The wave of severe storms and devastating tornadoes that moved through the state on Wednesday brought down a number of trees and power lines and caused numerous power outages. At the peak of the storm Wednesday night, 72,000 customers were without power.

At 5 p.m. today, the number of customer outages statewide was 37,000. Outages by region of the state were: 

• Northwest Georgia (Rome, Trenton, Ringgold, Cartersville) – 30,000
• Northeast Georgia (Madison, Clayton) – 3,200
• Western Georgia (Manchester, Warm Springs) – 2,600
• Metro Atlanta (primarily Senoia) – 1,300

Estimated restoration times are as follows:

• Metro Atlanta: by midnight tonight
• Northeast Georgia: by Saturday morning
• Western Georgia: by mid-day Saturday
• Northwest Georgia:
  • Rome, Cartersville, and Dalton Area: by Saturday
  • Ringgold Area: by mid-day Sunday
  • Trenton: by midnight Sunday
     

Updates throughout the evening will be periodically posted on Twitter, @georgiapower.

Safety tips

• If power is out, please call Georgia Power’s automated reporting system at 1-888-891-0938. It is the fastest way to report an outage or a hazardous situation, such as a downed power line.
• Turn off appliances to avoid any potential safety hazards when power is restored.
• Stay away from downed lines. Do not drive over lines or under low-hanging lines. Keep children and pets away from downed lines. Do not attempt to remove tree limbs or anything else caught in power lines. Call Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938 or contact a local law enforcement agency if downed lines are spotted.
• Stay clear of areas with fallen trees or debris where downed lines may be hidden. Stay away from areas where repair crews are working.

Generator safety tips
More and more people are purchasing portable generators to keep appliances running during outages. While generators can be a convenience, they can also be deadly when used improperly. 

•  Read and follow carefully the manufacturer’s instructions before using a generator.
• Do not plug in portable generators to your household wiring. This can cause serious injury to you and to Georgia Power employees working on the lines in your neighborhood. Connect only essential appliances – such as freezers and refrigerators – directly to the generator.
• To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, operate generators outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area that is away from air intakes to the home, including window air conditioners. A good location is an open shed. Never use a portable generator indoors or in attached garages.

Georgia Power crews will work as fast as safety allows. Before neighborhood lines can be repaired, crews must first repair larger lines that bring power to the neighborhoods.

To learn more about how Georgia Power responds to storms, log on to www.georgiapower.com. Click “About Us” and then “Storm Center.”