Sep 17

Sep 17 Duke Energy - Lenoir County Hurricane Florence Update

Statement from Duke Energy for Lenoir County:

Link to power outage map: https://outagemap.duke-energy.com/ncsc/default.html

While we have reduced outages to around 3,400 (down from 4,000 yesterday afternoon) in Lenoir County, some of the most challenging power restoration work remains ahead in currently inaccessible areas that experienced massive flooding and structural damage.

Duke Energy has dispatched more than 20,000 personnel to restore power, but their efforts are being hampered by severe flooding, road closures, wind gusts and storm debris in coastal and other eastern NC counties.

Other areas:

Greene County is down to fewer than 20 outages.

Pitt County still shows about 1,500 outages, with Grifton especially hard hit, as their substation flooded again, much like Hurricane Matthew. Duke Energy crews are working diligently on several approaches to remedy the situation, but it will still be a few days.

Crews are working to restore power in areas where it is safe to do so. Yesterday, crews were able to conduct some initial damage assessment by air, in places where ground crews do not have access.

In harder hit areas, estimated restoration times, will be determined after field crews complete damage assessment. That process could take several days due to road closures caused by severe flooding and storm debris, limiting travel for crews.

To provide as much information as possible, Duke Energy has established 12 separate areas for restoration across the Carolinas to provide targeted updates of estimated restoration times via text message.