Duke Energy issues guidance as Hurricane Nicole expected to bring gusty winds and heavy rains to the Carolinas

As Hurricane Nicole travels northward from Florida, we are prepared – and we encourage you to do the same. The storm is expected to bring high winds and heavy rain later this evening and throughout the day tomorrow. Even if Nicole weakens as it moves north, this large storm has the potential to bring down trees and power lines all along its path through our states.

Our Carolinas workforce of around 6,000 lineworkers is ready and will repair damage and restore power as quickly as possible.

Here are some tips for you to prepare:

• Visit our Storm Center for tips on ways to stay safe before, during and after severe weather hits.
• Always assume downed lines are energized and stay away. Also, remember that power lines can be hidden by debris and standing water so use extreme caution in flooded areas. Electric current passes easily through water, making these areas especially hazardous.
• If you experience an outage, please report it on our website or through our mobile app. You can also text OUT to 57801 or call 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).
• Stay informed – make sure you are signed up to receive Outage Alerts and bookmark our Outage Map to stay updated on estimated restoration times.

Please stay safe throughout this storm. You can get the latest information on our storm response on our website.