ALLENTOWN, Pa.---Here is the latest information from PP&L, Inc. about the restoration efforts following Hurricane Floyd:

-- PP&L continues its massive effort to restore service to customers following one of the most damaging storms in company history. As of 9 p.m. Friday (9/17), service had been restored to about 230,000 PP&L customers since the storm began.

-- Also as of 9 p.m. Friday, 56,000 PP&L customers were without power, down from 104,000 at daybreak today.

-- PP&L projects that most customers will be back in service by the end of the weekend. Some customers may not have power restored until Monday.

-- To help customers facing extended power outages, PP&L is providing free ice and dry ice at several locations throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania. The ice and dry ice will help people keep perishable foods from spoiling.

-- In total, more than 2,000 PP&L employees now are involved in the effort, about 400 are volunteers doing "cross-over" jobs beyond their regular work duties. Work will continue around the clock until every customer's power is restored.

-- Workers from other electric companies as far away as Canada have begun arriving to join the recovery effort.

-- On Saturday morning, 480 to 560 linemen and electrical workers will be working to restore service to PP&L customers. That includes all available PP&L line crews, contractors and crews from other electric companies.

-- PP&L continues to pursue opportunities to get additional help from other electric companies.

-- PP&L is using a helicopter to patrol power lines where damage is particularly severe. The helicopter was used in Northampton County Friday. The aerial report enabled PP&L to send in tree-trimming crews to prepare the area for linemen to rebuild the line. The helicopter is available for other big jobs in the storm cleanup.