Infignos Media - Alabama Power: 144,300 remain without power due to severe weather

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Brought to you by East Alabama Regional Planning Commission

Quintard Tower, Suite 300 1130 Quintard Avenue,Anniston, AL 36201 Phone Toll Free - 800-239-6741,Local - 256-237-6741,Fax - 256-237-6763

Alabama Power: 144,300 remain without power due to severe weather

Monday, March 18, 2013

"The storms have passed, and over the course of several hours knocked out service to more than 214,300 customers in the Alabama Power service territory. "As of 8:30 Monday night, we had restored power to 70,000 of those customers, leaving us with 144,300 to go. "Work will continue through the night in places where we have crews, but we will have to wait until daylight to move into areas where we have not yet had the opportunity to assess the damage. Many areas were hit very hard, with straight line winds between 50 and 75mph. "As of 8:30, the outage numbers broke out like this: "79,000 to the east of Birmingham (Anniston, Gadsden, Oneonta, Heflin) "39,500 in metro Birmingham (scatted across Jefferson and Shelby Counties) "22,500 to the west of Birmingham (Jasper, Carbon Hill, Fayette) "3,000 scattered across portions of southern Alabama "We have crews coming from neighboring utilities to lend a hand. We won't be in a position to make forecasts for restoration in exact areas until the assessment is finished, hopefully some time Tuesday afternoon." Update 7 p.m. At one time on Monday, almost 200,000 power outages statewide were reported by Alabama Power after strong storms packed with damaging straight-line winds swept through the state. The company has since restored service to more than 46,500 customers, but some people in the state could be left in the dark for days, according to an earlier report.

Currently, around 166,000 customers remain without power.

Alabama Power crews will be working through the night to restore as many as they can, and we will have additional help coming from other Southern Company utilities and beyond. Notable community outages:

87,000 to the east of Birmingham (Gadsden, Anniston, Southside, Oneonta, Talladega)

45,000 in metro Birmingham

24,000 to the west (Jasper, Carbon Hill, Fayette)

2,500 to the south and east (Valley, Phenix City, Dadeville)

Update 5:30 p.m. Alabama Power reports 196,000 customers are without service in Alabama. The utility company believes this number will not increase as storms finish clearing out of the state. 95,000 to the east of Birmingham (Anniston, Gadsden, Oneonta) 68,000 in metro Birmingham 31,000 to the west of Birmingham (Jasper, Fayette, Carbon Hill) 1,700 to the south (Clanton, Alexander City) From Alabama Power:

"The damage is extensive, and extremely widespread. While we do have crews already working on repairs, we have reached out and are bringing in workers from other states to assist. Some customers in areas where there is heavy or complicated damage may not get power until later this week." Update 5 p.m. Alabama Power estimates 198,000 customers are without power in the state.

94,000 east of Birmingham (Anniston, Gadsden, Oneonta) 70,000 in metro Birmingham

32,000 to the west of Birmingham (Jasper, Fayette, Carbon Hill)

Update 4:30 p.m. As of 4:30 p.m., severe weather has knocked out power to 190,000 Alabama Power customers.

82,000 to the east of Birmingham (Anniston, Gadsden, Oneonta, Talladega, Pell City)

71,000 in metro Birmingham (scattered across Jefferson and Shelby Counties

34,000 to the west of Birmingham (Jasper, Fayette, Hamilton, Carbon Hill)

Update 4 p.m. Alabama Power now reports 140,000 outages in the state due to severe weather.

75,000 in metro Birmingham

36,000 to the west (Jasper, Hamilton, Carbon Hill, Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Dora)

29,000 to the east (Oneonta, Blountsville, Pell City, Ashville)

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Alabama Power is receiving numerous power outages due to severe weather rolling through Alabama Monday.