Thousands of customers in Cookeville and surrounding Putnam County lost power after severe thunderstorms caused widespread damage. Utility crews continue restoration efforts while assessing damaged power lines and equipment.
Emergency Response to Cookeville Power Outage
The Cookeville power outage affected thousands of homes and businesses after severe thunderstorms and strong winds swept through Putnam County, Tennessee, damaging power lines and electrical equipment.
According to Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC), approximately 8,000 members lost power at the height of the storm. About half of the outages were linked to a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) issue that was resolved quickly, while the remaining outages required extensive repairs due to storm damage in the Cookeville area.
Restoration Efforts Underway
Utility crews continue working to restore electricity across affected neighborhoods.
Current restoration efforts include:
- Repairing damaged power lines.
- Replacing damaged utility equipment.
- Removing fallen trees from electrical infrastructure.
- Inspecting substations and distribution lines.
- Restoring service to remaining affected customers.
Officials said nearly all customers have had power restored, with crews continuing damage assessments and addressing isolated outages.
Impact on the Community
The outages disrupted homes and businesses across the Cookeville area.
Current impacts include:
- Temporary loss of electricity.
- Utility crews working throughout affected neighborhoods.
- Storm-related debris cleanup.
- Isolated traffic issues where signals lost power.
- Continued restoration work in heavily damaged locations.
Customers experiencing continued outages are encouraged to report them through Cookeville Energy or UCEMC, depending on their electric provider.
Public Safety Advisory
Utility officials advise customers to:
- Stay away from downed power lines.
- Report outages immediately.
- Use generators only outdoors.
- Keep refrigerators and freezers closed during extended outages.
- Follow updates from local utility providers.
Ongoing Restoration
Crews continue restoring service to any remaining affected customers while inspecting infrastructure for additional storm damage.
Customers served by the City of Cookeville Electric Department can report outages by calling or texting 866-502-7411 and monitor the utility’s outage reporting system for updates.
Conclusion
The Cookeville power outage today left thousands without electricity after severe storms damaged power infrastructure across Putnam County. Most service has been restored, and utility crews continue repairing isolated outages and assessing storm damage.
