GAHANNA, Ohio, April 2, 2024 — AEP Ohio crews and field personnel are actively restoring power to about 13,000 customers after storms and heavy rain took down power lines, with Northeast Columbus, Chillicothe and Lawrence County among the hardest hit.
More than 1,700 AEP Ohio crew members from over 40 service centers across the state are preparing for severe weather that will continue this evening. 400 additional lineworkers are on their way from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri and Tennessee to assist with restoration efforts if outages occur.
With high winds and extremely saturated ground, trees are more susceptible to uprooting and falling, potentially breaking poles and bringing down power lines. Crews will work to restore any power outages as quickly and safely as possible, but lingering strong wind gusts could delay some restoration efforts.
SAFETY REMINDERS
- AEP Ohio strongly encourages customers with life-supporting medical equipment to have a backup power source and an alternate plan in the event of a power outage.
- If you see any downed lines, stay as far away from them as possible and anything they may be touching and call 911 or AEP Ohio at 800-672-2231 immediately.
- Investigate your surroundings before trying to clean up any debris. Tree limbs, leaves and other objects moved by the wind could hide downed wires. Do not attempt to remove tree limbs or debris within 10 feet of a power line.
STAYING SAFE AND CONNECTED
- Check your local forecast for the latest updates on timing and intensity.
- Check on family, friends and neighbors who are elderly or have a medical condition.
- Review your emergency preparedness plan for you and your family. Also, contact family, friends and neighbors who are elderly or have a medical condition — and don’t forget to include your pets in your planning.
- Refresh an emergency kit that includes (at minimum) non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, batteries, a battery-powered radio, a first aid kit, any necessary medications, fully charged portable chargers, extra cash and maps of your area.
- Never operate lanterns, heaters or fuel-fired stoves without proper ventilation.
- Unplug major appliances to protect them when power is restored.
- Refuel lamps and generators outside and away from any flames or sparks. Wipe up spilled fuel immediately.
Customers can receive the latest alerts and information by:
We’ll continue to keep customers informed as more information becomes available. Updates will be provided at AEPOhio.com as well as other communication channels.