<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Ii1Tt_0wD5UZnt00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Ii1Tt_0wD5UZnt00" width="1320" height="743" >SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (WLOS) — In the wake of Helene, restoration efforts have faced obstacles, particularly in mountainous areas that are difficult to reach.A total of 3.6 million Duke Energy customers across North and South Carolina were without power in the direct aftermath of the storm.Now, in North Carolina, it is fewer than 1,000 customers.<blockquote>Due to the weather and what the weather has done with the roads and road access and stuff like that, it's hard to get to our poles. Oftentimes, we have places such as this, where it's just hard to get to with a vehicle and track machine," said Jeff Waldroup, senior construction manager for Duke Energy.</blockquote>Duke Energy has utilized helicopters to bring power poles into these remaining communities without power.<blockquote>The helicopter is very viable to use right now. We've been setting poles in Chimney Rock. We've set poles at Black Mountain," he said. "We also set poles in Spruce Pine.</blockquote>Duke Energy says that restoration in Spruce Pine specifically could take longer.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Duke Energy struggles to return power to remote WNC areas; deploys helicopters to help

SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (WLOS) — In the wake of Helene, restoration efforts have faced obstacles, particularly in mountainous areas that are difficult to reach. A total of 3.6 million Duke Energy customers across North and South Carolina were without power in the direct aftermath of the storm. Now, in...