Latest news with #utilityworkers
CBS News
17 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Tips on how to file an insurance claim for storm damage
Helpful tips on how to file a insurance claim for storm damage Helpful tips on how to file a insurance claim for storm damage Helpful tips on how to file a insurance claim for storm damage Many people are dealing with damage from downed trees caused by Thursday's severe weather – that means dealing with insurance. No matter what you're dealing with, starting the process as soon as possible is key, and that starts with documentation. Take as many photos and videos as you can for your insurance company. If necessary, take steps to prevent any further damage, like covering broken windows or tarping up a damaged roof. Save your receipts. Many policies reimburse for out-of-pocket expenses related to the claim, like paying for a tarp or lodging. When it comes downed trees, where they ultimately fall makes all the difference. If a tree falls in your yard, but doesn't hit anything, that's likely on you to pay to clean it up. But if the tree falls on your house, that's a claim with your insurance company for removal and repairs to your home. Now, if your tree falls on your neighbor's house, then it's your neighbor's homeowners' insurance policy that's going to be responsible. If it's your car that was damaged in the storm, as long as you have comprehensive coverage, you'd file that claim with your auto insurance. One thing to keep in mind after a storm is the scammers. The Better Business Bureau warns that they might pose as a utility repair worker or an insurance adjuster. Never pay money up front if someone shows up at your door, and never share your policy details with anyone until you verify who they're with. Do you have a money question, a consumer issue, or a scam story you want to share? Email InYourCorner@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Duke says it has restored power to 73,000 Indiana customers
Duke Energy on Thursday said it had restored power to more than 73,000 customers affected by Wednesday's severe thunderstorms. Duke said the storms caused more than 100,000 power outages across nearly all of the 28 districts the company serves. In a 6 a.m. Thursday news release, the utility said crews were still working to restore approximately 31,000 customers across the state. A company outage map available online about 2:30 p.m. Thursday showed about 4,000 customers without power in west central Indiana, with apparently about 1,600 of those in and around Vigo County. Wind gusts reached as high as 70 miles per hour in some areas Wednesday afternoon, taking down trees, power lines and poles. Duke said it brought in more than 500 additional crew members to supplement its statewide workforce and respond to the hardest hit areas, including Bartholomew, Hamilton, Monroe, Union and Vigo counties. Estimated restoration times – once determined for specific areas – will be posted at and customers who are registered to receive Duke Energy text outage alerts will receive a text once an estimated restoration time is established for that location. 'I want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as our crews work quickly and safely to restore power,' said Clint Carnahan, general manager of emergency preparedness at Duke Energy. The company said that during power restoration, its priority is to repair large power lines and other infrastructure that will return power to the greatest number of customers as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible. Additionally, it prioritizes essential services such as hospitals and water pumping and treatment facilities. Crews then can work on repairs affecting individual neighborhoods and homes. Duke Energy customers who experience a power outage can report it the following ways: • Visit on a desktop computer or mobile device. • Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download the Duke Energy app on your smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play). • Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). • Call Duke Energy's automated outage reporting system at 1.800.343.3525. More tips on what to do before, during and after a storm can be found at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Duke Energy crews restore power to more than 73,000 after severe storms in Indiana
PLAINFIELD, Ind., June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy has restored power to more than 73,000 customers who were affected by severe and damaging storms that ripped through Indiana yesterday, causing more than 100,000 power outages across nearly all of the 28 districts the company serves. Crews are working to restore approximately 31,000 customers who remained without power as of 6 a.m. ET. Power line technicians, tree trimmers, damage assessors and other support personnel have been assessing damage and restoring outages. Wind gusts reached as high as 70 miles per hour in some areas, taking down trees, power lines and poles. The company has brought in more than 500 additional crew members to supplement its statewide workforce and respond to the hardest hit areas, including Bartholomew, Hamilton, Monroe, Union and Vigo counties. Estimated restoration times – once determined for specific areas – will be posted at and customers who are registered to receive Duke Energy text outage alerts will receive a text once an estimated restoration time is established for their location. "I want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as our crews work quickly and safely to restore power," said Clint Carnahan, general manager of emergency preparedness at Duke Energy. "We're bringing in hundreds of additional resources to supplement our local workforce and help with power restoration in the hardest hit areas." Power restoration process During power restoration, the company's priority is to repair large power lines and other infrastructure that will return power to the greatest number of customers as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible. Additionally, it prioritizes essential services such as hospitals and water pumping and treatment facilities. Crews then can work on repairs affecting individual neighborhoods and homes. Click here for information on how Duke Energy restores power. How to report outages Duke Energy customers who experience a power outage can report it the following ways: Visit on a desktop computer or mobile device. Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download the Duke Energy App on your smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play). Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). Call Duke Energy's automated outage reporting system at 1.800.343.3525. More tips on what to do before, during and after a storm can be found at Duke Energy Indiana Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 920,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana's largest electric supplier. Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. More information is available at and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. Contact: McKenzie Barbknecht 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Duke Energy
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police bust 9 suspects in copper theft ring targeting internet cables
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says it has arrested several people suspected of being part of a crime ring targeting copper within internet lines. JSO said its SCRAP team has been working since October to track down the people who had been posing as utility workers to strip materials from the cables. Initially, five arrests were made: Steven Midyette Van Arnold Darrick Rhoden Terry Thompson Donald Tyre JSO said surveillance video, witness statements, and further investigation led them to arrest four more suspects: Archie Crook Corttney Kowalski James Bennett Leslie Bennett Archie Crook is suspected to have been the 'ring leader.' >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'When criminals steal fiber optic cables for copper, you risk losing your high-speed internet access. Plus, when utility companies have to replace stolen cables, guess who's footing the bill? (You),' said JSO. Police said the alleged thieves were targeting fiber optic cables, although they typically do not contain copper. Stolen copper, tools, and illegal drugs were seized through the operation. Each suspect's charges vary. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
FirstEnergy shares stats of April 19 storm response effort
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 7—MORGANTOWN — By all accounts, the business end of the storm that turned out the lights in Morgantown and the surrounding area on April 19 only lasted a few minutes. But what was done in those few minutes required 475 workers, the replacement of 188 poles — including 135 in Monongalia County alone — and nearly eight miles of wire to undo. Crews restored power to 63, 600 total customers over much of the following week — first in large swaths, then in smaller, more isolated pockets. First Energy Local Engagement Specialist Krissy Michael provided the data to leadership with the city of Morgantown and the Monongalia County Commission. The commission shared it during Wednesday's regular meeting. Power outages began at about 8:30 p.m. on the Saturday evening before Easter as 60-to 70-mph wind gusts caused extensive damage to power infrastructure. Snapped poles and broken cross arms resulted in downed lines. "Our priority immediately following a storm is to clear hazards, such as downed power lines and trees blocking the roads. Hazard responders are dispatched to damaged locations, such as downed lines, to protect the public from these hazards until a line crew has arrived to make the area safe, " Michael explained. Once immediate threats are identified and made safe, Michael said the pecking order for repairs starts with the substation facilities that supply power to the lines, followed by hospitals and other critical medical, communications and emergency response agencies /facilities. After that, crews work to restore power as quickly as possible to customers, starting with areas that will restore power to the largest number of homes and businesses. "I just wanted to, again, thank Krissy and her staff for all they did to address that outage and make that public. It was a pretty big undertaking, " Commissioner Sean Sikora said. A representative of FirstEnergy said the company does not publicly share the cost of restoration efforts, but noted historical outage data shows storm activity in the first four months of 2025 has been higher in the Mon Power service area than anything the company has seen in the last decade. In other business from Wednesday's commission meeting, the body approved up to $2, 500 to match funds raised by Monongalia County students participating in the Future Problem Solving International Conference to be held next month in Bloomington, Indiana.
