Staff Reports

The lights should be coming on in Thomasville, Grove Hill and Jackson today according to Alabama Power, hoping to achieve 99 percent restoration some time today.

The power company has restored power to 91 percent of its customers in Mobile and Southwest Alabama who lost power due to Hurricane Ivan, but by 2 p.m. Thursday about 10 percent of its customers in Marengo and Choctaw counties were still without power.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, 16,367 customers remained without power in Southwest Alabama out of a peak of 198,436 recorded at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16.

Areas hardest hit include Brewton, Atmore and Monroeville. Other areas that experienced significant damage include Thomasville, Grove Hill and Jackson, the company said.

Here is a breakdown by area of customers who have power as of 2 p.m.: Baldwin County – 47 percent have power; Choctaw-Marengo – 90 percent; Clarke-Wilcox – 84 percent; Escambia-Conecuh – 56 percent; Monroe County – 55 percent; East Mobile – 98 percent; North Mobile County – 95 percent; South Mobile County – 98 percent; West Mobile – 98 percent have power.

During the course of the restoration operation, Alabama Power crews have been joined by more than 3,500 additional workers from 28 states and the District of Columbia. States represented in the restoration effort: Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Virginia and West Virginia.

Hurricane Ivan resulted in record power outages for Alabama Power. Previously, 1995’s Hurricane Opal held the record, causing power outages to 476,000 homes and businesses.

It took seven days to fully restore power. Hurricane Frederic, which struck in 1979, knocked out power to 239,400 customers.

It took 21 days to restore power.

– staff reports