NEWLAND — As Avery County continues to rebound from the wallop inflicted by Hurricane Helene, local utilities are feverishly working to get as many people back online with power and other essential services as quickly as possible.
Mountain Electric Cooperative has provided daily updates as it works to restore power to sections of Avery County and Carter and Johnson counties in Tennessee. The utility provider shared via social media that it has plenty of materials (including poles) to work with, and trucks are arriving daily.
Among the latest figures and areas mentioned in its October 7 update, MEC noted that in Mountain City, 1,500 members were without power, with general area crews working on the following areas: Forge Creek area, Laurel area, Sutherland Community, Neva areas including Dry Run, Draft, Dry Hill, Doe areas including Pedro Shoun and Sprucy Ridge area, Fish Springs and Hwy 321, and West Hillcrest area, with tree crews working in Trade, Tenn. MEC noted that the Poga/Hwy. 321 area has many access roads that have received damage as well. Electrical infrastructure has been washed out in several areas…