York County Gears Up for Hurricane Helene with Utility Preparations and Safety Measures

York County Prepares for Hurricane Helene

As residents of York County, South Carolina brace themselves for the potential impact of Hurricane Helene, local utility crews are out in full force making sure everything is in tip-top shape. With the hurricane on its way, everyone is doing their part to ensure safety and minimize disruptions. This week, teams from York Electric Cooperative have been busy performing routine maintenance, including pole replacements and tree trimming in anticipation of the storm.

Keeping the Lights On

York Electric Cooperative serves about 70,000 customers, and with the storm forecasted to hit areas hardest in the western part of the county, the cooperative is taking proactive steps. Porter Gable, a representative from York Electric, shared that they have been actively trimming trees in the area within the past two years, ensuring that the power lines remain clear. “The western side of our county has had trees cut and trimmed within the past two years, so that’s fresh and clean powerlines that we’re dealing with,” he explained.

Prepared for Storms

Gable added, “Of course, we can’t determine if a storm is going to take down a live tree that’s outside of those 15 feet on either side of the right-of-way, but we do our best to locate danger trees.” This preventative work is essential not just for customer satisfaction but for safety as well. Understanding the unpredictability of storms, the cooperative maintains high standards to keep power flowing.

Quick Restoration Services

Reflecting back on recent storms, Gable mentioned how effective their crew was during Tropical Storm Debby, where there were as many as 5,000 customers without power across four counties: York, Lancaster, Chester, and Cherokee. Remarkably, all power was restored within just 24 hours. The proximity of their crews plays a significant role in their ability to quickly respond to outages. “If your power is out, it’s likely that our employees’ power is out at home,” Gable remarked. “Our goal, and obviously this is not the case in a severe storm situation, but…99% of the time we’re there within an hour.”

Innovative Solutions to Power Issues

An additional advantage for York Electric customers is that approximately 50% of their power lines are underground. This significantly mitigates the chances of losing power during adverse weather conditions. The cooperative is not only preparing for the impact on their own service area but is also on standby to assist other cooperatives throughout the Carolinas if needed.

Customer Support and Scams Awareness

York Electric has been proactive in keeping customers informed by updating their website with storm preparation resources and outage information. This tool is incredibly useful for keeping everyone in the loop. As a friendly reminder, Gable encouraged customers to be vigilant about scams. Currently, there is a reported issue where parties are impersonating York Electric representatives and threatening customers with power disconnection unless they made immediate payments. The cooperative urges residents to protect themselves: “If a call seems like it may be a scam, hang up and call York Electric. Customers’ online accounts should reflect any necessary payments.”

Stay Safe and Prepared

As Hurricane Helene approaches, the importance of preparation cannot be overstated. The teams at York Electric Cooperative and all emergency service personnel remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community during stressful times like these. It’s a team effort that reflects the spirit of York County, reminding everyone to stay safe, informed, and prepared for whatever comes next.