Update: 2 PM, 7/24/2008
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, July 24 /PRNewswire/ --
Telling It Briefly:
-- As of 1:30 p.m. today, approximately 165,700 residences and
businesses in the Rio Grande Valley were without electric service due to
Hurricane Dolly.
-- Earlier today, damage assessors from AEP Texas fanned out across the
Valley to determine the materials and resources needed to rebuild the
electric system. This is one of the first steps in the restoration process.
Additionally, crews are working to clear out electrical hazards like downed
power lines.
-- Approximately, 1,740 additional workers are traveling to the Valley
today and tomorrow to help restore service. This is an increase in the
number requested earlier due to the extensive damage to the area. An
estimate of the time it will take to complete service restoration will be
determined after a complete assessment of our electrical system.
-- Customers who still have power are asked to conserve electricity
while crews are restoring service to other customers. This will help
prevent an overload on the electric system.
Customers Currently Without Power
7/24/08 7/24/08 7/23/08
Location 2:00 PM 10:00 AM 9:00 PM
Brownsville/
Port Isabel, TX 28,150 30,530 30,393
Edinburg, TX 9,695 16,754 13,479
Harlingen, TX,
La Feria 33,094 36,846 36,906
McAllen, TX 20,218 20,740 14,317
Mission, TX 10,812 21,755 8,128
Pharr, TX 21,154 33,084 13,810
San Benito, TX 6,745 8,377 7,282
Weslaco, TX 35,843 32,301 31,024
Total 165,711 200,387 155,339
Note: Times shown are CDT
Safety Messages
Severe weather can cause power lines to snap or poles to come down.
Fallen power lines are dangerous because they carry an electric current
that can cause serious or fatal injury. Never touch a fallen wire, no
matter how harmless it looks. And keep others away from the potential
hazard as well. If you encounter fallen wires, stay away from them and
immediately contact AEP Texas.
In the event of a major power interruption, life-support customers are
encouraged to contact AEP Texas's toll-free customer service number to
advise our representatives of their situation. Due to the nature of
restoration activity, AEP Texas cannot assure priority restoration for
life-support customers. Life-support customers are advised to take
precautionary measures to protect themselves in the event of a power loss.
Contact relatives or friends for assistance or temporary accommodations in
the event of a prolonged outage. Keep emergency phone numbers (physicians,
hospitals, safety services, utilities) posted near your telephone.
If you use a portable or RV generator, do not plug the generator into
your circuit box. Portable generators "backfeed" electricity up the line
and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Follow the
manufacturers' instructions carefully, and plug essential appliances
directly into the generator. See additional information about use of backup
generators.
For the latest information, please go to http://www.aeptexas.com
SOURCE AEP Texas
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Related links:
http://www.aeptexas.com
http://www.aep.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/042050.html /
CONTACT:
Andy Heines, +1-361-881-5511, cell:
+1-361-815-0117, or Larry Jones, cell: +1-512-203-4916, both for
AEP Texas
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