ATLANTA, Oct. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 5,000 personnel from Georgia Power and assisting utilities are poised to respond to damage and power outages from Hurricane Matthew beginning today. Damage assessment teams will be the first to re-enter evacuated and affected areas and will relay critical field information so that restoration teams can be dispatched as safely and efficiently as possible. As weather conditions improve and hurricane-force winds subside, crews will work as quickly and safely as possible to repair damage and restore power to the 281,375 affected customers as of 7:30 a.m.

As part of Southern Company, as well as a national mutual assistance network, Georgia Power is able to receive assistance from other utilities not impacted by the storm to aid in restoration efforts. Utilities from other states, including Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, are currently in Georgia working alongside Georgia Power crews to restore service for customers.  

As of 7:30 a.m., Georgia Power reported 2,576 individual cases of damage, including broken poles and downed lines, resulting in 281,375 customers without power. Damage and power outages are concentrated in Coastal Georgia, including Chatham, Camden Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty, Bryan, Effingham, and Wayne Counties.

Georgia Power reminds customers that dangerous conditions exist following a storm. Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage. 

The company also offers the following tools you can use to stay informed during restoration efforts:

• Outage Alerts: Subscribe to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and updates via text message.
• Outage & Storm Center: Available at www.georgiapower.com/storm, customers can visit this site to sign up for Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
• Outage Map: Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power's interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times.
• Georgia Power Mobile App: Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go.
• @GeorgiaPower on Twitter: Follow @GeorgiaPower on Twitter for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

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SOURCE Georgia Power