Early indications are that Hurricane Katrina has caused extensive damage to the Alabama Power system and customers should expect extended outages.
Katrina is the second-worst storm in Alabama Power history in terms of outages, leaving 636,891 customers without power at its peak. Company officials anticipate that restoration efforts may take far longer than those following Hurricane Ivan, which left more than 825,000 customers without power in 2004. Ivan restoration took eight days.
In comparison, Hurricane Frederic in 1979 left 239,400 customers without power, but restoration took 21 days due to the level of damage to the system.
Emergency crews worked through the night. Damage assessment teams were out at first light today. The company hopes to have a full assessment of the damage later today. Early reports indicate there has been significant damage to the company’s transmission system and other infrastructure.
Alabama Power has commitments from outside utilities to support our restoration efforts. However, resources are limited and are also needed in hard hit areas in Mississippi and Louisiana.
As of 10 a.m., 551,455 customers were without power statewide. Outages by division were as follows:
- Birmingham: 182,153
- Anniston: 32,632
- Montgomery: 8,538
- Tuscaloosa: 132,405
- Mobile: 195,716
- Eufaula: 11
Katrina is the second-worst storm in Alabama Power history in terms of outages, leaving 636,891 customers without power at its peak. Company officials anticipate that restoration efforts may take far longer than those following Hurricane Ivan, which left more than 825,000 customers without power in 2004. Ivan restoration took eight days.
In comparison, Hurricane Frederic in 1979 left 239,400 customers without power, but restoration took 21 days due to the level of damage to the system.
Emergency crews worked through the night. Damage assessment teams were out at first light today. The company hopes to have a full assessment of the damage later today. Early reports indicate there has been significant damage to the company’s transmission system and other infrastructure.
Alabama Power has commitments from outside utilities to support our restoration efforts. However, resources are limited and are also needed in hard hit areas in Mississippi and Louisiana.
As of 10 a.m., 551,455 customers were without power statewide. Outages by division were as follows:
- Birmingham: 182,153
- Anniston: 32,632
- Montgomery: 8,538
- Tuscaloosa: 132,405
- Mobile: 195,716
- Eufaula: 11
on August 30, 2005, 10:53 am
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