CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke Energy is preparing for potential severe weather expected to bring high winds and heavy rain to portions of the Carolinas Wednesday.
Crews across the Carolinas are preparing vehicles and materials to respond to outages that may occur as a result of the storm. Additional resources from within the Duke Energy system are also available to assist local crews as needed.
Customers may also report outages online using their smart phone. Progress Energy Carolinas customers must register their account prior to the storm in order to report outages online or from a mobile device.
During and immediately following larger storms, restoration times may be difficult to predict. Duke Energy encourages customers in affected areas to be prepared if an outage occurs. Customers with special needs who experience an outage should be prepared to seek alternate shelter until service is restored.
Charge mobile phones in advance of the storm.
Keep at least one battery-powered flashlight where it can be located easily in the dark. Listen for storm information on a battery-powered radio. Keep an extra supply of fresh batteries.
Make sure any indoor heaters, such as wood stoves or kerosene heaters have adequate ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Likewise, make sure the flue of your fireplace is working properly. Never use outdoor grills in the house.
After severe weather, Duke Energy takes specific steps to restore power. Crews first assess damage and determine what crews, equipment and supplies will be needed to make repairs. Because of this, customers may see damage assessors patrolling their neighborhoods before crews arrive to begin work.
Crews prioritize work to ensure the largest number of customers are restored as quickly as possible. Essential services such as hospitals and emergency responders have priority.