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More than 52,000 Duke Energy customers remained without power at 5 a.m. Thursday after severe storms struck Greater Cincinnati.
Duke Energy has restored power to more than 171,000 customers while more than 1,000 additional workers assist with repairs.
Hamilton County and Clermont County have some of the largest remaining outage totals.
Outages continued Thursday as more than 52,000 customers remained without power after severe storms hit Greater Cincinnati.
The outages included 43,387 customers in Greater Cincinnati and 9,073 in Northern Kentucky as of 5 a.m. Thursday.
More than 171,000 customers have regained power since Tuesday’s destructive storms, according to Duke Energy.
The company continues to assess damage while crews repair fallen lines, damaged poles and other electrical equipment.
Duke Energy outages continue across Greater Cincinnati
The latest outage numbers show significant improvement from earlier Wednesday totals. FOX19 reported that 52,460 Duke Energy customers remained without electricity at 5 a.m. Thursday.
Greater Cincinnati accounted for 43,387 of those outages, while Northern Kentucky had another 9,073.
Hamilton County had the largest number of remaining outages, with 27,268 customers without electricity. Clermont County followed with 11,462 customers still without power. The figures can change as crews restore service and new damage creates additional outages.
Duke Energy’s Wednesday afternoon figures showed a much larger number of customers still without service. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the utility reported 102,589 current outages across Ohio and Kentucky. That total included 85,579 outages in Ohio and 17,010 in Kentucky.
The difference shows the pace of restoration overnight.
Duke Energy restored more than 50,000 additional customers between the Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning updates. Customers should continue checking the company’s Duke Energy outage map for changing restoration information.
Duke Energy outages follow widespread storm damage
The storms caused widespread damage across the Cincinnati region beginning Tuesday. Duke Energy reported fallen trees, blocked roads, damaged poles and extensive damage to its electric system. Multiple rounds of severe weather also created additional outages and slowed restoration work.
Duke Energy said it restored power to more than 171,000 customers across Greater Cincinnati during the 24 hours leading into Wednesday afternoon. The company said crews continued working around the clock despite difficult conditions. Some areas may require longer repairs because of broken poles, downed lines or significant equipment damage.
WCPO reported more than 200,000 outages across the Tri-State after Tuesday’s storms. The outlet reported that nursing homes, gas stations and homes remained without electricity Wednesday. Some residents also faced concerns about refrigerated medication and food spoilage during the prolonged outages.
By 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, WCPO reported 81,424 customers remained without power in Ohio and Kentucky. The outlet reported roughly 39,000 outages north and west of Cincinnati and about 30,000 farther east.
Northern Kentucky had roughly 11,000 outages at that time.
The latest Thursday figures show that restoration continued overnight. However, thousands of customers still face extended outages across the region.
Duke Energy said restoration estimates may remain unavailable for some customers while damage assessments continue.
More crews join Duke Energy outages response
Duke Energy has brought additional workers into the region to speed up repairs. More than 1,000 lineworkers, tree trimmers, damage assessors and support personnel are assisting the restoration effort.
Some workers came from outside Ohio and Kentucky, while others were traveling to the area.
Andy Cassidy, Duke Energy’s storm director, said crews made significant progress despite challenging conditions. He said the company still has substantial work ahead as crews address widespread damage.
Duke Energy also said workers will continue repairing and replacing damaged equipment around the clock.
The utility began providing estimated restoration times for many customers Wednesday evening. Duke Energy warned that some estimates could take longer because crews first need access to damaged infrastructure.
Those estimates can change as workers complete additional damage assessments.
Reuters also reported Wednesday that Duke Energy had mobilized about 1,000 emergency workers for the Cincinnati-area response. The report said about 46,200 Duke customers remained without power in Ohio at the time.
The figures changed as restoration crews continued working overnight.
The response comes as more severe weather remains possible across the region. WCPO reported that additional thunderstorms and heavy rain could affect the Tri-State.
That weather could complicate restoration work and create additional outages.
Duke Energy outages require safety precautions
Residents should treat downed or sagging power lines as dangerous. Duke Energy advises customers to stay away from power lines and anything touching them.
Residents should call 911 to report immediate hazards involving electrical equipment.
Customers can report a power outage through Duke Energy’s website, mobile app or automated telephone system. The utility also allows customers to receive outage updates through its alert system.
Customers can use the Duke Energy outage map to check current outages and available restoration estimates.
Duke Energy also recommends keeping roads clear for utility crews and emergency responders. Drivers should move over when approaching utility trucks or emergency vehicles.
Intersections with nonworking traffic signals should be treated as four-way stops.
Residents using generators should also follow manufacturer safety instructions. Generators should remain outside and away from windows, doors and other openings.
Carbon monoxide can build up indoors when generators operate in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas.
Duke Energy outages remain a major recovery challenge
The latest numbers show substantial progress but leave tens of thousands of customers without electricity. More than 52,000 customers remained without power across the Duke Energy service area at 5 a.m. Thursday.
Most of those outages affected Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Duke Energy continues to deploy crews while assessing damage across affected communities. The company expects some repairs to take longer because of damaged poles, lines and other infrastructure.
Restoration estimates will continue to change as crews reach additional damaged areas.
The latest outage figures are lower than Wednesday’s totals. However, the remaining outages remain widespread across Hamilton and Clermont counties and Northern Kentucky.
Residents without power should monitor official outage information for the latest restoration estimates.
Duke Energy outages could also increase if additional severe weather moves through the region. The utility has warned that ongoing storms could create additional challenges for restoration crews.
Residents should continue monitoring weather alerts and avoid damaged areas while cleanup continues.
FAQs
How many Duke Energy customers remain without power?
More than 52,000 Duke Energy customers remained without power at 5 a.m. Thursday. FOX19 reported 43,387 outages in Greater Cincinnati and 9,073 in Northern Kentucky.
How many customers has Duke Energy restored?
Duke Energy reported restoring more than 171,000 customers across Greater Cincinnati. The company continues to work through widespread storm damage and additional outages.
Which Cincinnati-area county has the most outages?
Hamilton County had 27,268 customers without power at 5 a.m. Thursday. Clermont County had the second-highest total, with 11,462 customers without electricity.
How can I check my Duke Energy restoration time?
Customers can check current outage information through Duke Energy’s outage map.Estimated restoration times may change as crews assess damage and complete repairs.
