As Winter Storm Fern threatens the Carolinas, Duke Energy crews and support teams are finalizing response preparations.
More than 18,000 restoration workers will be in place across the Carolinas by Friday night. Support teams include Duke Energy and contracted lineworkers as well as crews from 27 states and Canada.
Trucks and crews from Florida and other states have mobilized to assist Duke's 4.7 million electric customers who might find themselves without power due to the threat of freezing rain, ice, and snow from Fern.
Duke serves about 3.8 million North Carolinians and 860,000 South Carolinians. As Fern approaches, Duke is urging customers to finalize winter weather plans. Safety and preparedness steps can be found here.
The power provider emphasizes that in the event of power loss, some restoration may be delayed due to blocked roads, hazardous travel conditions, or hidden damage. Utility crews will assess the damage, prioritize critical facilities, and restore power as soon as it is safe to do so.