WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – As of Wednesday morning, Appalachian Power has restored electricity to 229,900 customers, or 81% of those affected by Hurricane Helene.
According to Appalachian Power, around 52,100 customers remain without power, mostly in Southwest Virginia and Southern West Virginia.
The company is deploying an additional 1,000 workers today, bringing the total storm response team to 7,000.
Challenges persist in the hardest-hit areas, with fallen trees and difficult terrain slowing progress. Damage assessments are ongoing, with 80% of the area reviewed.
Crews have identified 2,365 spans of downed wires and damaged equipment, including 565 poles, 310 crossarms, and 140 transformers. More than 2,300 repair sites have been identified across Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
Outage numbers are highest in Virginia, with 39,800 customers still without power. Another 11,500 customers are affected in West Virginia, and around 800 remain without service in Tennessee.
To address the damage, Appalachian Power has brought in assistance from 21 states. Workers are focusing on critical areas, including Gate City, Glade Spring, Grundy, and Saltville in Virginia.
As repairs are completed in some areas, crews are being shifted to other locations to speed up restoration efforts.
Estimated restoration times have been updated for several regions.
Power is expected to be restored by Wednesday evening for areas including Christiansburg and Grundy, VA, and by Thursday evening for areas such as Bluefield and Roanoke, VA.
Customers are encouraged to monitor the outage map or sign up for alerts for updates.
Despite favorable weather, downed trees and flooding continue to complicate repairs. Appalachian Power assures customers that crews are working as quickly and safely as possible.
