Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital operating on generators, surgeries canceled

CANTON − A city substation issue has affected the electricity at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, which is operating on generator power.

All surgeries scheduled for today have been canceled, according to a statement from the hospital. The Emergency Department also is diverting patients.

"We appreciate the dedication of our caregivers who are continuing to provide the very best care to our community," spokeswoman Beth Hertz wrote in an email. "We will provide updates as we have them."

AEP Ohio spokeswoman Mandy Yost said crews were on scene Tuesday afternoon to assess the damage and work with Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital. Equipment issues at a substation, which serves only the hospital, sparked a transformer fire about 10 a.m. The Canton Fire Department extinguished the transformer, and the hospital switched to backup power.

"After careful inspection and testing, it was determined that both transformers serving the hospital were damaged by the fire and will need to be replaced," Yost said. "So we have a mobile transformer en route, and it should arrive this afternoon. The crews are going to work through the night to get the mobile unit operational and expect it to be in service sometime tomorrow morning."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Power issues prompt Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital to use generators