported outage in the southern peninsula was in the Green Timbers area off the Sterling Highway. Residents there lost power around 7:15 a.m. Dec. 24 and were without power for about an hour.

Later that night, a line in the Diamond Ridge area gave way, taking out power to an unknown number of homes in the area, said Joe Gallagher with HEA. The outage started around 7:30 p.m.

Power was restored to all areas by 10 p.m., he said, but at 10:30 p.m., another line dropped, taking out power to the south end of the North Fork Road, as well as parts of the Old Sterling Highway, the new Sterling Highway, and the Belnap Subdivision off Diamond Ridge Road. Power in some areas was not restored again until 2 a.m.

Gallagher attributed the outages to significant snow buildup on lines. Combined with a breeze, the lines gave way under the strain, he said. Crews were aware of the snow load, however, and were standing by to respond as quickly as possible.

Power flowed steadily on Christmas Day, however, with only a few, isolated outages, Gallagher said.

Troopers on the prowl

The second enforcement period of the Alaska State Troopers' "Impaired Driving Blitz" is under way. Troopers, as well as local police statewide, will be using more of the federally funded overtime to patrol highways looking for impaired drivers.

This second leg of the blitz runs through Saturday at midnight.

According to a trooper press release, Maj. Doug Norris, deputy director of the Alaska State Troopers said more than 30 impaired drivers were cited in the first segment of the enforcement effort.

"With more parties planned for this weekend we want to remind everyone to party responsibly."

Disaster relief exceeds $450,000

Three weeks after President Bush declared a federal disaster area in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Kodiak Island Borough and Chignik Bay due to severe storms and flooding between Oct. 23 and Dec. 20, disaster recovery assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies has exceeded $450,000, according to a joint state and federal press release.

During counseling sessions last month, 221 peninsula residents visited disaster recovery centers in Homer, Ninilchik and Seward. Residents who have not yet applied for federal assistance for storm-related loss or damage have until Feb. 2 to do so.

"We will continue to work with the state to keep the momentum going and to make sure every effort is made to help individuals get back on their feet," said William Lokey, federal coordinating officer for the disaster.

FEMA's toll-free disaster-assistance number is (800) 621-FEMA.