Hatteras Power Outage Is Over With Power Restored Today
The Hatteras power outage is over. Power was restored earlier today. The power outage is over for both Hatteras Island and Ocracoke. The Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative (CHEC) has worked night and day for a week now to restore power to Hatteras and Ocracoke. The bridge construction company damaged the underground power cables to Hatteras while working on the Bonner Bridge replacement project last Thursday. Power was lost about 4:40am to both Hatteras and Ocracoke. CHEC discovered over the next several days that two of the three undergroundcables were damaged. One cable was spliced back together, the second was not damaged and a third was compromised. When the third cable was finally located conditions were not conducive to safely splice it back together. In the meantime CHEC had another “overhead team” working on putting up poles and stringing new power lines overhead. This overhead solution was the reason power was restored today after workers worked tirelessly around the clock to get power back to the islands.
Power has now been restored and on Friday 8/4/17 at 12:00pm (noon) there will be unrestricted access to both Hatteras and Ocracoke. The ferry system will resume their normal schedules. Visitor are welcome back to the islands. Restaurants, shops and other businesses are reopening and will be ready for business. Many businesses have suffered financial losses and are eager to see visitors and vacationers return to the island.
Here is the announcement from Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative…
FINAL Update!
Transmission power has been restored to all of Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative and contracted crews completed all work to construct the new overhead transmission line near Oregon Inlet and have energized the cable. Each of the seven villages on Hatteras Island have been removed from generator power and are now receiving power from the cooperative’s transmission lines.
Dare County officials have lifted the mandatory evacuation for all visitors to Hatteras Island, beginning at noon on Friday, August 4. All electricity conservation appeals for Hatteras Island have been lifted.
The cooperative would like to extend thanks to cooperative and contract crews for their tireless efforts to restore power, and to cooperative members and visitors of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands for their continued patience and support during this unprecedented event. Finally, CHEC thanks NCDOT, Dare County and state officials for their continued support and resources during restoration efforts.
