RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 5, 2019, 10:30 a.m.) – Electric cooperatives serving southeastern North Carolina are beginning to see impacts from Hurricane Dorian. The cooperatives are reporting approximately 5,000 co-op members without power, mainly in Brunswick and Carteret counties. Line crews, aided by support crews from unaffected areas, are positioned and ready to restore outages as soon as conditions are safe.
Of the 26 locally owned and operated electric cooperatives in North Carolina, 14 provide electric service to nearly half a million homes, farms and businesses in eastern and coastal areas, including 16 beaches.
Electric co-ops stand ready to respond to any outages that occur from damaging wind and heavy rain as Hurricane Dorian tracks along the coast. Local cooperative line crews are joined by hundreds of additional linemen who traveled from unaffected areas to help complete system repairs as quickly as possible.
Linemen from Rutherford EMC have arrived to assist Carteret-Craven Electric Co-op with storm restoration efforts. Other co-op crews are on standby if needed.
Cooperative members are encouraged to keep cell phones charged and their co-op’s outage reporting number accessible. Real-time outage information from electric cooperatives across the state is available on a Statewide Outage Map.
Cooperatives members should keep these safety tips in mind:
- Never touch or attempt to clear debris from a downed power line. Always assume that power lines are energized and dangerous.
- Report any downed or fallen power lines to your electric cooperative.
- Stay tuned to local forecasts and your electric cooperative for the latest information on the storm and safety.
- Never drive through flooded areas.
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.