PLAINFIELD, Ind. – Duke Energy has restored power to more than 43,000 customers affected by the supercell storm that ripped through Indiana on Tuesday, causing over 95,000 power outages. About 52,000 remain out of service as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The storm initially caused outages from Wabash in the north to Clarksville in the south. Bloomington and Terre Haute are ground zero in terms of damage, with about 85% of the outages in those areas due to the high winds ranging between 55 and 70 mph.
Crews have been making repairs while an assessment remains underway to determine the full scope of the damage. Duke Energy will provide power restoration time estimates as more information about damage assessment becomes available. Extended outages are possible, however, in the hardest-hit areas. Rough terrain in Monroe County is making assessment and power restoration challenging.
“We have brought in more than 730 additional resources – linemen, damage assessors, and tree clearing workers – to supplement our statewide workforce and speed power restoration,” said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. “We’re also moving crews from areas less affected to those hardest hit. Our priority is to restore service as quickly and safely as possible.”
The company is responding to broken poles, trees in power lines, and wires down. “We also had damage on our electric transmission system, which includes power lines and structures that are our major carriers of power, but have made good progress on restoring those major ‘power highways,’” Pinegar said.
Customers can stay informed by texting REG to 57801.
