The power outages are impacting residential, commercial, and critical infrastructure across North Carolina. Rural areas with dispersed homes and farms are particularly vulnerable, as damage to a single line can affect multiple properties. Urban areas like Charlotte and Raleigh are also experiencing outages due to damage to major feeders and substations. Risks include food spoilage, disruption to medical devices, and potential hazards from downed power lines and flooded electrical equipment (Anker, 2026).