***URECC MEMBERS***

Day two of restoration efforts is in full swing, and our crews are working tirelessly to get power back on. This morning, we began with approximately 7,150 members without power. The damage reported by our crews has been extensive at every location they’ve visited. To date, we’ve identified 27 broken distribution poles and over 12 broken cross arms. Fortunately, the damage to the transmission side has been less severe. Yesterday, our teams focused on clearing debris and inspecting the damage, and today, we’ve moved into full-scale construction and repairs.

 

During the storm, we experienced tornadic winds that twisted and uprooted poles, trees, and power lines, creating significant challenges for repairs. Even after the storm passed, strong winds have continued to disrupt the restoration process. In some cases, power that was restored was knocked out again due to the winds. This is why you may notice fluctuating outage numbers as you check our outage map (urecc.coop/maps/OutageWebMap/). The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory across our entire territory until 6 PM tonight, and we’re monitoring the conditions closely.

We’ve also called in additional contractors to help accelerate the restoration process:

• 14 crew members from Shelton

• 7 crew members from Mid South Electric Co-op

• Dozens of right-of-way crews

Here’s a breakdown of the areas we’re currently focusing on:

***Pittsburg, Rocky Mound, Leesburg, and Ebenezer***
These areas have suffered heavy damage to the distribution system. More than a dozen poles have already been replaced, and crews have had to remove numerous trees from power lines, leaving exposed wires. Crews are actively working to clear these trees while others are focused on repairs at the substation. Please remember to treat all downed wires as live and hazardous.

 

***Avinger, Glenwood, East Mountain, and Diana***
Massive trees have fallen onto power lines in these areas, and crews are diligently working to clear the debris and make the necessary repairs.

 

***Gilmer, Little Mound, and Big Sandy***
Overnight, these areas experienced significant wind damage, with one tree breaking the power line in four separate places. That repair has been completed, and additional crews are continuing their work. This region has seen the highest volume of fallen trees, and our primary focus here is cleaning up and restoring service.

 

***Mt. Eara***
Broken poles and fallen trees have been major contributors to the outages here. Crews are walking the lines, replacing poles, and clearing debris as needed. Repairs are actively being made.

 

***The Rest of the System***
Crews are spread throughout the system, addressing similar damage across the region. They are working tirelessly to make repairs and restore service as quickly as possible.

 

We anticipate having the majority of the system restored by tonight, with the remainder of the repairs completed by tomorrow. Please note that this is an estimated timeline and could be subject to change depending on weather conditions and additional damage discovered during repairs.

 

We sincerely appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we work around the clock to restore power to all affected members. Your safety is our top priority, and we will keep you updated as the situation progresses.

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Thank you for your cooperation, and please stay safe.