May 19, 2013
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Around 13,000 KUB customers still don't have power following Thursday night's storms, according to the utility. As many as 56,000 customers were left without electricity after the deadly storms tore through East Tennessee.
KUB crews are working non-stop, rotating shifts to restore power to all of its customers and six more teams are on their way from Ohio, the company said late Friday morning. While workers will try to restore the electricity as fast as they can, they are taking extra steps to stay safe among downed power lines and dangerously high temperatures.
Outages remain scattered throughout Knox Co. When the storm hit, KUB crews first goal was to go to the jobs that would get power to the most number of customers first. Now, after getting the major lines and critical infrastructures back online, they are focusing on smaller jobs affecting fewer people.
It doesn't expect to have power to be restored to everyone for a few days.
Sevier County Electric System is reporting 232 outages throughout Sevier County, leaving 8.062 customers without power.
A spokesman with Sevier County Electric System is reporting outages are county-wide.
The spokesman added it could be days before power is restored, and they would not know the extent of the damage until utility crews could make it out under daylight Friday morning
The Fort Loudoun Electric Co-op is reporting 198 outages, leaving 1440 of their customers without power.
The Powell Valley Electric Cooperative reports that at its peak 13,000 to 14,000 customers were without power at the peak, but that number was down to 2,000 to 3,000 at 5:30 a.m.
Trees are blocking roads throughout Blount and Union Counties.
Seniors without power can call the Senior Citizens Information and Referral Service at 865-546-6262 to locate a senior center near them where they can go for heat relief.
The Appalachian Cooperative said 2,700 members are atill without power as of midday Friday. It added that more crews are on their way from other cooperatives to help.
KUB customers are also reminded to call KUB at 524-2911 or 1-800-250-8068 to report outages.
Two died in the Smoky Mountains National Park due to damage from the storms.
