Duke Energy Urges People to Have Alternate Ice Plan

CHARLOTTE, NC — Ice threatens to break the lifeline to hundreds of thousands in Charlotte Monday night.

 

“I don’t wanna take any chances,” said Donna Howe.

 

Howe prepared to make her own heat with the possibility of days with no electricity in freezing temperatures.

 

Duke Energy says line crews are coming in, packed and ready for a multi-day event.

 

Spokesperson Tim Pettit says Duke Energy expects power outages to begin early Tuesday morning with ice coating power lines and nearby trees.

 

“Anything over a quarter of an inch, you can have the limbs and whole trees that come down,” said Pettit.

 

If that happens overnight, Duke Energy says crews may not even be able to get on the icy roads to restore power.

 

 “That’s where we are asking people to be seriously thinking about an alternative plan,” said Pettit. 

“Friends, family members, neighbors. Maybe its a good opportunity to talk to them and reach out to each other, and help each other if you’re without power.”

 

Once trucks can make it on the roads safely, line technicians will restore electricity to critical infrastructure first, like hospitals.

 

By Tuesday morning, assessors will hit the neighborhoods, determine the damage and send repair teams.

 

The ice storm of 2002 left 1.6 million people in North Carolina in the dark for a week.

 

“You don’t want ’til it’s bad to decide it’s bad,” said Howe.

 

Duke Energy says 200 technicians from Florida are coming to North Carolina to help in the hardest hit areas.

 

To view power outages, click here.