Outage Update for 10-6-2024
Mountain Electric Cooperative Update- Hurricane Helene Restoration Efforts
October 6, 2024
MEC wants everyone to know, we have plenty of materials (including poles) to work with and trucks are arriving daily. Even though it’s the weekend and not our normal business hours, we are working today.
Status for Mtn City service area:
We currently have 1,600 members out of power.
General Area Crews Working: Forge Creek area, Laurel area, Sutherland Community, Neva areas, (including Little Dry Run), Rainbow area, Pedro Shoun area and Timothy Branch area
General Area Tree Crew Working: Forge Creek, Big Dry Run/Preserve Way area, Laurel area and Highway 321 area
We will be in the Trade and Poga/321 area as soon as we can access those areas. Pictures are included below to show members what we are up against. Members in the Trade and Pogan/Hwy321 areas need to prepare for an extended power outage. At this time, there are some areas on Hwy 421 in the Gorge area we do not have a foundation to set a pole on. We appreciate the road construction team that is working diligently to rebuild Hwy 421 so we can begin placing poles for 3 phase lines to serve Trade. MEC was able to set three poles last night (10/5/24) once the dump trucks quit running for the night. We don’t want to hold up their progress by getting in the road construction crews’ way and there are some areas that only have one lane open.
The Poga/ Hwy 321 area has many roads that are not accessible at this time.
Status of Newland and Roan Mtn:
We currently have 6,500 members out of power in Newland and 1,200 in Roan Mountain.
General areas crews are working in Newland and Roan Mtn:
Newland: Crews are still working in Heaton to gain access to Old Beech Mtn and Curtis Creek communities, Banner Elk Mill pond, Dobbins Rd, Montezuma, Beech Mtn areas, and the Frank community.
The Linville substation went down last night due to equipment failure, but has been repaired and is energized again.
Roan Mountain: Crews are working in Buck Mountain, Simerly Creek, and Piney Grove working towards Fairview and McCoury Roads.
If you have a medical need (oxygen, dialysis or other medical conditions), please find a local emergency shelter. The electricity and the essential needs are being supplied at these shelters.
I am out in the field daily surveying damages to our system and checking on the crews working diligently to restore your power. I will return your messages when I can. I know there are several without electricity still and can assure you all the MEC crews and contractors are working. These individuals have worked 15 hours (or more) daily for 10 days straight and will continue to do so.
I would also like to give a heartfelt “thank you” to all of our communities in MEC service area. MEC appreciates the meals, food donations and prayers going up for us as we continue to restore power to all our members.
Rodney Metcalf, General Manager
Mountain Electric Cooperative
C: 423.727.1810
Fax: 423.727.1822
Pictures of the Trade Community along Highway 421