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Long Beach Residents Losing Patience After Experiencing Another Power Outage

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A power outage is likely always a hassle for those impacted, but after experiencing at least two in a month, some Long Beach residents appear to be losing their patience.

"We were all talking, 'We finally restocked the fridge and now it's all gonna wind up getting thrown again,' " said Kelly Carroll, who has just about had it with losing power this summer.

The outage Thursday night marked the second time her block around 12th and Pacific has been without power this month.

"The S.C. was trying to say it was a gas leak that caused it, but like really?" she said.

For Merwin Videna, the outage was the first one she experienced in Long Beach.

At its height, the outage impacted 30,000 people, but as of 10:30 p.m., 400 customers remained without power.

Videna was one of thousands who had gone to the Long Beach Convention Center to see Evangelist Joyce Meyer only to be evacuated when the power went out.

The event was canceled.

"People were still there. People refused to leave. We were still hoping. People were singing and chanting, praying for the power to come on and it never came on," she said.

Shannon's On Pine, an Irish Pub & Sports Bar in downtown Long Beach, may be one of the few spots that hasn't lost its patience yet nor profits.

Every time they've lost power this month, they've kept pouring.

"Nobody has control over it and it is what it is," said Varouj Shekerdemian. "We gotta do what we gotta do."

The city has advised residents to make sure they have flashlights and batteries in case the power outage lasts.

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