Winter Storm Damage Causes Extended Power Outages

Linemen Working Tonight, Tomorrow to Restore Power

 

Lenoir, North Carolina (December 25, 2009--5 p.m. update) - Fallen trees across roadways and continued icy weather is hampering power restoration efforts and causing treacherous conditions in northwestern North Carolina where more than 19,000 members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation remain without power as of 4 p.m. Blue Ridge officials say storm damage is so severe that power restoration efforts will continue this evening and into the weekend.

Members with special medical or life support needs should contact their local emergency management office for assistance if needed, especially if living in Watauga or Ashe counties where electric system damage is more severe and restoration efforts will be extended. Watauga County Emergency Management has opened two shelters: Valle Crucis Conference Center and Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department. For medical or other emergency situations, call 911.

Power restoration efforts are being delayed in some areas due to trees that have fallen across roadways where line technician crews must stop to cut and remove trees and limbs blocking access to outage locations. Ice has also heavily damaged power lines and poles, sometimes in remote locations where poles must be replaced manually.

Members should call Powerline to report outages at 1-800-448-2383. Call volume is heavy so the cooperative asks that members be patient when reporting outages as member service staff will continue working in the evening hours and weekend to answer calls.

The cooperative also reminds the public that downed power lines are a safety hazard and should be avoided since they can still be energized even when on the ground. Report downed power lines by calling Blue Ridge Electric at 1-800-451-5474.

The current outage breakdown follows:
Watauga County: 12,000 members are without power, with 4,300 concentrated in the Sherwood community where a substation has been affected, with other affected locations scattered across various locations across the county.

Ashe County: 7,000 members have been affected, with a concentration of those located in the Beaver Creek area and along Hwy 194 and others scattered across the county.

Caldwell County, all but 90 members have been restored with power. Outages have occurred primarily in the northern part of the county.

Alleghany County: all but 500 members have been restored.

Blue Ridge Electric line crews are being assisted by neighboring cooperatives EnergyUnited and Union Power as well as crews from Pike Corporation and Carter Utility Services. The cooperative offices are also staffed with employees taking phone calls from members.

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.

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.