UPDATE: KENTUCKY POWER STORM UPDATE THURSDAY, JULY 28, 5 p.m.

Kentucky Power Storm Update

Thursday, July 28, 5 p.m.

Weather

Devastating flooding in eastern Kentucky has caused significant damage, including leaving more than 23,000 customers without power.   Blocked roads from high water, mud slides and downed trees have been reported throughout the southern part of Kentucky Power’s territory. Water is still rising in some areas and future weather forecasts are predicting additional rainfall over the next several days.

*SAFETY ALERT* — High water is dangerous for many reasons! Situations can change quickly. Do not drive or walk through high water. It can be difficult to tell how deep the water is and at times impossible to tell what is underneath.

Summary

Many areas are inaccessible by our crews, hampering restoration efforts. It is anticipated that damage assessment and restoration will continue for several days.

Storm Response Efforts

Hundreds of Kentucky Power personnel, business partners and external resources are responding to assess damage and restore power where it is safe and possible to do so. Crews are finding damage to substations along with numerous broken poles and spans of wire. Additional external resources are traveling to the area and will be added to the restoration efforts tomorrow.

Outages and Estimated Restoration

Specific estimated restoration times will not be available until Kentucky Power assessors are able to determine the damage, materials and types of crews needed. This will be a multi-day restoration event.

The outage numbers include:  

• Approximately 1,400 customers in Breathitt County
• Approximately 585 customers in Floyd County
• Approximately 284 customers in Johnson County
• Approximately 5,800 customers in Knott County
• Approximately 800 customers in Leslie County
• Approximately 7,100 customers in Letcher County
• Approximately 500 customers in Martin County
•     Approximately 4,460 customers in Perry
• Approximately 1,300 customers in Pike County

For More Information

Customers can report outages and check the latest restoration information for their account anytime at kentuckypower.com/outages or by downloading the Kentucky Power mobile app at kentuckypower.com/app. The outage map is updated every 15 minutes. Restoration information is added when known. Click on “View Outage Map” to access the map on a computer, cell phone, or tablet. Customers can report outages online, on their mobile device or to our Customer Operations Center at 1-800-572-1113.

Customers also can get specific information about outages via text message and/or email by subscribing to Kentucky Power outage alerts. To sign up, please visit www.kentuckypower.com/alerts. Information also is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyPower and on Twitter at twitter.com/KentuckyPower or @KentuckyPower.

Safety Messages:

Kentucky Power warns customers to stay away from all downed lines. Never touch downed power lines no matter how harmless they look. It can be difficult to distinguish between a power line and a cable or telephone line. All downed lines should be considered energized and dangerous. Also, never touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences or puddles of water, since they can conduct electricity. Keep children and pets away from this potential hazard. Call Kentucky Power at 1-800-572-1113 to report hazards.

Next update: Friday, July 29, 10 a.m.

NOTE: Kentucky Power has compiled a list of emergency shelters available to people who need a place to retreat. Please call ahead to confirm availability.

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Kentucky Power Storm Update

Thursday, July 28, 9 a.m.

Weather

Many areas of eastern Kentucky received excessive rainfall causing dangerous flooding overnight. Blocked roads from high water, mud slides and trees have been reported throughout the southern part of Kentucky Power’s territory. Water is still rising in some areas and future weather forecasts are predicting additional rainfall over the next several days.

*SAFETY ALERT* — High water is dangerous for many reasons! Situations can change quickly. Do not drive or walk through high water. It can be difficult to tell how deep the water is and at times impossible to tell what is underneath.

Summary

Reports of power outages across Kentucky Power’s territory have been reported through the night. Nearly 20,000 Kentucky Power customers are without power this morning with more than 340 outage cases needing addressed.   It is anticipated that damage assessment and restoration will continue for several days. Dangerous flooding conditions and inaccessible areas will most likely slow restoration efforts.

Storm Response Efforts

Kentucky Power personnel and business partners are responding to assess damage and restore power where it is safe and possible to do so. Additional resources from non-impacted areas will assist with restoration.

Outages and Estimated Restoration

Specific estimated restoration times will not be available until Kentucky Power assessors are able to determine the damage, materials and types of crews needed.

As of this morning, these counties are experiencing the majority of outages

• Approximately 1,400 customers in Breathitt County
• Approximately 1,300 customers in Floyd County
• Approximately 890 customers in Johnson County
• Approximately 4,000 customers in Knott County
• Approximately 800 customers in Leslie County
• Approximately 4,400 customers in Letcher County
• Approximately 1,500 customers in Martin County
•     Approximately 3,400 customers in Perry
• Approximately 1,900 customers in Pike County

For More Information

Customers can report outages and check the latest restoration information for their account anytime at kentuckypower.com/outages or by downloading the Kentucky Power mobile app at kentuckypower.com/app. The outage map is updated every 15 minutes. Restoration information is added when known. Click on “View Outage Map” to access the map on a computer, cell phone, or tablet. Customers can report outages online, on their mobile device or to our Customer Operations Center at 1-800-572-1113.

Customers also can get specific information about outages via text message and/or email by subscribing to Kentucky Power outage alerts. To sign up, please visit www.kentuckypower.com/alerts. Information also is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyPower and on Twitter at twitter.com/KentuckyPower or @KentuckyPower.

Safety Messages:

Kentucky Power warns customers to stay away from all downed lines. Never touch downed power lines no matter how harmless they look. It can be difficult to distinguish between a power line and a cable or telephone line. All downed lines should be considered energized and dangerous. Also, never touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences or puddles of water, since they can conduct electricity. Keep children and pets away from this potential hazard. Call Kentucky Power at 1-800-572-1113 to report hazards.

Next update: Thursday, July 28, 5 p.m.