If a widespread power outage in SC happens in ice storm who gets restored first?

If you live near a hospital and lose power will your service be restored first?

Likely.

Here’s what Duke Energy says they do once the storm passes. The process begins with crews assessing the extent of damage, which can take 24 hours or more.

The focus is on public health and safety facilities and areas where the greatest number of customers are without service, said Ryan Mosier, Duke spokesman.

Here’s what Duke does in the aftermath, some of which occurs simultaneously:

Locate downed power lines and make sure electricity is no longer flowing through the wires.

Check transmission, substation equipment and main distribution lines, which serve large numbers of customers and large geographic areas. Emergency service and critical infrastructure such as hospitals, law enforcement, fire departments and water treatment facilities.

Distribution lines are repaired “to get the largest number of customers back on as quickly as possible,” Mosier said.