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Why we don’t bury our power lines underground

The effects of Hurricane Florence include downed power lines, which left the Carolinas and Virginia without power.

Floodwaters from Hurricane Florence surround a playground on September 17, 2018 in Conway, South Carolina. Many rivers in the Carolinas are approaching record flood stages and their levels will continue to rise through the week. 
Floodwaters from Hurricane Florence surround a playground on September 17, 2018 in Conway, South Carolina. Many rivers in the Carolinas are approaching record flood stages and their levels will continue to rise through the week. 
Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Hurricane Florence has brought severe power outages to the Carolinas and Virginia, affecting hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. We saw the same in Florida and Puerto Rico during last year’s hurricane season. It’s the result of downed power lines. One solution? Bury the power lines away from wind and trees instead. But that may be easier said — and cheaper — than done.

Click on the audio player above to hear more. 

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