Mountain Electric Cooperative Update- Hurricane Helene Restoration Efforts - Tuesday October 8, 2024

MEC wants everyone to know, we have plenty of materials (including poles) to work with and trucks are arriving daily. We ask that you drive carefully in our work zones so workers stay safe and do their jobs efficiently. Please don’t stop to report your outage, this only holds up progress they are trying to make to get your power back on.

Status for Mtn City service area:

We currently have an estimated 1,500 members out of power. This estimate did not change from yesterday, as we are in the restoration phase where it takes extended time periods to build new lines back that were damaged by the storm and replacing broken poles that were torn down by trees. Repairs like these take many hours in some cases and the result is only getting a few customers on once the job is completed. We are still working the same schedule of 15 hour days, and are making progress, although the numbers do not reflect that. (Trade and Hwy 321 communities that we cannot access yet make up approximately 1,000 of the members reported in the above number) Today, we are dividing some of the larger crews into smaller ones to perform service repairs, which will help increase restorations of individual services without power.

General Area Crews Working: Forge Creek, Laurel, Neva/Butler (including Locust Gap, Draft), Butler (Dry Hill, Goose Bradley, Sink Valley and Grindstaff Rd, Fish Springs, Hwy 321) Doe (Sprucey area), Liberty Church Rd area and Trade area.

General Area Tree Crews Working: Tree crews are working in Sandy, Mining Ridge, Goose Bradley, and West Holy Hill areas today.

The Poga / Hwy 321 area has many access roads that have received damage as well. Electrical infrastructure has been washed out in several areas.

Status of Newland and Roan Mtn:

We currently have 5,000 members out of power in Newland and 750 members in Roan Mountain.

We are getting lots of questions why underground utilities have not been restored yet. Please understand we have lots of junctions, transformers and wires that have been washed away and will take extended amounts of time to make these repairs. Even if you have underground lines serving your home, there may be an overhead line serving the underground transformer that has not been repaired yet.

ROW crews are working on Hwy 105 today. We are working with the NC DOT and Avery County Road Department to direct traffic while our crews are clearing the right of way. On Thursday, October 10th, Hwy 105 will be closed so we can install poles and wire in portions that were damaged from the Linville area to Invershield. Although closing the road is inconvenient, it is the only safe and efficient way to get the lines built back.

General areas crew are working in Newland and Roan Mtn:

Newland: Crews have started working up Old Beech Mtn Rd. Other areas crews will be working today are Heaton, Beech Mtn, Hickory Nut Gap, Highland Hills, Banner Elk/Dobbins Rd, Crossnore, and Linville areas.

Roan Mountain: Crews are in Simerly Creek, Tiger Creek, Buck Mountain and Bear Branch areas today.

If you have a medical need (oxygen, dialysis or other medical conditions), please find a local emergency shelter. The electricity and the essential needs are being supplied at these shelters.

I am out of the office surveying damages to our system. Please call your local office first and see if they can assist you before leaving me a message. I know there are several members without electricity still and can assure you all the MEC crews and contractors are working. These individuals have worked 15 hours (or more) daily for 12 days straight and will continue to do so.

We are getting reports that wire is being stolen in certain communities which is holding up progress. If you see someone stealing wire, please get their tag number and report it to the police.

I would also like to give a heartfelt “thank you” to all of our communities in MEC service area. MEC appreciates the meals, food donations and prayers going up for us as we continue to restore power to all our members.

Rodney Metcalf, General Manager