CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy prepared for possible power outages Friday in the Charlotte area as Tropical Storm Hermine passed through.
Duke already sent hundreds of workers to the Carolina Coast on Thursday but have sent even more to the eastern part of the state Friday morning.
11 p.m.
Mecklenburg County Duke Power outages: : 1,615 customers
Report your outage by calling Duke Energy at 800.769.3766 or texting OUT to 57801.
During a conference call Friday, Duke Energy decided to move about 50 more crew members and their equipment to the coast to help restore power after Hermine moves through.
They’ve already sent 330 crew members to Florida, but were holding off on sending any more down south.
Thousands of employees are also on standby in Charlotte. Duke doesn’t expect mass power outages in the Charlotte area, but officials told Channel 9 they are concerned about the impact that rain from Thursday night and Friday will have on local trees.
Duke Energy reports about 300 outages in Mecklenburg. Officials don't expect mass outages in Charlotte. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/5O5AovyIZY
— Tina Terry (@TinaTerryWSOC9) September 2, 2016
"While those trees are beautiful, they are also the number one cause of power outages, so anytime you see a limb or entire tree fall on our power poles or power lines we can see outages affect our customers,” said Duke Energy spokeswoman Meghan Miles.
If you have a power outage, Duke asks that you call 1-800-POWER-ON, or text "out" to 57801.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Chester Co. coroner says deadly I-77 crash 'worst I've ever seen'
- TROPICS: Hermine barreling toward Carolinas as a tropical storm
- Georgia murder suspect arrested after firing at officers in Gastonia
- Lowell police officer accused of impregnating 14-year-old arrested
- IMAGES: Deadly crash closes I-77 in Chester County
Cox Media Group