RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, the electric utilities that collectively serve 45% of the state’s land mass and power the homes of 2.5 million people, are closely monitoring the approach of Hurricane Helene and preparing for potential impacts to the state.
Forecasts show the potential for Helene to bring heavy rain and flooding to North Carolina, especially in the western part of the state. In these conditions, because the ground is already saturated in many areas due to recent rainfall, even moderate wind gusts can cause trees to topple, resulting in downed power lines and outages.
“Crews and all cooperative power restoration personnel are prepared to respond quickly and safely if outages occur,” said Nelle Hotchkiss, senior vice president and chief operating officer for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, the trade association for the state’s 26 local electric co-ops. “Because electric co-ops are based in the communities they serve, line crews are able to assess damage and start power restoration efforts as soon as conditions are safe.”
Seven electric cooperatives serve communities along and west of I-77, providing power to more than 450,000 homes and businesses in the forecasted cone of the storm. If additional assistance is needed to restore power, cooperatives rely on a widespread network of peer cooperatives across the state and nation for support.
“Now is the time to make a plan, assemble an emergency kit and follow instructions of local officials,” said Hotchkiss.
Below are some preparedness and safety steps to take now before the storm:
- Make a Plan. In case of a power outage or evacuation, have a plan for your family in place. Remember to consider a plan for pets and livestock.
- Prepare for Outages. Take steps now to charge cell phones and other electronic devices, gather medications and important documents, and prepare an emergency kit that includes a flashlight, radio and batteries.
- Stay Informed. Enable emergency alerts on your cell phone to help you make decisions for you or your family. Should an outage occur, your local electric cooperative’s social media pages and website can provide helpful restoration updates.
Real-time outage numbers from electric cooperatives across the state are available on a Statewide Outage Map. For storm tips for all types of severe weather, including preparation check lists, food safety information, scam awareness and more, visit the cooperative Storm Center.
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North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives collectively serve approximately 2.5 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties. For more information, please visit ncelectriccooperatives.com.