About 3,000 homes and businesses on the Kenai Peninsula were without power Wednesday evening after heavy winds damaged area transmission lines.

“The majority of those are located in Nikiski/North Kenai,” said Homer Electric Association spokesman Joe Gallagher.

Gallagher said there was a strong possibility that it would take until Friday to restore all power.

“We’re still seeing a few outages come in on a regular basis,” Gallagher said.

Two men were rescued Tuesday evening after being stranded in a power-less skiff surrounded by rough Cook Inlet waters for almost three hours.

Charles Smith and Kenneth Maal, both of Sterling, were airlifted out of their 26-foot aluminum skiff approximately 200 yards from shore near Milepost 8 of Kalifornsky Beach Road, Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said.

Responders were called to the scene about 3 p.m.

An estimated 5,000 or more homes on the central Kenai Peninsula remained without power Wednesday after a night of wind damaged area transmission lines.

Homer Electric Association spokesman Joe Gallagher said outages were likely to continue throughout the day and into Thursday. 

Two men have been stranded in a 26-foot aluminum skiff in Cook Inlet approximately 200 yards from shore near Mile Post 8 of Kalifornsky Beach.

The skiff is currently tied to a buoy. The engine is not working and the skiff is taking on water, according to Alaska State Troopers.

“It appears the water being taken on is due to the choppy seas,” Troopers spokesperson Megan Peters said.

The two men are communicating with rescuers through hand signals.