I-TEAM: A closer look at utility poles as Helene repairs continue
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Georgia Power is still working to replace or repair power poles destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Helene.
Navigating a vehicle under low-hanging lines connected to weakened power poles is a nerve-wracking challenge for many of us, especially truck drivers.
A driver of a semi-truck snagged an overhead line causing three wooden power poles to snap and a power outage along Washington Road on Christmas Eve.
Our I-TEAM took a closer look at the conditions of the power poles in our area.
Dispatcher: “Columbia County 911. What’s the location of your emergency?”
Caller 1: “A truck took out a power line.”
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Dispatcher: “A powerline is down?”
Caller 1: “Yes. A powerline is in the street and a power pole is in the street.”
Moments before the call to 911, a traffic camera catches a semi-truck carrying a piece of machinery, attempting to go under overhead lines.
Caller 1: “At the intersection of the dealership.”
The video ends when three utility poles snap.
Caller 1: “I think something was on the back of the truck and it hooked on the lines.”
The caller was right, according to the incident report.
SEE THE INCIDENT REPORT:
A piece of heaving equipment the truck was hauling got caught on the power lines crossing the roadway.
This caused three power poles to break in half while taking out power and internet in the area.
Days after the accident, yellow tape marks where some wires remain down.
Caller 2: “Truck came through and grabbed a power line and snapped the power pole and wires are laying across Washington Road right here.”
A trail of yellow tape is still up months after Hurricane Helene.
Georgia Power reported the hurricane destroyed or damaged more than 8,300 of its power poles.
The I-TEAM looked at power poles along Washington Road.
We found poles across from Mullens Crossing with a warning tag stapled to it.
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A power pole by the Goodwill in Martinez has its base reinforced with a foam filler.
A pole in front of the Mercedes dealership snapped from one side to the other, with no warning tag or reinforcement.
Wood utility poles last between 30 and 40 years — longer depending on maintenance and environment.
Augusta does not have the ideal environment for wood poles.
According to the North American Wood Pole Council, decay is most severe in the southeast region of the United States.
River valleys may present greater potential for wood pole deterioration than the region as a whole, meaning our utility poles require more maintenance than most.
Osmose performs pole inspections for Georgia Power.
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They recommend inspections every two years.
We found most poles along Washington Road were last inspected in 2022, meaning they are due now for an inspection.
Dispatcher: “Is sparking or anything?”
Caller 1: “There is smoke I can see.”
As the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there is fire.
Utility poles provide more than just power.
They also fiber optic cables, antennas for wireless networks and other communication equipment, which is why it was such a challenge for crews to restore Wi-Fi after Hurricane Helene knocked down power poles across the CSRA.
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