WARNER ROBINS, GA — Strong storms that swept through Warner Robins on Tuesday afternoon knocked down power lines and forced officials to close part of a major roadway corridor. Drivers faced delays as crews worked to clear the area and repair damage caused by the broken poles and live wires.

The city said part of Russell Parkway, from Wellborn Road to the Highway 247 on- and off-ramps, was shut down after the lines came down nearby. Flint Energies later reported that the outage affected 1,500 customers before repair work began restoring service.

City warns drivers to avoid Russell Parkway corridor

Warner Robins officials urged motorists to take another route and stay away from the affected stretch while utility crews handled the scene. The closure covered a busy connection between Russell Parkway and Highway 247, an area where traffic can back up quickly even when conditions are normal.

The warning came as crews continued to deal with the safety hazards created by downed lines. With live wire on the ground, traffic interruptions were paired with concerns about further damage and the need to keep people away from the roadway until the area could be secured.

Flint Energies reports 1,500 customers lost service

At about 2:15 p.m., Flint Energies said the storm had left 1,500 customers without electricity after several poles broke and fell, bringing spans of wire to the ground. The utility tied the outage to the afternoon weather that moved through the Warner Robins area.

The company’s first update showed the scale of the disruption before repairs were complete. Utility crews were working to isolate the problem and begin restoring service while the damaged equipment remained a concern for nearby roads and neighborhoods.

Most meters restored in later update

By around 3:19 p.m., Flint Energies said it had isolated the problem and restored power to about 1,490 meters. That left five meters still without service as repair work continued in the storm-affected area.

The update suggested that the outage had narrowed significantly within a little more than an hour. Even so, crews remained on scene to finish the repairs and address the last pockets of disruption tied to the downed poles and lines.

Storm damage left crews handling both repairs and traffic

The combination of damaged utility equipment and road closures made the response more complicated than a routine outage. Crews had to manage the safety risk from live wires while also dealing with traffic restrictions on one of the city’s key travel routes.

Officials did not immediately say how long the roadway shutdown would last, but they made clear that drivers should keep clear of the area until conditions improved. The scene remained active as utility workers continued repairs and the city worked to limit further delays.

What residents were told during the afternoon outage

For residents and drivers in the affected area, the immediate guidance was simple: avoid the corridor, expect delays, and be prepared for possible power interruptions. The closure and outage unfolded during the same storm event, leaving crews to restore service while also making the roadway safe again.

Flint Energies and city officials continued monitoring conditions as repairs moved forward. The utility’s later count of just five meters still without power showed how quickly the restoration effort progressed, even as the final work was still underway.