UPDATE FROM FIRST ENERGY

FROM FIRST ENERGY:

Crews are working hard to restore service after a powerful storm system swept across our region yesterday, bringing winds of more than 75 miles per hour and knocking out power for 338,200 Illuminating Co. customers. About 306,000 customers remain without service, primarily in the hardest-hit areas of Cuyahoga and Lake counties where we have hundreds of broken poles and crossarms, downed power lines, and fallen trees and debris blocking road access.

While crews are still working to assess damage and provide restoration times, we expect this will be a multi-day restoration effort for some customers due to the widespread damage. Our primary focus at this stage is to remove the reported 3200 hazards and assess the damage so that crews can access the site of an outage and begin to safely make repairs. Learn how we restore power.

We understand it is difficult to be without power, especially for an extended time. Our crews along with additional contractor and mutual assistance personnel will work around the clock to restore power to every customer as quickly and safely as possible.

Thank you for your patience and support of our crews during this time.

Please review restoration updates for specific locations as they become available on our outage maps: http://spr.ly/OHOutageMap

Safety is our TOP PRIORITY. Please use caution if you must go outdoors. There could be downed- or low-hanging power lines hidden in storm debris or downed trees. If you see any downed- or low-hanging wire, assume it is energized and dangerous; stay far away and report it immediately to 911 or the FE Outage line 888-544-4877.

While crews continue working to restore power, please remember these tips:

• Assume all downed or low-hanging power lines are energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away from the line and anything it might be touching. Report downed lines ASAP to 9-1-1.

• When operating a generator, the power coming into the home should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator could be sent back onto power lines, creating a hazardous situation for workers. View more generator safety tips.

• Use a flashlight or battery-powered lantern for light. Use care when burning candles, as open flames are a dangerous fire hazard.

View our website for more power outage tips.