Severe storms rake Alabama and the South
Alabama Power crews are working throughout the state to restore service after a wave of storms. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Multiple waves of severe storms caused damage across western and central Alabama Wednesday afternoon and overnight.
The severe weather, which included numerous reported tornadoes, had been predicted for several days, with Gov. Kay Ivey issuing a state of emergency on Wednesday in advance of the severe weather. The twisters, driving winds and heavy rains brought down trees, damaged homes and buildings and caused isolated flooding across Alabama’s midsection. Areas with the most significant damage included Blount, Chilton, Dallas, Montgomery, Jefferson, Shelby and Tuscaloosa counties. There were no fatalities.
Alabama Power moved quickly to assess damage and restore power wherever it was safe to work on Wednesday and early Thursday. As of 9:15 a.m. Thursday, about 6,700 Alabama Power customers were without service. Over the past 24 hours, 61,000 of the company’s customers were affected by severe weather. Alabama Power expects 99 percent of all affected customers who can take service to have their power restored by 10 p.m. Thursday.
“Our crews were ready, and they are on the ground now, getting the lights back on,” said Chuck Coleman, Power Delivery Budget and Planning manager at Alabama Power. “We are thankful the storms were not as damaging as they could have been.”
The massive, multiple lines of severe weather affected several Southern states Wednesday and early Thursday, including Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Georgia. The storms were expected to affect the Carolinas and coastal Georgia later Thursday.
In all, more than two dozen tornadoes were reported across the South on Wednesday and into early Thursday.
State officials recommend that people in affected areas stay off the roads to allow emergency workers, public works and utility crews to move quickly to address potential hazards. Residents are urged to stay away from downed power lines, which could still be energized, and to avoid driving over lines or under low-hanging lines. As restoration continued, guidance was shared to keep children and pets away from downed lines and to not attempt to remove tree limbs or debris on or near power lines. Alabama Power encourages customers to call 1-800-888-2726 or contact local law enforcement if downed lines are spotted.
Springtime is one of the most active seasons in Alabama for severe storms, including tornadoes. To learn more about how to prepare for severe weather, and what to do after severe weather strikes, please visit the Alabama Power Storm Center. Alabama Power customers also can sign up for Outage Alerts to receive real-time updates on outages and restoration efforts. Text ‘Enroll’ to 272688 or click here for more information.
Alabama Power customers who are experiencing an outage can report it online at alabamapower.com. Customers can also call the company’s automated reporting system at 1-800-888-APCO (2726).
