Weather conditions on Friday hampered Tideland EMC’s ability to begin power restoration in a wide swath of its service territory. Tideland began Friday with power off to 77 percent of its electric system. By 6 p.m. this evening 63 percentof the system remained off.

The ability to proceed with power restoration work today was determined by wind speeds in each service area. Crews that were staged in advance of the storm in Plymouth were allowed today to begin power restoration in Washington and northern Beaufort Counties. By mid-afternoon, line crews north of the Pamlico River were given permission to put buckets in the air. Wind conditions proved most favorable today in Plymouth, Engelhard, Fairfield, Ponzer, Pungo and Washington. Areas closest to the Pamlico Sound continued to experience higher wind gusts and high water impeded travel in large portions of Beaufort County, Pamlico County, and Craven County.

On the south side of the Pamlico River, Tideland crews were given the green light once travel conditions improved to venture out and conduct damage assessments of all three-phase circuits starting at the Silver Hill, Fairfield Harbour and Edward substations. Crews have thus far documented nearly two dozen broken poles on the main circuits along with numerous broken crossarms. There are also many spans of wire down on the main circuits. Damage assessment teams could not reach Lowland due to flooding.

All Tideland personnel and visiting contractors will be asked to suspend work by 9 p.m. this evening. Restoration activities will be underway in all areas on Saturday morning where water has receded.

To report a power outage call 800-882-1001.