Last Updated on October 22, 2024 10:00 am
Mountain Electric Cooperative Update- Hurricane Helene Restoration -October 22, 2024
Status for Mtn City service area:
We currently have an estimated 100 members out of power. The number of outages will continue to slowly decrease due to building new lines and replacing broke poles that were damaged by the storm.
General Area Crews Working in Mountain City district area: We will have crews working in the Walnut Mountain, Heartwood, Poga /321, and Laurel areas. The service crews will be in different locations of the county working to restore power to homes that have damage to their services.
General Area Tree Crew Working: Tree service crews are working alongside the line crews as well as Heaton Branch and Walnut Mtn area.
Status of Newland:
We currently have 250 members out of power in Newland.
The outage restoration numbers are slowly decreasing due to each outage taking 3 hours or more to repair, to only get 1-2 members back on. It is a slow process, where most of the damage is severe and rough terrain.
We still have multiple service crews including outside contractors working in all areas on secondary lines and meter poles.
General area crews are working in Newland district
Crews are still in the following areas: Hwy 321/Flatsprings, Dorman Ln, Elk River Rd, Crossnore and Old Toe River Rd. We are cutting new right-of-way so we can feed Calhoun Hollow Rd which will take us a few days to build the line.
Service crews are still working all areas. 250 customers are still without power.
At this point in restoration, the challenges we are facing are immense, but we are working towards the solutions to restore all power to everyone. Not only do we have individual services with broken poles etc. that are taking hours to repair; crews are also having to rebuild entire power line structures that serve several communities. When I say that the structures have been destroyed, I mean there are no power poles left to reattach lines to and in some instances not even recognizing where the poles used to be.
General area crews are working in Roan Mtn district—Roan Mtn service crews are working on secondary and service work now. If you still do not have power and you did not call to report it yesterday, please call the Roan Mountain office at 423-772-3521.
If you have a medical need (oxygen, dialysis or other medical conditions), please find a local emergency shelter. Electricity and essential needs are being supplied at these shelters.
Please call your local office first and see if they can assist you before leaving me a message. I know there are several members without electricity still and can assure you all the MEC crews and contractors are working. These individuals have worked 26 days straight. Crews are working as quickly as possible and want your power restored also.
I also want to ask you please remember a lot of employees have damage to their own homes they have not been able to attend to because they are working hard for you, our members. Crews are working as quickly as possible and want your power restored also.
Rodney Metcalf, General Manager
Mountain Electric Cooperative
C: 423.727.1810
Fax: 423.727.1822
rmetcalf@mountainelectric.com
