Damage assessment teams in the field for most
efficient response; crews navigating flooded roadways, fallen trees
and high wind gusts
ATLANTA, Sept. 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Helene clears
Georgia, Georgia Power has
deployed 10,000+ personnel who were assembled in advance of the
storm to begin full-scale damage assessment and restoration. There
has been significant damage statewide due to hurricane-force winds
and heavy rain, coupled with ground that was previously saturated
due to Wednesday's "storm before the storm" that hit the state
ahead of the historic hurricane.
The entire state of Georgia has
been affected by the storm, with the hardest hit areas including
Savannah, Augusta and Valdosta. As of 10
a.m., approximately 730,000 Georgia Power customers
are impacted by Hurricane Helene. Crews are working now to assess
damage in every region across the state and will be restoring power
to customers as quickly as possible. Since the beginning of the
storm, power has been restored to more than 120,000
customers by crews, and "smart grid" technology enabling remote
restoration while storm conditions were still at their worst.
Damage assessment is an essential part of efficient restoration
and marks the first phase of the restoration process once the storm
has left impacted areas. Damage assessment teams enter the field
and begin the restoration process as soon as conditions allow.
These teams are followed by repair crews depending on the amount of
damage and access to the area. As weather conditions improve,
restoration efforts can accelerate, but extended outages are
possible due to the size and severity of Hurricane Helene.
Georgia Power reminds customers that dangerous conditions exist
following a storm, and to always heed the advice of local, state,
and federal emergency authorities in storm-affected areas.
After the Storm Safety Tips
- Watch for downed wires. Downed power lines may be
hidden by debris or fallen trees.
- Never touch any downed wire or attempt to remove tree
branches from power lines – it can kill.
- Don't step in standing water or saturated ground where
downed lines may be present. They could be
electrified.
- Avoid chain link fences. They may be electrified by
a downed line out of sight and conduct electricity over great
distances.
- Watch for Georgia Power crews working across the
state. If driving, move over one lane for utility vehicles
stopped on the side of the road – it's the law in Georgia.
- Protect electronics and appliances. Disconnect or
turn off any appliances that will start automatically when power
returns to avoid overloading circuits when power is restored.
For more on the damage assessment and restoration process, visit
Georgia Power's website or follow our social media channels.
Tools You Can Use to Stay Connected & Informed
- Outage Alerts – Customers subscribed to our free
Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized
notifications and updates via text message. Check that your contact
number is up to date to receive the latest information.
- Outage & Storm Center – Available at
www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm, customers can visit this site to check
their contact information is updated to receive Outage Alerts,
report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety
tips and information. Customers can also report and check the
status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at
888-891-0938.
- Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center
site, Georgia Power's interactive Outage Map provides near
real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are
occurring across the state and track estimated restoration
times.
- Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia
Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access
storm and outage information on the go.
- @GeorgiaPower on X (Twitter) – Follow @GeorgiaPower
at www.X.com/GeorgiaPower for storm tips, outage updates,
customer service and more.
Support from Across the Industry
As part of its
preparations, Georgia Power mobilized additional staff – including
from sister company Mississippi Power – to respond to Hurricane
Helene. Mobilized crews across the state pre-positioned restoration
workers, equipment, and supplies near areas of anticipated impact
including extra transformers, poles, cable and other equipment. All
is part of advance planning and strategy to allow the company to
restore power more quickly and efficiently for its customers as
soon as weather conditions allow.
Georgia Power is also a member of a nationwide mutual assistance
network, which consists of hundreds of utilities from around the
country. Georgia Power has proactively mobilized crews from
over 35 companies from 11 states as far away as Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. The company is acquiring additional off-system
resources and will be moving them into the state today.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's
premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and
Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7
million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to
delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, Georgia
Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes
nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar,
hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering
world-class service to its customers every day and the company is
recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer
satisfaction. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram
(Instagram.com/ga_power).
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SOURCE Georgia Power