CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Just under 4,000 Duke Energy customers remain without power Sunday night from Helene-related storms and winds that swept through Graeter Cincinnati on Friday afternoon and evening.

Most outages are still in Hamilton and Clermont counties, according to the utility’s website, but they still range across the entire Tri-State.

Utility workers have been scrambling for more than 24 hours now to get the lights back on as quickly as possible.

Duke Energy has restored power to more than 100,000 customers who were affected by the high winds that moved through Friday, causing more than 140,000 power outages.

The storm initially caused outages in seventeen counties due to the high winds ranging between 50-70 miles per hour.

Crews have been working tirelessly to determine the full scope of damage.

There may be prolonged periods of power outages in the areas most severely affected. Duke Energy is addressing issues such as broken poles, trees entangled in power lines, and sections of wire down.

They are also deploying over 400 personnel to support their restoration efforts.

Duke Energy OH/KY President Amy Spiller stated that resources and personnel are being moved to the areas out of Ohio and Kentucky and into the areas most affected by Hurricane Helene.

“Our top priority is always to restore service safely and rapidly, and we appreciate our customers’ patience while we respond to a rapidly evolving situation. This has been a particularly challenging storm for national and global forecasts to predict. We now have a full complement of crews out in the field that are working tirelessly to restore power,” Spiller said.

How to report power outages

Customers who experience a power outage can report using any of the following methods:

• Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device
• Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download the Duke Energy App on your smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play)
• Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply)
• Call Duke Energy’s automated outage-reporting system at 1.800.343.3525

Clinton County Emergency Management Agency claims that it is difficult for crews to repair the power when there are high winds.

“Line crews cannot repair an elevated power issue if wind speeds are greater than the safety limit of their bucket truck. I seem to recall that ranged from 32-35 mph. If you have a power outage, be prepared for it to last several hours (until the winds are at safe levels to operate),” Clinton County Emergency Management Agency said in a Facebook post.

The remnants of Hurricane Helene hit the Tri-State Friday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, causing thousands of power outages. The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning that remained in effect until 9 pm

Trees are more brittle and have an increased risk of falling onto power lines, which is the primary cause of power outages, according to Duke Energy’s spokesperson, Jeff Brooks.

“Even though we trim year round, we do that so we can reduce the number of outages that we experience,” Brooks said. “When you talk about a tree that’s 70-80 feet high, you get enough wind and the right conditions that thing can fall from even across the street.”

A couple hundred Duke Energy line and tree workers are on the Gulf Coast, helping with hurricane damage recovery efforts.

“It takes an electric army and fortunately, as a big utility, that’s what we’ve got,” Brooks said. “We’ll put everyone into play to make sure we can restore power as quickly and safely as possible.”

Brooks said line workers can’t work in winds over 29 mph, meaning if wind tastes are high, they can’t restore power until it calms down.

How to report power outages

Customers who experience a power outage can report using any of the following methods:

• Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.
• Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download the Duke Energy App on your smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play).
• Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).
• Call Duke Energy’s automated outage reporting system at 1.800.343.3525.

Duke Energy recommends that customers follow the safety tips below:

• Avoid downed power lines and assume they are energized. Report any downed power lines to 800-228-8485.
• If a power line falls across the car you are in, it is important to stay inside the vehicle. Only exit the car if there is an immediate life-threatening situation. If you must exit, try to jump clear of the vehicle and land on both feet. Ensure that no part of your body is touching the vehicle when your feet touch the ground.

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