WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – Appalachian Power is facing major challenges as it works to restore power to communities across Northeastern Tennessee and Southern Virginia after the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.
As of Tuesday morning, over 85,600 customers remain without power. More than 5,000 workers, including crews from 21 states, are engaged in the recovery effort.
The hurricane caused historic flooding, downed trees, and significant damage to electrical infrastructure.
Crews have already discovered over 2,100 spans of fallen wire and damaged equipment, including 500 poles and 120 transformers.
Despite these challenges, Appalachian Power has restored service to 196,400 customers, representing 70% of those affected.
The hardest-hit areas, including parts of Southern Virginia and West Virginia, are still facing power outages.
In Virginia, 64,600 customers remain without electricity, while around 19,000 are affected in West Virginia, and 2,000 in Tennessee.
The company continues to focus on high-priority repairs and is shifting crews as work is completed in some areas.
Appalachian Power expects power restoration in most areas by late Tuesday night, though some repairs may extend beyond that for customers in isolated areas requiring extensive work.
While light rain is expected through Tuesday, the weather is generally favorable for continuing restoration efforts.
Customers are encouraged to check Appalachian Power’s outage map or sign up for alerts for updates on their specific outage situation.
