Hurricane Helene: How to report an outage and check the time of restoration of power service
Hurricane Helene broke power poles and downed power lines, leaving millions of households without electricity. Here’s how you can report an outage.
Hurricane Helene’s devastation continues to affect millions of Americans, with many left without electricity. Power companies are pushing through with their restoration efforts amid extensive damage to power poles and lines, widespread flooding, and road and bridge closures.
According to PowerOutage.us, more than 2.5 million people still do not have electricity in five states. The latest numbers from early Sunday morning show the number of customers without power.
- South Carolina: 946,766
- Georgia: 690,029
- North Carolina: 564,499
- Florida: 251,127
- Virginia: 137,711
READ ALSO: Helene leaves dozens dead
Hurricane Helene: How to report an outage and check the time of restoration of power service
If your home has no power and you want to report your situation or check the status of electricity restoration in your area, you can check the following websites depending on the state in which you live. These sites include real-time outage maps for various electric companies as well as their contact numbers.
- North Carolina: Department of Public Safety
- South Carolina: Dominion Energy
- Georgia: Georgia Power
- Florida: Duke Energy
- Virginia: LGE-KU
Downed power lines: Safety tips
Fallen power lines are dangerous and can potentially kill. Here are some tips to keep in mind if power is out in your area.
Report downed lines immediately
Contact local authorities or the utility company to report downed power lines, and provide as much detail as possible about their location and nearby hazards.
READ ALSO: The deadliest hurricanes in US history
Stay away!
Residents are advised to keep their distance from these power lines. Always assume they are live and dangerous. Electricity can travel through the ground and objects around the line, so avoid touching it or anything in contact with it, such as trees, water, or fences.
Ensure that children and pets stay far away from areas where electricity could still be active.
Avoid driving over downed lines
Never drive over downed power lines. If you encounter them on the road, stop and turn around.
Be careful around wet areas
Water can conduct electricity, so avoid downed lines near puddles, streams, flooding, and other wet surfaces.