Almost 9,000 field personnel ready to respond to Hurricane Dorian effort for Duke Energy in the Carolinas
Duke Energy is moving an extra 4,000 field personnel from 23 states and Canada to the Carolinas in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian making its way up the Atlantic coast.
The crews will complement the 5,000 Duke Energy lineworkers and tree personnel in the Carolinas – creating a workforce of almost 9,000 personnel.
“We will have a total field workforce of about 9,000 ready to restore power when the storm moves out of the Carolinas,” said Jason Hollifield, Duke Energy’s incident commander for the Carolinas. “Our customers should know that once we begin work, we will not stop until restoration is complete.”
(Video of Jason Hollifield, Duke Energy incident commander for the Carolinas, discussing storm. You can get additional updates at https://www.dukeenergyupdates.com/)
Important enhancements have been made locally to offer even better protection to keep power flowing. Both the Greenville 230-kV substation and the Grifton 115-kV substation have portable wall systems in place to protect these substations from flood waters. Greenville’s portable wall surrounds the control house inside the substation at a height of 10-feet. Grifton’s 5-foot portable wall surrounds the de-energized substation equipment while a 10-foot portable wall will protect the mobile substation at the site.
These portable wall systems are engineered, modular systems with a history of successfully preventing damage from flood waters. In addition, crews have been assigned to each substation to monitor the storm impacts and rainfall in the coming days.
Before power can be restored, crews first must assess the extent of damage – which can take 24 hours or more – to determine which crews, equipment and supplies are needed before repairs can begin. Crews will also work to restore power while damage assessment occurs as conditions allows.
In advance of the hurricane, customers should stay tuned to local news for the latest advisories from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, as well as state and local emergency management officials.
For a hurricane kit checklist and important safety information, visit www.ready.gov.
Tips on what to do before, during and after a storm can be found at duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/storm-safety.
Duke Energy also urges customers to follow instructions and warnings issued ty local emergency management officials before, during and after a storm.
Safety recommendations
- Stay away from fallen or sagging power lines, and keep children and pets away from power lines as well. Consider all power lines – as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with power lines – energized and dangerous.
- Report all power line hazards using the following phone number:
- 800.419.6356 for Duke Energy Progress customers.
- If a power line falls across a car that you're in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
- Click here for a video demonstration and to read more about safety around power lines.
- In advance of a storm, create (or update) an emergency supply kit to save valuable time later. The kit should include everything an individual or family would need for at least two weeks, especially medicines and other supplies that might be hard to find after a storm strikes.
- Review insurance policies, and include extra copies of the policies and other important documents in your emergency supply kit (ideally in a waterproof container).
- Maintain a supply of water and nonperishable food.
- Keep a portable radio or TV, or a NOAA weather radio, on hand to monitor weather forecasts and important information from state and local officials.
- Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in advance of the storm to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well.
- Maintain a plan to move family members – especially those with special needs – to a safe, alternative location in case an extended power outage occurs or evacuation is required.
- Pet owners can make arrangements to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets, or at pet-friendly hotels or friends’ or family members' homes.
How to report power outages
Before the storm hits, customers should note how to report power outages. Customers who experience an outage during the storm can report it by:
For storm or power restoration updates, follow Duke Energy on Twitter (@DukeEnergy) and Facebook (Duke Energy).
Now is the time to prepare ourselves, our homes, and our families for the potential this storm may bring. Stay safe!
Millie Chalk
Duke Energy