The precise timing, path and impact of Hurricane Dorian remain uncertain, but North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are not leaving anything to chance. The extreme conditions that could accompany the major storm, include significant rainfall and flooding, as well as high winds – a one-two punch that has the potential to lead to prolonged power outages.
“Our state has seen its share of destructive hurricanes during the last few years, and cooperative line crews are storm-tested,” said Nelle Hotchkiss, senior vice president and chief operating officer of association services for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “They are highly trained, highly experienced and committed to restoring power to members as quickly as is safely possible.”
Out of the 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina, 14 provide electric service to nearly half a million homes, farms and businesses in eastern and coastal North Carolina, including 16 beaches. Because cooperative crews are staged in local communities, they are prepared to respond quickly, and in major outage situations are joined by peer cooperatives from less-affected areas of the state, as well as contract crews.
Cooperative members should report outages to their local co-op. Up-to-date power outage totals can be viewed anytime on our Statewide Outage Map.
As Hurricane Dorian approaches, we encourage co-op members to keep their cell phones charged and consider purchasing an external cell phone battery pack, as prolonged outages are always a possibility following a hurricane. This will allow you to stay connected to necessary emergency and safety updates.
Please teach children the dangers of approaching a downed or sagging powerline, as well as anything that such a line may be touching. Always assume that a powerline is energized and very dangerous.
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.