Power Restoration Work Continues

Watauga: 4,378; Ashe: 700 as of 6 a.m. Monday

Lenoir, North Carolina (December 28, 2009-6 a.m. update) - Some 250 line technicians are hitting the roads at daybreak to continue power restoration efforts in Watauga and Ashe counties. Additional crews from other utilities arrived Christmas Day and more are arriving today to assist Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation in getting power back on after one of the worst ice storms in recent history.

As of 6 a.m. Monday, 4,378 members in Watauga County and 700 in Ashe County remain without power. Outages hit a high of 25,000 on Christmas Day when the ice storm hit the High Country and foothills and also affected Caldwell and Alleghany counties.

Restoration efforts have been extensive due to the number of fallen trees tearing down the electric system and in some instances becoming entangled with power lines and breaking poles. At least 50 broken poles have been located and are being replaced, many by hand on mountainsides and other remote locations. Reaching and repairing lines and poles in mountainous terrain in the remaining snow and icy conditions also takes longer than repairing parts of the system more easily accessible.

"The things that make our mountain districts beautiful-the many trees, hillsides and rough terrain-also make it more difficult to restore power after a weather event like we've just experienced that has torn down so much of the system," said Renee Whitener, director of public relations. "Major and back roads have also been blocked, and we've brought in bulldozers to help clear the way.

"We had a large number of crews respond to our request for help and they are staying organized and working long hours to keep the public safe as well as for their own safety," she continued. "We couldn't ask for a more qualified, hard working group of line technicians who are dedicated to getting power restored as quickly as possible for our members," she added.

In addition to extra crews, the cooperative is working to accelerate restoration efforts by bringing in bulldozers to move debris and further access system damage by patrolling remote power lines by helicopter.

Due to the extent of damage, Blue Ridge officials are predicting it will be Tuesday evening before complete power restoration is achieved.

Assisting Blue Ridge Electric line technicians are crews from neighboring cooperatives Rutherford, Randolph, Piedmont, EnergyUnited, Union Power, Pee Dee, Lumbee River, and Central EMC, Blue Ridge Energies as well as crews from Pike Corporation, Carter Utility Services and Asplundh Tree Expert Company.

Members can report outages by calling the cooperative's Powerline at 1-800-448-2383. Call volume is heavy so the cooperative asks that members be patient when calling.

The ice storm and falling trees also pulled down power lines. The cooperative reminds the public that downed lines can still be energized and therefore dangerous or even deadly. Stay far away from downed lines and report them by calling Blue Ridge Electric at 1-800-451-5474.

Members in Watauga County with special medical or life support needs should contact their local emergency management office for assistance at (828) 264-4235 or call the American Red Cross at (828) 263-2639. For emergencies, call 911.

Members can view outage updates at any time by visiting www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and clicking on the "outage map" link. Outage updates and other information is also available on the web site as well as on Blue Ridge Electric's Facebook page.

Blue Ridge Electric serves some 73,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties.