More than 2,600 Duke Energy customers found themselves grappling with a power outage in north Raleigh, near Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), after a power line tumbled down early this morning. The incident, reported by CBS17, occurred on Globe Road/Brier Creek Parkway at the intersection with Aviation Parkway.
Fire officials, told WRAL News that the power lines were detached from a 50-foot tower in a nearby wooded area. The Raleigh Fire Department responded around 5:40 a.m., and per CBS17, officials initially closed both directions of Globe Road to manage the situation and aid drivers in navigating detours.
Despite the early morning complications, Duke Energy reported that power was restored to Brier Creek Elementary School after it lost electricity earlier. Restoration for the remaining affected customers dwindled from over 2,000 to roughly 400 by 8:30 a.m., with the full repair projected to complete by noon, as mentioned in the CBS17 report.
The source of the outage was attributed to fallen trees or tree limbs that damaged the equipment, according to Duke Energy's outage map referenced by CBS17. However, inclement weather may have played a role, as a heavy rainstorm moved through the area that morning, potentially contributing to hazardous driving conditions and the initial power line damage, as ABC11 reported.
Local officials urged drivers to steer clear of the area and were provided with traffic updates and detours via WRAL News+ and 101.5 HD3, as Raleigh officers continued to manage traffic control. Special equipment was required to fix the ensuing problems, with additional manpower arriving on scene since the first crews were unable to resolve the issue on their own, stated WRAL News.
