Hurricane Helene Leaves 80,000 Without Power in Kentucky as Recovery Efforts Continue

Lexington, Kentucky – The aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues to impact residents across Kentucky, with approximately 80,000 customers still without power as of Saturday evening. The storm brought damaging winds and heavy rain, leading to extensive power outages, particularly in Fayette County, where over 18,000 customers are still affected.

As of noon on Saturday, Kentucky Utilities spokesperson Daniel Lowry stated that the company is working diligently to restore power and anticipates that most outages will be resolved by 11 p.m. Tuesday at the latest. On the ground, about 530 line workers are actively restoring service, with an additional 400 workers expected to assist through mutual partnerships.

Governor Andy Beshear confirmed in a tweet that power restoration remains the primary challenge, while no fatalities have been reported from the storm. Minor flooding has occurred in low-lying areas of Western Kentucky, but the state has been largely spared from severe flooding due to dry conditions preceding the storm, according to meteorologist Mark Jarvis.

The storm’s winds, which reached gusts of over 60 mph, caused significant damage throughout the state, with over 1,300 downed power lines reported. Lexington’s police and fire departments received over 250 storm-related calls, including multiple injuries related to falls and flying debris.

In response to the storm, the Lexington city government has organized cleanup efforts, requesting residents to stack debris between the curb and sidewalk for collection, or drop it off at the Haley Pike landfill, starting Monday. The city has established an online survey for reporting property damage, and residents needing assistance with medical needs can contact the Red Cross.

While scattered showers are expected to persist over the next few days, the National Weather Service has assured there is no significant flash flooding risk. Rainfall records were broken in Lexington, with over 2.29 inches measured on Friday alone, surpassing a previous 1964 record of 1.61 inches.

With many city parks and facilities, including golf courses, without power and closed due to storm damage, residents are advised to check local resources for updates and adhere to boil water advisories issued for several areas.

As cleanup efforts unfold, officials stress the importance of safety and vigilance, especially for those using medical devices and checking local utilities for power restoration updates.