A severe thunderstorm swept through Cabarrus County on Sunday, Aug. 9, packing wind gusts up to 60 mph, strong enough to damage trees and power lines, along with small hail.
The National Weather Service's Greenville-Spartanburg office issued the severe thunderstorm warning for Cabarrus County, keeping it in effect until 9:15 p.m., according to WBTV. Storm activity continued past that window: the NWS issued a follow-up advisory at 9:21 p.m. extending the threat for Cabarrus and Rowan counties until 9:45 p.m.
No confirmed damage totals or outage counts for Cabarrus County had been released as of Monday morning. Cabarrus County Emergency Management had not posted a storm-specific update.
Downed power lines remain a serious hazard
A woman was killed by a downed power line in southeast Charlotte in July. Fallen lines can be lethal even when they appear dead. Duke Energy's storm-safety guidance warns residents to treat all downed lines, and any trees or limbs touching them, as energized and dangerous.
Duke Energy advises:
- Stay away from any power line that has fallen or is sagging.
- Keep children and pets away from areas where lines may have come down, including backyards, fields and schoolyards.
- If a power line falls on your car, stay inside. If fire forces you out, jump clear and land on both feet so no part of your body touches the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
How to report outages
Concord residents are served by the city-owned Concord Electric Systems, not Duke Energy. Report outages by calling 704-920-5555 or online at concordnc.gov/outages.
Harrisburg and unincorporated Cabarrus County residents served by Duke Energy can report outages at 800-769-3766 or through the Duke Energy outage map. To report a downed power line specifically, call Duke Energy's hazard line at 800-228-8485 or contact local emergency services.
What's next
With no damage assessment or follow-up briefing announced, residents who spot downed lines, hanging branches caught in wires, or other storm debris near electrical infrastructure can report hazards to Duke Energy at 800-228-8485 or to local emergency services.
