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Many west of Raleigh still without power

Sunday's spring weather was a stark contrast from what residents like Dale Myers face as they continue recovering from Friday's storm.

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UPDATE: Orange County officials said a total of 4,819 customers remained without power as of 7 a.m. Monday.

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MEBANE, N.C. – Sunday’s spring weather was a stark contrast from what residents like Dale Myers face as they continue recovering from Friday’s storm.

Crews removed trees from atop power lines and from the middle of roads in Myers’ Orange County neighborhood Sunday afternoon. He has been, among other things, without electricity since Friday.

“The water is tied onto the power, so that’s no water and heat,” said Myers, who lives near Mebane.

Myers realizes things could be worse. A tree fell onto a nearby mobile home during Friday’s storm.

About 12,000 North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ customers in Alamance, Davidson, Durham, Orange and Person counties remained without power Sunday afternoon, an improvement from the 62,600 without electricity on Friday.

Electricity was knocked out after trees and limbs fell on power lines due to ice and high winds from Friday’s storm.

“Dozens of out-of-state crews joined hundreds of line personnel from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives to assist co-ops in need with power restoration efforts,” the cooperative said in a statement.

A flood warning was issued for southeastern Chatham County and northern Lee County until 12:15 p.m. Monday due to high waters along the Deep River. Flooding, which was also reported north of Sanford, is expected to affect morning commuters and school bus routes, the National Weather Service said.

Duke Energy is working to restore power to more than 150,000 customers, including 8,000 in Orange County and over 41,000 in Alamance County, where schools will be closed Monday.

With the lights still out in downtown Mebane Sunday afternoon, Debbie Terry hopes power is restored before time runs out for her.

“I am on an oxygen tank at night,” she said.

Terry is currently using a small replacement, but only has a few tanks left.

“I should have enough,” she said. “I hope so, anyway.”

It may be Wednesday until affected customers have power, Duke Energy said.

 

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