ATLANTA — Georgia Power crews are gearing up for possible power outages as a major storm approaches the state. Crews are stationed across Georgia, ready to respond to damage in the aftermath of Helene.
Matthew Kent, a spokesperson for Georgia Power, emphasized the importance of staying prepared. He recommends that residents keep at least three days’ worth of supplies in case outages cannot be addressed immediately.
"We put crews in place to make sure they're ready to respond," Kent said. "The biggest thing is, right now, we don't know what we need to respond to."
Georgia Power is working closely with county officials across the state to allocate resources where they’ll be needed most. Kent noted that if the southern part of the state experiences more severe damage, crews from northern Georgia will be dispatched to assist.
"If there is more damage in the southern part of the state, crews from the North will go down to assist. And of course, we can also call in contractors or on our sister companies if it's more than we can handle," Kent added.
The company’s storm center is set to open Wednesday evening, just ahead of the storm’s expected landfall. Kent said the primary concern for Georgia Power is downed power lines and ensuring the public stays safe around them.
"If you see a downed power line, don’t go near it, even if there’s debris or if it’s on a fence," Kent warned. "It could be charged. We want people to call 911 and Georgia Power."
For those who may lose electricity, Kent advised having enough supplies for at least three days in case crews are unable to respond right away.
In addition to power concerns, a spokesperson from Southern Company advised that customers should leave their natural gas on during the storm and only Atlanta Gas Light crews should turn off the valve if necessary. Residents are urged not to operate natural gas appliances during flooding and to call Atlanta Gas Light or 911 if they suspect a gas leak.
Georgia Power crews have been tracking the storm’s path for the last few days to strategically place personnel and resources. Kent highlighted the company’s use of its smart grid technology, which allows it to restore power remotely from unaffected areas.
"We have a smart grid so that if a portion of the grid goes down, we’re able to restore from another section that may not be near the breakage," Kent explained. "But every storm is different, so right now, we are placing crews where we think the storm will not hit so we can dispatch them as soon as possible."
Georgia Power will officially open its storm center Wednesday evening as they continue tracking the storm and coordinating their response efforts.