Alabama communities are picking up the pieces following Thursday’s severe weather outbreak that swept the state, bringing heavy rains and spawning tornadoes. Jefferson, Shelby, Calhoun and Bibb counties received the bulk of the storm system’s impact.
In all, at least six deaths have been attributed to the storms, with hundreds of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed.
As soon as conditions were safe to do so, Alabama Power crews were in the field restoring service to the 116,000 customers who lost power at some point Thursday. Given the storms’ severity, the company sustained significant infrastructure damage, including broken poles, downed transmission towers and lines.
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power suffered damage to infrastructure, such as these transmission lines in Greene County. (Chris Cannon / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Calhoun County after the deadly storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore power after storms and tornadoes ripped through the state March 25. (David Cox / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service following the deadly and destructive storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Mike McCraney / Alabama NewsCenter)
Centreville was one of the hardest hit areas when storms and tornadoes ripped through Alabama on March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Calhoun County after the deadly storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power suffered damage to infrastructure, such as these transmission lines in Greene County. (Chris Cannon / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore power after storms and tornadoes ripped through the state March 25. (David Cox / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service following the deadly and destructive storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Mike McCraney / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Major damage can be seen along Alabama Highway 119 in Shelby County. (Jay Parker / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power suffered damage to infrastructure, such as these transmission lines in Greene County. (Chris Cannon / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore power after storms and tornadoes ripped through the state March 25. (David Cox / Alabama NewsCenter)
Major damage can be seen along Alabama Highway 119 in Shelby County as Alabama Power crews work to repair infrastructure. (Jay Parker / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power suffered damage to infrastructure, such as these transmission lines in Greene County. (Chris Cannon / Alabama NewsCenter)
Major damage can be seen along Alabama Highway 119 in Shelby County as Alabama Power crews work to repair infrastructure. (Jay Parker / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power suffered damage to infrastructure, such as these transmission lines in Greene County. (Chris Cannon / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Centreville was one of the hardest hit areas when storms and tornadoes ripped through Alabama on March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore power after storms and tornadoes ripped through the state March 25. (David Cox / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power suffered damage to infrastructure, such as these transmission lines in Greene County. (Chris Cannon / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service following the deadly and destructive storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Mike McCraney / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Major damage can be seen along Alabama Highway 119 in Shelby County as Alabama Power crews work to repair infrastructure. (Jay Parker / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Calhoun County after the deadly storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service following the deadly and destructive storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Mike McCraney / Alabama NewsCenter)
Centreville was one of the hardest hit areas when storms and tornadoes ripped through Alabama on March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service following the deadly and destructive storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Mike McCraney / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Calhoun County after the deadly storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Calhoun County after the deadly storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Calhoun County after the deadly storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
defaultAlabama Power saw damage to infrastructure, such as these transmission lines in Greene County. (Chris Cannon / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Centreville following the deadly tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power suffered damage to infrastructure, such as these transmission lines in Greene County. (Chris Cannon / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service following the deadly and destructive storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Mike McCraney / Alabama NewsCenter)
Centreville was one of the hardest hit areas when storms and tornadoes ripped through Alabama on March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Eagle Point neighborhood was one of the hardest hit in the March 25 storms and tornadoes. (Jay Parker / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Calhoun County after the deadly storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power crews work to restore service in Calhoun County after the deadly storms and tornadoes of March 25. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
With the help of company crews from across the state and more than 1,300 lineworkers and support personnel from eight states, Alabama Power exceeded original estimates for restoring power, having 95% of affected customers who were able to receive it in service by 9 p.m. Saturday.
The past two weeks have brought more than 30 confirmed tornadoes across Alabama, with Gov. Kay Ivey declaring a state of emergency for each wave of storms. Members of the Alabama Power Service Organization, made up of company volunteers and their families, joined relief organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and United Way of Central Alabama to provide support for those affected.
Alabama Power customers are encouraged to replenish emergency supply kits and take steps to prepare for future storms by visiting AlabamaPower.com/Storm.
Customers are also encouraged to sign up for Outage Alerts to receive real-time updates on outages and restoration efforts. Text “Enroll” to 272688 or click here for details. Customers who are experiencing an outage also can report it online at AlabamaPower.com or call the company’s automated reporting system at 1-800-888-APCO (2726).
