Blue Ridge Electric Linemen Continue to Work; Power Restoration Efforts Expected to Extend into the Weekend
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (5 p.m., September 17, 2004) – Power restoration is being hampered by flooding and high winds for members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation who lost power as a result of Hurricane Ivan’s effects in northwest North Carolina. Power restoration efforts are expected to last into the weekend.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, outage reports stood at 11,442 members without power across the Blue Ridge Electric service territory. That is down from a high of over 14,000 earlier in the day. The member count without power in each district as of 5 p.m. is: Watauga district 6,144; Ashe district: 4,663; Alleghany, 689; and Caldwell, 76.
In addition to flooding, numerous downed power lines and trees on lines due to high winds are affecting power restoration efforts.
Members with power outages who are dependent upon electricity for life support or oxygen are strongly urged to seek alternative boarding.
Members experiencing an outage who have not reported it should call the cooperative’s Powerline at 1-800-448-2383. Using the automated Powerline is highly recommended—it is the fastest way to report an outage.
