The power is back on for more than 123,000 electric cooperative members impacted by Hurricane Isaias’ trek through eastern and coastal North Carolina early yesterday morning. Teams of line workers, tree trimmers and safety specialists continue their work today to restore power to approximately 6,500 cooperative members who are still affected.
Crews from Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative restore power on Hatteras Island following Hurricane Isaias. Photo courtesy of Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative via Facebook.
Outages are scattered across eastern counties with the largest remaining concentration in hardest-hit Brunswick County. Today’s restoration push includes efforts that can be time consuming, like clearing downed trees and debris before accessing restoration points. Amid these challenging conditions, and with additional, pandemic-related safety measures in place, cooperative officials urge members to keep safety top of mind.
Safety:
- If you are without power and are planning to use a portable generator, it is important to strictly follow the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations. Never connect a portable generator directly to a home’s wiring. Instead, use an extension cord to plug lights and appliances into the generator.
- Only use generators and charcoal grills in well-ventilated outdoor areas; a garage does not count as a well-ventilated area.
- Use caution near work areas to keep line restoration crews safe and allow them to focus on power restoration efforts. If driving and you see crews on the side of the road, slow down and move over.
- Please remember to never touch a downed power line; fallen lines can remain energized and pose serious dangers. Do not try to cut or clear limbs from power lines.
We thank cooperative members for their patience and many kind words as crews and co-op staff have worked to repair damage and restore service after Hurricane Isaias.
Real-time outage information from electric cooperatives across the state is available on a Statewide Outage Map.
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.