5 Things You Must Know About the Alabama Power Outage That’s Disrupting the State
- A major winter storm system swept through Alabama, knocking down power lines and leaving over 120,000 customers without electricity, with Alabama Power reporting the worst damage in central and northern regions.
- The outage is hitting critical infrastructure hard, including hospitals in Birmingham and schools across Jefferson County, forcing emergency generators to kick in and delaying remote work and learning.
- Restoration efforts are ongoing but slow, with Alabama Power crews facing icy roads and fallen trees, and officials warn that some rural areas may remain dark for 48+ hours.
- Local officials have opened warming shelters in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville, urging residents to avoid downed wires and report hazards immediately to 911.
- A concerning social media trend is emerging, with scammers posing as Alabama Power reps demanding payment for “reconnection” – never share bank info over the phone during outages.