Blue Ridge Responding to Christmas Day Ice Storm Leaves
10,000 Without Power

Report Outages to Powerline: 800-448-2383

Lenoir, North Carolina (December 25, 9 a.m. update) - An ice storm is pulling down trees and power lines, creating power outages for nearly 12,500 members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation members.

The outages began at 5 a.m. and will likely continue throughout the day due to the high number of downed trees, power lines and broken poles. All Blue Ridge line technicians are on the scene working to restore power in all districts, and additional crews have been called in to assist from EnergyUnited and Union Power electric cooperatives, Pike Electric Corporation and Carter Utility Services. Member service representatives are also taking member calls and the cooperative is staffed with employees working to facilitate communications and restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

The brunt of the storm is currently affecting Watauga County where 9,800 of the outages are occurring. Nearly 4,300 of the outages are concentrated in the Sherwood community where a substation has been affected, while 5,474 outages are scattered in various locations across the county.

Ashe County is affected with 2,200 of the outages, with about half of those concentrated in the Beaver Creek area and along Hwy. 194. Other outages are occurring in various locations across the county.

In Caldwell County, 300 outages are occurring primarily in northern Caldwell County beyond the Cheek's Crossroads community.

In Alleghany County, 232 outages are occurring with about 100 concentrated on Rocky Top and Frazier Roads, with the rest scattered across the county.

Members should report outages by calling the cooperative's Powerline at 1-800-448-2383. To view outage updates, visit www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and click on the "outage map" link located on the lower left hand side of the screen.

Numerous downed power lines are occurring as a result of the ice and fallen trees. Downed power lines can still be energized and therefore dangerous or even deadly! The cooperative reminds members to stay far away from downed power lines and to report them immediately to Blue Ridge Electric.

Blue Ridge Electric serves some 73,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties. Find more safety and outage preparation information as well as an outage viewing map at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com.