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Insights > Elevating our approach to expediting power restoration following severe storms
Elevating our approach to expediting power restoration following severe storms
04/23/2025
New Entergy helicopter’s patrol flight a success
Entergy’s team deployed a new Entergy-owned helicopter for its inaugural patrol flights to help restore power to thousands of customers in the wake of severe storms that swept through the Gulf Coast region on March 15 and the more recent spring storms in Arkansas earlier this month.
The new helicopter takes the place of contracted helicopters Entergy has utilized to survey damage in impacted areas, providing real-time information to Entergy crews making crucial repairs to damaged transmission lines. The helicopter patrols expedited the restoration process for nearly 15,000 customers impacted by the severe weather in March. During the April storms in Arkansas that left approximately 71,300 customers without power, the helicopter was used for damage assessments to again expedite the restoration process.
The Entergy helicopter is equipped with advanced safety and flight technologies to assist our patrol and damage assessment flight profiles from the air.
Storm impact and immediate response
The March storms, which brought heavy rain, high winds and tornadoes, caused damage across different parts of Entergy’s service territory, particularly in Mississippi. According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts reached up to 70 miles per hour, uprooting trees and downing power lines. As a result, Entergy reported approximately 30,000 customers across its four-state service area experienced power outages at the peak of the storm.
The April storms, which brought heavy rain, straight-line winds and flooding, caused damage across different parts of Entergy’s service territory, particularly in Arkansas. According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts reached up to 60 miles per hour, damaging transmission and distribution infrastructure in areas that included neighborhoods, business districts, fields, waterways and mountainous and remote areas. As a result, Entergy reported approximately 100,000 customers across its Arkansas service area experienced power outages at the peak of the storm.
Helicopter expedites restoration efforts
Within four days of the March spring storms, power was restored to all customers affected by the weather who could safely receive power. During the April storms, the Entergy Arkansas service area sustained five rounds of severe weather and we were able to restore power to all customers who could safely receive it within five days.
While the challenges of severe weather continue to pose a significant threat to the Gulf Coast region and the company’s electrical system, modern solutions like flight patrols are enabling crews to better prepare for storms and improve restoration practices, while also optimizing our approach to storm response and even vegetation management.
“Our commitment to restoring power to our customers and communities quickly, reliably and safely following severe weather events is strong," said Charles Long, Entergy senior vice president, power delivery. "We’re excited about the successful debut of our new helicopter."
Aerial inspections and response: A game changer
During the recent storms, Entergy's helicopter crew was able to quickly survey large areas, pinpointing trouble spots that required immediate attention.
"Patrols by helicopters provide unparalleled access to remote and hard-to-reach areas along our transmission infrastructure," said Ned Biehl, Entergy director of aviation. "Helicopters allow more comprehensive inspections, maintenance and vegetation management, ultimately supporting enhanced reliability and resilience for our grid."
As Entergy continues restoration efforts following severe storms, the deployment of helicopters for aerial inspections marks a significant advancement in the company’s response strategies. The dependability and versatility of helicopters help maximize efficiency, safety and responsiveness across our operations.
