School Reopens After Closure by Storm

Students at South Pasadena Middle School returned to their classes Friday for the first time since Monday’s windstorm when four power poles snapped and fell on school buildings, forcing the campus to close, officials said.

Meanwhile, Duarte became the ninth city in the San Gabriel Valley to declare a local emergency in order to apply for relief from county, state and federal authorities.

In Duarte, officials estimate that the city suffered damage of more than $300,000. “We had dozens of trees down, a main water line broken, an electrical pole broke and just hung over the street. We had to close Huntington Drive for a long time,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Biagini.

As cities continue the massive cleanup, crews for Southern California Edison restored power to virtually all customers along the foothills left in the dark since Monday’s winds, the worst in a decade, said Steve Conroy, Edison spokesman.

Duarte joins Arcadia, Claremont, La Verne, Monrovia, Pasadena, San Dimas, Temple City and Walnut in declaring local emergencies. Together, these cities are estimating the storm’s toll to be about $8 million.