In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Carolinas are facing a power crisis of unprecedented scale. Reports confirm that 360 power substations across North and South Carolina have been knocked offline due to severe flooding and infrastructure damage, leaving over 400,000 residents without electricity. The power restoration process is expected to stretch for months, as essential equipment like transformers remains in short supply.
Hurricane Helene’s destruction has primarily affected areas in the North Carolina mountains and Upstate South Carolina, where extensive flooding has rendered many substations inaccessible. Duke Energy, the main utility provider in the region, has been unable to fully assess the damage at numerous substations, as floodwaters have yet to recede. Poweroutage.us data shows that more than 400,000 customers are still in the dark, with power restoration efforts hampered by the massive scale of infrastructure damage.
🚨🇺🇸#BREAKING | UPDATE
POWER GRID NIGHTMARE 360 SUBSTATIONS DOWN IN THE CAROLINAS MIGHT
TAKE 6 TO 9 MONTHS TO REPAIR SOME ROADS HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES
1 YEAR OR LONGER ⚠️⭕️ pic.twitter.com/1VxIAEHQiB— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) October 2, 2024
Experts warn that the process could mirror the devastation seen in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, where it took months to rebuild the power grid. A significant problem lies in the lack of stockpiled transformers and other vital electrical components. Jesse D. Jenkins, an energy systems expert at Princeton University, highlighted that the U.S. does not have enough spare transformers to replace the damaged substations swiftly. Transformer shortages, exacerbated by global supply chain disruptions and increased demand due to electrification projects, are further delaying the recovery.
Adding to the frustration, some citizens and commentators have voiced concerns over U.S. priorities, citing that transformers and electrical equipment were sent to Ukraine earlier this year as part of international aid. This has led to accusations that domestic infrastructure needs were sidelined for foreign assistance. However, it remains unclear if the equipment sent abroad directly depleted U.S. reserves.
#BREAKING #USA The death toll from Hurricane Helene in the U.S. has climbed to 44, with 4.6 million people left without power, according to U.S. media reports.
A state of emergency has been declared in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and Virginia as authorities respond… pic.twitter.com/BhyYgKO4nB
— The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) September 28, 2024
Compounding the logistical nightmare, lawmakers in North Carolina and South Carolina are already calling for enhanced security measures around critical infrastructure. The increased vulnerability of the nation’s electrical grid has been a topic of concern following a series of attacks on substations across the Pacific Northwest and the Carolinas. In Moore County, North Carolina, for instance, two substations were shot at in December 2022, causing a massive blackout.
State legislators, including Rep. Ben Moss, are urging the implementation of 24-hour security at substations to prevent further attacks. Moss, whose district suffered significant power losses during previous attacks, is pushing for legislation that would mandate tighter security protocols at these critical facilities. However, even with such precautions, restoring the grid to its pre-Hurricane Helene state could take much longer than initially expected.
In addition to the shortages of transformers, supply chain issues that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic have severely impacted the availability of materials needed to repair the grid. High prices and backlogs are causing delays, and experts warn that energy accessibility, reliability, and affordability could be affected in the long term.
For residents in the hardest-hit regions of North Carolina, this situation has left them without access to heat, medical care, and food. Many families are relying on shelters set up by the Red Cross, while utility companies work around the clock to bring essential services back online. The slow pace of recovery, combined with fears of future attacks or further natural disasters, has raised urgent questions about the resilience of America’s electrical grid.
