ATLANTA, Oct. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
crews have re-entered Coastal Georgia and restoration efforts are
beginning with a workforce of nearly 5,000 personnel from Georgia
Power and assisting utilities mobilized to restore power following
Hurricane Matthew. Crews are navigating extensive damage, including
flooding and roads blocked by downed trees. Damage assessment teams
were the first to re-enter evacuated areas as soon as allowed by
emergency agencies and are relaying critical field information so
that restoration teams can be dispatched as safely and efficiently
as possible. Work in Coastal Georgia remains hazardous with high
winds expected to continue into the afternoon.
As part of Southern Company, as well as a national mutual
assistance network, Georgia Power is able to receive assistance
from other utilities not impacted by the storm to aid in
restoration efforts. Utilities from other states, including
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, are currently in Georgia working alongside Georgia Power crews
to restore service for customers.
As of 2 p.m. Saturday, Georgia
Power reported more than 2,100 individual cases of damage,
including broken poles and downed lines, resulting nearly 260,000
customers without power. Damage and power outages are concentrated
in Coastal Georgia, including Chatham, Glynn, Effingham, Bulloch and Liberty Counties.
Georgia Power reminds customers that dangerous conditions exist
following a storm. Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire,
including telephone or cable wires that touch a power line. Never
pull tree limbs off power lines yourself or enter areas with debris
or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in
wreckage. If using a generator, follow all manufacturers'
connection and safety instructions and shut the generator down
before reconnecting to Georgia Power service.
Residents should also work to relocate elderly, ill or disabled
family members who did not evacuate. Restoration for all
customers could take days, especially in rural areas and on the
coast.
The company also offers the following tools you can use to stay
informed during restoration efforts:
- Outage Alerts: Subscribe to the free Georgia Power
Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and
updates via text message.
- Outage & Storm Center: Available at
www.georgiapower.com/storm, customers can visit this site to sign
up for Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and
access useful safety tips and information. Customers can 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,
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 Twitter: Follow @GeorgiaPower on
Twitter for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and
more.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
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 2.5 million customers
in all but four of Georgia's 159
counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia
Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes
nuclear, 21st century 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 consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates
as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more
information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the
company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).
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SOURCE Georgia Power