Situation
Appalachian Power's workforce has restored electric service to nearly 95% of the 78,000 customers impacted by Winter Storm Jett on Sunday, Feb. 16. The company's Storm Response Team moved its estimated times of restoration (ETRs) up for the second time on Tuesday due to the progress made by thousands of utility workers restoring power.
Customers who remain without electricity are in the storm system's hardest hit areas of Clintwood and Grundy, Va., and Logan and Williamson, W.Va. Thousands of assessors, forestry personnel and line mechanics are concentrated in the two regions to rebuild the electric grid. Jett's flood waters had consumed electric facilities, downed utility poles, toppled trees and made roads inaccessible for workers. The company expects complete restoration for all affected customers by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19.
As of 7 p.m., approximately 3,700 customers affected by Winter Storm Jett remain without power, including 830 in Virginia and 2,900 in West Virginia.
Weather Conditions
- Crews are working in unseasonable, frigid temperatures as a mix of snow and more high wind gusts approaches the company’s territory. Wind gusts over 30 mph create unsafe working conditions for working aloft in buckets, which will slow restoration work in some areas.
- Forecasted snow will blanket much of the company’s service area below Wheeling, W.Va., starting late tonight. Hazardous road conditions will delay crews’ travel.
Storm Restoration Efforts
- A workforce of 7,000 remains dedicated to full restoration on the heels of Winter Storm Harlow, which has seen nearly 100 percent of electric service restored to customers in Virginia.
- Crews from Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas are working alongside Appalachian Power employees and contractors.
Stay Safe During a Power Outage
- Stay away from sparking equipment, downed lines or anything they may touch. This goes for children and pets, too. Report electrical hazards to Appalachian Power and 911 immediately.
- Never remove debris that's within 10 feet of a downed power line.
- Unplug major appliances to protect them when power comes back on.
- Leave a light switch turned on so you know when power is restored.
- Refuel heaters, lamps and generators outside, and away from any flames or sparks.
- If using a generator, ensure proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Never operate lanterns, heaters or fuel-fired stoves without proper ventilation.
- Never burn charcoal indoors. It releases poisonous carbon monoxide.
Click here for additional safety tips and here for ways to save energy during low temperatures.
For More Information
Customers can get specific information about the outages affecting their accounts via text message and/or email by subscribing to Appalachian Power's Outage Alerts. To sign up, visit Appalachian Power alerts.
A snapshot view of current outages is available anytime by visiting Appalachian Power's Outage Map.
Next Update: This is the final update for this storm.