News Summary

Over 21,000 Duke Energy workers are tirelessly restoring power across North and South Carolina after Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage. Many areas remain without power, with significant flooding complicating recovery efforts. Duke Energy is collaborating with various agencies and deploying thousands of workers to expedite repairs. Meanwhile, safety recommendations for residents in flood-prone areas are being circulated, and public participation is encouraged to report outages. Ongoing management of lake levels is also a priority to mitigate further flooding.

North Carolina and South Carolina

Over 21,000 workers from Duke Energy are working diligently to restore power to homes and businesses affected by Hurricane Helene, which wreaked havoc across both North and South Carolina. As the restoration efforts continue, significant challenges remain due to extensive damage caused by the storm to the electrical system, including transmission towers, substations, utility poles, and power lines.

As of 4 p.m. ET, reports indicate that many areas are still experiencing power outages due to the extensive damage from the storm. At its peak, over 51,000 customers across the Carolinas were without power. Areas particularly hard hit include multiple counties in western North Carolina such as Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Transylvania. Flooding has further hampered restoration efforts, destroying essential infrastructure such as roads and bridges, complicating access in these areas.

Duke Energy’s storm director highlighted the critical cooperation with local, state, and federal agencies, which has been instrumental in facilitating the restoration process. With collaboration from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Duke Energy is navigating the ongoing challenges posed by the aftermath of the storm.

Worker Coordination and Efforts

An impressive team of about 11,000 workers, comprising employees and contractors from various electric companies across 19 states in the U.S. and Canada, has been strategically positioned across affected regions to expedite restoration efforts. Detailed assessments of damaged infrastructure must be completed before restoration work can commence, a process that may take up to 24 hours or longer, depending on the extent of the damage.

Duke Energy is providing ongoing updates about power restoration times through various channels, including their website, Outage Alerts, and Outage Map. This information aims to keep affected residents informed as crews continue to work around the clock.

Regional Impact and Safety Recommendations

Meanwhile, Blue Ridge Energy is also attending to power outages, particularly impacting over 11,000 customers in the North Carolina mountains due to weather-related damage. Crews from at least ten other utility companies have been deployed to assist Blue Ridge Energy in restoring service to affected customers.

In the wake of the storm and flooding, numerous safety recommendations are being circulated for residents living in flood-prone areas. Recommendations include moving loose objects away from shorelines and reporting any dangerous conditions to local authorities, ensuring safety during the recovery period.

Duke Energy is also actively managing lake levels in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin to mitigate further flooding brought about by the heavy rainfall of the storm. With communities facing daily challenges without power, the ongoing restoration efforts remain a priority as thousands of workers continue to mobilize across the impacted areas.

Public Participation

The public is encouraged to report any power outages they are experiencing. This can be done easily through the Duke Energy app, the company’s official website, or by calling the designated support number. Staying connected and informed is crucial during this restoration period as communities work together to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• WLOS: Power Outages in Buncombe and Henderson Counties
• Fox Carolina: Duke Energy Customers Without Power
• Duke Energy: Power Restoration Efforts After Hurricane Helene
• WTKR: Dominion Energy Customers Without Power
• WBTV: Power Restoration in North Carolina Mountains
• Wikipedia: Hurricane Helene
• Google Search: Power Outage Restoration North Carolina
• Google Scholar: Hurricane Recovery
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Hurricane Helene
• Google News: North Carolina Power Outages