ATLANTA, Oct. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
crews continue the first full day of restoration following
Hurricane Matthew and are experiencing the widespread devastation
across Coastal Georgia firsthand. As soon as allowed by emergency
agencies, damage assessment teams were the first to re-enter
evacuated areas and are relaying field information so that
restoration teams can be dispatched as safely and efficiently as
possible. As of Sunday afternoon, damage assessment was well
underway across the coast with teams reporting severe damage from
the strongest hurricane to strike the Georgia coast in decades, including hundreds
of downed trees and sustained flooding.
There are approximately 5,000 personnel from Georgia Power and
assisting utilities working to restore power following Hurricane
Matthew. The Georgia Power storm center and social media command
center located at the company's headquarters in Atlanta are also staffed 24 hours a day to
support field personnel and keep affected customers informed.
"We have teams working around the clock for customers across the
coast," said Georgia Power Emergency Operations Director
Aaron Strickland. "We were prepared
for a storm of this size and are working as quickly and safely as
we can to navigate hazardous conditions and make effective repairs
to restore power to as many customers as possible."
Damage assessment is the first step in the restoration process
and is followed by repair activities such as replacing poles,
transformers and spans of power lines. Georgia Power estimates that
all damage assessment for Hurricane Matthew will be complete by
Monday. Based on current estimates, restoration for all customers
could take days, especially in remote areas and on the coast.
The company has issued the following update on Hurricane Matthew
restoration efforts as of 7:00 p.m.
Sunday:
- Power has been restored to more than 150,000
customers.
- Approximately 160,000 customers are without power in
coastal Georgia.
- More than 500 distribution poles are broken or damaged.
- Nearly 38 miles of wire (1,000 spans) need to be replaced.
- Damage and power outages are concentrated in Coastal Georgia,
including Chatham, Glynn, Effingham, Bulloch and Liberty Counties.
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.
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, downed trees or standing water 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.
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