A transformer explosion on Ault Park Avenue and downed power lines left swaths of Hyde Park and Mount Lookout in the dark Aug. 11, part of a regional storm that knocked out electricity to more than 180,000 Duke Energy customers across Greater Cincinnati.
By Aug. 12, the picture had barely improved for east-siders. Fox 19 reported 59,269 Hamilton County customers still without power as of 7 a.m., with no estimated restoration times available anywhere in the region.
No restoration times were available.
Tornado sirens sounded across Hyde Park and Mount Lookout as the storms blew through Tuesday afternoon, according to Local 12 coverage. On Cincinnati's east side, at least one massive tree covered an entire road and narrowly missed a home, WLWT reported.
What Duke Energy is saying
Duke Energy communications director John Juech called Tuesday's storms "a very significant event" during WLWT's 6 a.m. newscast on Aug. 12. He said crews had restored about 60,000 homes overnight but described the damage as a "high-vegetation event," meaning trees fell on powerlines and transmission lines, forcing crews to clear debris before rebuilding each line.
Duke Energy storm director Andy Cassidy warned in a statement reported by the NKY Tribune on Aug. 12 that "customers should be prepared for extended outages, particularly where crews must rebuild sections of the electric system."
The utility said it was fully staffed and deploying line workers, damage assessors and tree trimmers across the Tri-State. Crews cannot perform elevated work in bucket trucks when winds reach 30 mph or higher, which may slow repairs in some areas. Duke Energy prioritizes hospitals and government buildings before moving into residential neighborhoods.
A flood watch remained in effect through Wednesday morning, and additional rounds of severe weather were expected the afternoon of Aug. 12, raising the possibility of further outages.
How to report an outage
- Text "OUT" to 57801
- Call 1-800-543-5599
- Online at duke-energy.com/outages or the Duke Energy mobile app
- Status updates: Text "REG" to 57801 or sign up at duke-energy.com/outagealerts
Generator and downed-line safety
Duke Energy warns residents never to run a generator indoors or in an attached garage. Carbon monoxide is odorless and can be fatal within minutes. Generators should operate outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area away from air intakes.
Stay away from all downed or sagging power lines. Treat any line, and anything touching it, as energized. If a power line falls across your car, stay inside. If you must exit because of fire or immediate danger, jump clear so no part of your body touches the vehicle when your feet hit the ground.
Duke Energy said it will communicate estimated restoration times through its Outage Alerts and Outage Map as damage assessments continue.
