Hundreds of line workers set out at first light to continue restoring power for cooperative members in North Carolina following Hurricane Dorian. Crews have made outstanding progress since yesterday, reducing outages to 20,500, down from a peak of 94,000.

In some locations, including parts of the Outer Banks, crews are facing extensive damage and flooding that can impede restoration efforts.

“Co-op staff and line crews will continue to work tirelessly to bring power back in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian,” said Joe Brannan, CEO of North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “We are grateful to our members for their support and patience.”

Local cooperative crews are joined in the field by crews from fellow cooperatives in North Carolina and several other states. Contractors have also joined the effort, and together, these dedicated and determined power restoration personnel will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to cooperative members.

See real-time outage numbers and locations on the cooperatives’ statewide outage map.

Crews  roll out to respond to outages in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

Safety:

• In homes that flooded and had water reach the electric meter, electric service cannot be restored until inspections are done and approvals are granted. Energizing structures that have been compromised by flood waters that reached the electric meter can result in house fires as well as serious personal injury or death.
• Help keep our crews safe. If you see utility crews working on the side of the road, slow down and drive carefully.
• Never wade into or drive through flood water.
• Only use generators and charcoal grills in well-ventilated outdoor areas; a garage does not count as a well-ventilated area.
• Never connect a portable generator directly to a home’s wiring. Instead, use an extension cord to plug lights and appliances into the generator.
• Never touch a downed power line, and remember that sometimes debris can cover fallen lines, making them difficult to spot.

North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives collectively serve approximately 2.5 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties. For more information, visit ncelectriccooperatives.com.