NC cooperatives send crews to KY to restore power

KENTUCKY - Five of North Carolina's electric cooperatives have sent crews to help restore electricity in Kentucky after a winter storm caused widespread power outages.

The deployment of crews is part of a mutual aid agreement between the nation's nearly 1,000 electric cooperatives to help one another during emergencies, such as natural disasters.

Crews from North Carolina include the Blue Ridge EMC in Lenoir, Central EMC of Sanford, EnergyUnited of Statesville, Pee Dee EMC of Wadesboro, and Rutherford EMC of Forest City.

Power outages from the recent ice storm are continuing to rise in Kentucky as utility crews struggle with the second-worst disruption of power in state history. On January 28, officials said at least 473,000 customers were without power.