UPDATE: More than 185,000 without power in Horry, Georgetown counties

More than 185,000 people are experiencing power outages in Horry and Georgetown counties, according to data from Santee Cooper and Horry Electric Cooperative.

Santee Cooper is saying Hurricane Matthew has delivered the biggest hit to its transmission and distribution system since Hurricane Hugo 27 years ago.

There were 185,409 people affected by power outages served by Santee Cooper and Horry County Electric Cooperative customers without power as of 6:30 p.m., according to data provided by the companies.

Santee Cooper spokeswoman Nicole Aiello said she didn’t have a count of downed power lines but warned people to stay safe and never touch a downed line.

“Roughly 15 hours after Hurricane Matthew took its first hit on Santee Cooper’s transmission system, transmission crews are beginning assessment of issues across the state. Helicopter flyovers of the transmission lines will happen as soon as winds die down,” according to a press release sent by Santee Cooper.

Santee Cooper said damage from Matthew has been exacerbated by already-saturated ground from September’s rain events.

As of 3 p.m., Santee Cooper’s distribution network has 30,661 customers without power across its retail territory of Horry, Georgetown and Berkeley counties.

“That number would have been much larger if we hadn’t kept crews out overnight and during the day whenever conditions allowed,” said Mike Poston, vice president of retail operations, through the press release. “We have restored power to about 19,400 customers since Hurricane Matthew arrived, and we will keep working around the clock until all our customers are restored.”

Aiello said earlier this afternoon that she didn’t know when power would be restored. She said their work crews can’t operate in winds over 35 mph.

“It’s going to depend on the storm itself, when it’s safe for our crews to be out there,” she said. “Crews can’t go out, and right now we have our crews in Myrtle Beach standing down. Once the wind goes through we can get our crews out there and assess the situation.”

Horry Electric reported thousands without power around noon.

Horry Electric Spokeswoman Penelope Hinson said she didn’t know how many power lines were down because conditions prevented workers from checking the lines.

Santee Cooper estiamted power would be restored to their customers by 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

To report a downed power line, call:

Santee Cooper: 888-769-7688

Horry Electric: 843-369-2212

The damage presents safety issues to residents and to line crews, especially concerning downed power lines and generators. Please remember:

▪ To ensure your safety and the safety of our line technicians, electric generators should be operated according to strict guidelines. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions completely. Never connect the portable generator to existing house wiring. Connect the generator directly to appliances. Operate generators outside; they emit harmful fumes and contain combustible fuel. Add fuel to the generator only when it is not running and has had time to sufficiently cool. Always properly ground the generator before operating. Refer to the owner's manual for specific instructions.

▪ Never touch, drive over or try to move a downed power line or anything the line is touching. The line could still be live even if it doesn't appear to be energized. Call Santee Cooper at 1-888-769-7688 to report downed power lines. Customers can also report power outages at that number or at www.santeecooper.com/stormcenter.

This story was originally published October 8, 2016 at 8:57 AM with the headline "UPDATE: More than 185,000 without power in Horry, Georgetown counties."