N.C. Electric Cooperatives Report 120,000 Outages As Of 6 A.M. Friday, Primarily In Southeastern NC

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 6 a.m. -- As Hurricane Florence bears down on our state, North Carolina's electric cooperatives are reporting approximately 120,000 outages, with the number expected to rise.

Counties with the highest number of electric cooperative outages are:

• Carteret – 33,000
• Onslow – 27,600
• Pender – 9,450
• Craven – 9,440

Hundreds of co-op crews are staged in local communities and ready to respond as soon as conditions are safe. Additionally, contractors and co-op crews from Alabama, Florida and Tennessee have been brought in to assist. However, high winds and widespread flooding may delay response times. Safety is a top priority, and crews will only be deployed when conditions are safe to work. Co-op members in affected areas need to be prepared for the possibility of prolonged outages that could last for days or even weeks.

There is a strong potential for downed lines; do not to go near fallen or sagging lines, and alert your utility immediately if you see such a hazard. If you are using a portable generator, remember to never use it indoors and to place it in a dry, well-ventilated area away from your home. Generators should not be connected to a home's wiring system, fuse box or circuit breaker unless a qualified electrician has installed a transfer switch between the generator and utility power in compliance with all state and local electrical codes.

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.      

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SOURCE North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives