OVERVIEW
As the effects of Hurricane Helene cross Ohio, about 77,300 customers are currently without power. While outages are scattered across the state, the majority are in central and southern Ohio. Field personnel from more than 40 service centers are at work assessing damage and restoring power as weather permits. The weather system is still moving through the state, so additional outages are possible. Once crews have assessed the damage and restoration times are available, they will be updated on AEPOhio.com/OutageMap.
Crews sent to West Virginia and Virginia for storm restoration work will be on the ground working in Ohio tomorrow morning.
HOW WE RESTORE POWER
Assessing & Beginning Repairs: While assessment teams take inventory of damage and determine resource needs, lineworkers start making repairs where they safely can. Customers without power in the hardest hit areas will likely see a status of “assessing” until crews are able to determine the severity of the damage. This process takes time, especially in more rural areas where the terrain may make it more difficult to reach and repair damaged equipment. Read here for more about this process.
Making Priority Repairs: Essential services like hospitals, fire and police stations are our top priority. We also focus on making repairs that will restore power to the largest number of customers in the least amount of time, then move on to energize clusters of homes and businesses.
Restoring Individual Lines: Once main lines have been restored, crews focus on restoring power to individual homes. This step often takes the most time as each repair affects only a few customers.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We strongly encourage customers with life-supporting medical equipment to have a backup power source and an alternate plan in the event of an extended power outage.