Last week, Tropical Storm Zeta blew through the Carolinas after making landfall as a strong Category 2 hurricane in Louisiana on Wednesday. More than 301,000 power outages were recorded across North Carolina Thursday evening, according to the NC Department of Public Safety, with approximately 84,000 of those outages affecting electric co-op members.
Storm damage to EnergyUnited’s system
The greatest concentration of co-op outages were in the hardest-hit mountain and western Piedmont regions. Statesville-based EnergyUnited reported nearly 44,000 members without power at the peak. Strong gusts of wind brought trees and limbs in contact with power lines, causing the majority of the outages.
“Our crews encountered a lot of fallen trees and broken poles in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Zeta,” said EnergyUnited Communications Manager Maureen Moore. “Thanks to the hard work and efforts of our crews, as well as crews from Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio and other co-ops across North Carolina, all power was restored as of 9 p.m. Sunday.”