Georgia Power Struggles to Restore Electricity After Storm Helene Affects 720,000 Customers

Atlanta – Georgia Power Faces Aftermath of Storm Helene, 720,000 Customers Affected

Hey there, folks! We’ve got some news hot off the press from Atlanta. It seems that over 700,000 Georgia Power customers have been impacted by the intense tropical storm, Helene. Let’s dive into what’s happening!

On Friday, Kim Greene, CEO of Georgia Power, joined Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in a news conference to discuss the company’s response to the aftermath. Greene assured everyone that the company is committed to getting power restored as safely and quickly as possible, mentioning they hope to start publishing estimated restoration times soon.

What Happened?

In a candid chat on Thursday, Greene explained how the teams are working through these challenging conditions. As of Friday morning, 720,000 customers were left with little to no electricity, according to Georgia Power’s outage map. Greene mentioned, “We had a storm before a storm,” outlining how areas were already vulnerable due to previously saturated grounds from earlier rainfall. By the time Helene hit, those areas were prime spots for disaster.

Helene, initially a Category 4 hurricane, stormed through Florida’s Big Bend and dived into Georgia early Friday as an intense tropical storm. Its powerful winds and saturated grounds led to numerous trees toppling over — a dangerous combination that caused widespread power outages.

Current Response Efforts

Georgia Power crews have been working tirelessly. “Over the past 24 to 48 hours, we’ve actually restored power to over 120,000 customers,” Greene mentioned. However, Greene also shared a reality check: “Unfortunately, it may be multiple days” before full power restoration, she said.

Speaking from the company’s Storm Center, Greene emphasized safety, noting that Helene was an “unprecedented storm for Georgia”, described as wide-ranging and fierce. Crews must first conduct a thorough damage assessment before determining the necessary resources and where they’re needed most. This assessment phase includes rigorous safety checks, especially considering the risk of flooding and downed power lines.

Georgia Power has a substantial force on standby, with 10,000 resources already deployed. “It takes a few days – it doesn’t happen overnight,” Greene remarked. As of Friday morning, they were approaching the damage assessment phase.

What’s Next?

Now, for those of you wondering if things are moving fast enough, Greene pointed out that crews won’t go up in bucket trucks when winds are above 35 mph. Helene’s powerful gusts have indeed caused some delays. “It’s a multiple-day event,” Greene reiterated, urging patience as crews work as swiftly and safely as they can.

She also assured that the company is dedicated to keeping customers informed, with team members on the ground ready to answer questions. For the latest updates and information specific to your location, Georgia Power encourages everyone to follow them on social media or visit georgiapower.com/storm.

Moving Forward

As the city of Atlanta and surrounding areas recover from Helene’s blows, it’s important for everyone to stay safe and informed. Georgia Power is working around the clock, and though it may take some time, power will eventually be restored to all those affected.

For now, stay strong and keep an eye out for more updates as they come in. It’s a team effort, and together we’ll get through this!