Appalachian Power Storm Response: Update #2
Thursday, September 26, 2024 – 2:30 p.m.
Situation
Nearly 60 percent of customers who lost power last night due to severe thunderstorms have been restored. At its peak, the storm resulted in power outages for approximately 10,000 customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.
Outages & Damages
About 3,500 customers are still without power following last night’s severe weather. Virginia, which peaked at 6,500 customers without power at 7 a.m., now has just over 2,300 customers still out. West Virginia has 1,100 customers out, followed by Tennessee, which has approximately 100 customers without power.
Restoration Estimates
Restoration times may be delayed in some areas due to continued heavy rains. Gusty winds are expected to pick up later this evening, which could bring additional outages in some areas. Nearly 100 additional workers are traveling to the hardest hit areas of southwest Virginia to assist with restoration. Most customers who lost power Wednesday night will have power restored by 11 p.m. tonight.
We Are Prepared
Hurricane Helene is expected to continue dropping heavy rain and gusty winds in our area. All Appalachian Power crews and contractors are on alert in their respective locations, packed and prepared to work. The company is currently working to secure additional crews to assist if outages increase.
Weather
Remnants of Hurricane Helene are expected to continue to impact our service territory over the next couple of days. Heavy rain and strong, gusty winds may impact restoration efforts and increase outage numbers in some areas.
How Customers Can Prepare
- Plan in the event a power outage occurs. Check with those who are elderly, have young children or have medical conditions to ensure they have a plan — and don't forget your pets.
- Charge devices such as phones, laptops, portable chargers and other electronics that will help you stay connected.
- Prepare an emergency kit. At a minimum, include non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, batteries, a battery-powered radio, a first-aid kit and necessary medications.
Safety Message
- Windstorms cause damage that can bring down power lines. Customers should treat all downed lines as live power lines and stay away from them. Never touch downed power lines or sparking equipment. Keep children and pets away from fallen lines and anything the lines may touch and call 911 and Appalachian Power at 1-800-956-4237 immediately.
- Do not plug the generator into your circuit box using a portable or RV generator.
- Flooding is expected in many areas throughout our service territory. Be cautious, and remember to turn around; don’t drown.
- Find additional safety tips at AppalachianPower.com/Safety.
For More Information
Customers can subscribe to Appalachian Power outage alerts to receive specific information about outages affecting their accounts via text message and/or email. To sign up, please visit Appalachian Power alerts.
A snapshot view of current outages is available anytime by visiting Appalachian Power’s Outage Map.
Next Update: Thursday, September 26, 2024, 6:00 p.m.