Over the weekend of March 14-16, AEP Ohio faced multiple waves of severe weather.
AEP meteorologists predicted two waves of storms, and AEP Ohio’s operations team prepared. The first wave caused minimal outages in western Ohio, allowing teams to focus on the upcoming second wave.
The second wave hit on Saturday, March 15, primarily affecting customers in eastern Ohio. While the outcome was less severe than initially predicted, 4,273 customers were without power, and crews responded as planned.
Shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 16, meteorologists alerted AEP Ohio to a sudden shift in atmospheric conditions. Two lines of strong-to-severe thunderstorms were moving into eastern Ohio, with predicted wind speeds reaching 60-70 mph. This unexpected development required a rapid response.
By the afternoon of March 16, the storm had intensified, affecting 20,715 customers. AEP Ohio’s eastern region bore the brunt of the storm, but as many as 3,800 customers were without power in the southern part of our service territory, too.
Our dedicated crews mobilized, and by Sunday night, 5,276 customers remained affected, with crews working tirelessly around the clock to restore power.
Final Statistics
Throughout the storms, AEP Ohio effectively mitigated the impact:
- Peak Outages: 20,712 on March 16
- Total Customers Interrupted: 37,297 from March 15-16
Damage Totals:
- Distribution: 43 broken poles, 379 spans down, and 20 transformers affected
- Transmission: 2 broken poles
“Our crews displayed exceptional performance under challenging conditions. Most importantly, we experienced zero safety incidents,” said Josh McQueen, AEP Ohio emergency preparedness manager. “Thanks to the dedication and swift, safe response of the entire team, we efficiently restored power to the communities we serve.”
Thank you to everyone involved for your hard work and commitment during this demanding situation. Your efforts make a significant difference in the lives of our customers.
