RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 6, 2019, 6:15 a.m.) –More than 80,000 members of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are currently without power after Hurricane Dorian’s overnight trek northward along the coast – a number that officials say could rise and fall throughout the day.
Counties with the highest number of current electric cooperative outages include:
- Carteret County – 20,208
- Brunswick County – 19,478
- Sampson County – 7,359
As today’s conditions improve, hundreds of co-op crews will begin power restoration efforts. However, with Hurricane Dorian still bearing down on the northeastern part of our state, additional outages are expected.
Crews at South River EMC getting ready to start work for the day.
“We’re likely to see a situation where restoration crews are out in force in our southeastern communities, while those in the northeast are holding in place until conditions are safe,” said Mike Burnette senior vice president of power supply and chief operating officer of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives.
North Carolina’s electric cooperatives urge caution near work areas to keep line restoration crews safe and allow them to focus on bringing power back to the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time.
Please remember to never touch a downed power line; fallen lines can remain energized and pose serious dangers. The same is true for anything in contact with a power line, which is especially important to know as debris cleanup begins. Do not try to cut or clear limbs from power lines.
If you are using a portable generator, remember to only use it in a well ventilated area; garages do not count. Generators should not be connected to a home’s wiring system, fuse box or circuit breaker unless a qualified electrician performed the installation. Improper connections pose a serious risk to line personnel.
Real-time statewide outage numbers and locations are available online. Co-op members should also report outages to their electric cooperative.
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.