Damage assessment teams on site to ensure the most efficient response possible; Crews are navigating flooded roads, downed trees and strong wind gusts

ATLANTA, September 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As Hurricane Helene disappears GeorgiaGeorgia Power deployed more than 10,000 personnel assembled ahead of the storm to begin comprehensive damage assessment and cleanup. There was significant damage statewide from hurricane-force winds and heavy rain, as well as ground previously saturated due to the “storm before the storm” that hit the state ahead of the historic hurricane on Wednesday.

The entire state Georgia was affected by the storm, including the hardest hit areas savannah, Augusta And Valdosta. Away 10 O `clockapproximately 730,000 Georgia Power customers are affected by Hurricane Helene. Crews are currently working to assess damage in all regions of the state and will restore power to customers as quickly as possible. Power has been restored to more than 100 km since the storm began 120,000 Customers through crews and “smart grid” technology that enables remote restoration while storm conditions were at their worst.

Damage assessment is an essential part of an efficient recovery and marks the first phase of the recovery process once the storm has cleared the affected areas. Damage assessment teams enter the field and begin restoration as soon as conditions permit. These teams are followed by repair crews depending on the extent of the damage and access to the area. If weather conditions improve, recovery efforts may be accelerated, but due to the size and severity of Hurricane Helene, extended outages are possible.

Georgia Power reminds customers that hazardous conditions exist following a storm and that they should always heed the advice of local, state and federal emergency authorities in storm-affected areas.

Safety tips after the storm

• Watch out for fallen cables. Downed power lines may be obscured by debris or fallen trees.
• Never touch fallen wires or attempt to remove branches from power lines – this can be fatal.
• Do not step in standing water or saturated ground where downed pipes may be present. They could be electrified.
• Avoid chain link fences. They can be electrified by a line broken out of sight and can carry electricity over long distances.
• Watch for Georgia Power crews operating across the state. When driving, drive over a lane for commercial vehicles that are parked on the side of the road – this is required by law Georgia.
• Protect electronics and devices. To avoid overloading circuits when power is restored, disconnect or turn off any equipment that automatically starts when power is restored.

For more information about the damage assessment and restoration process, visit the Georgia Power website or follow our social media channels.

Tools to help you stay connected and informed

• Outage warnings – Customers subscribed to our free Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized alerts and updates via SMS. Make sure your contact number is current to receive the latest information.
• Outage and Storm Center – At www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm, customers can visit this website to check that their contact information is updated, receive outage alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
• Failure map – Georgia Power's interactive outage map, located on the Outage & Storm Center site, provides near real-time information so users can 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 severe weather and outage information on the go.
• @GeorgiaPower on X (Twitter) – Follow @GeorgiaPower at www.X.com/GeorgiaPower for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.

Support from across the industry
As part of its preparations, Georgia Power mobilized additional personnel, including from sister company Mississippi Power, to respond to Hurricane Helene. Mobilized teams across the state positioned remediation workers, equipment and supplies near expected impact areas, including additional transformers, poles, cables and other equipment. This is all part of forward planning and strategy to enable the company to restore power to its customers more quickly and efficiently as soon as weather conditions permit.

Georgia Power is also a member of a statewide mutual aid network consisting of hundreds of utilities from across the country. Georgia Power proactively mobilized employees from over 35 companies in 11 states Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Pennsylvania And New Jersey. The company is acquiring additional off-system resources and will move them in-state today.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's leading energy company. Value, reliability, customer service and responsibility are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four Georgia 159 counties. Committed to providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, Georgia Power has a diverse, innovative power generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewable energies such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power is focused on providing customers with superior service every day and the company is recognized by JD Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

SOURCE Georgia Power

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