Oregon is Helping to Restore Power to Thousands of Georgia Households in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

MEDFORD, Ore. — Pacific Power has deployed 22 personnel from Oregon and Washington locations, equipped with heavy machinery and trucks, to assist in the restoration of power in Georgia following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.

Meanwhile Florida Again Braces for a Category 3 Storm

Meanwhile, Florida is again bracing for another Category 3 storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Named Storm Milton, the storm could have life-threatening impacts on portions of the Florida west coast. The National Hurrican Center says with low winds and warm sea temperatures, Milton could rapidly strengthen in the next few days.

The Category 4 Helene Hurricane affected 10 states with sustained winds of 140 miles an hour, extending 400 miles from landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida.

Pacific Power Responds to Calls for Help

Responding to calls for help from Georgie Power, the local teams have been drawn from Astoria, Bend, Grants Pass, Medford, Roseburg, Walla Walla, and Yakima. Four crews from Pacific Power’s sister company, Rocky Mountain Power, also joined the recovery teams.

‘Disasters can happen anywhere…being a good neighbor is answering the call to help,’ says Pacific Power vice president of operations, Tom Eide. Oregon is one of 40 states, including the District of Columbia and Canada, helping in mop-up operations following the hurricane’s destructive path.

Teams are Working in Treacherous Conditions

In Georgia, teams are working around the clock in treacherous conditions to reconnect 50,000 households that remain without power. Georgia Power has restored power to more than 95% (1.3 million) of its customers.

However, intensive restoration operations are ongoing in areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene. In Augusta, 50,000 customers remain without power, but teams have restored power to 80% of energy users.

Emergency teams will remain on duty until all customers without power have their services restored, particularly in areas where significant infrastructure damage has been suffered.

Georgie Power chairman, president, and CEO Kim Greene says teams continue to work through fallen trees, miles of broken power poles, and downed lines.

Greene expressed gratitude for the tireless teamwork and the patience and resilience of communities waiting for power to be restored. Hurricane Helene’s destructive path crossed into Georgia, Columbus, Albany, Valdosta, and Savannah.

Georgia Power forms part of the Southern Company system and, by Friday, several charities pledged $3 million in recovery support.