Insights > Entergy Arkansas winter storm update – 2/2/23, 6 p.m.

Entergy Arkansas winter storm update – 2/2/23, 6 p.m.

By: Arkansas Editorial Team

02/02/2023

A lineman works to restore power in Pine Bluff.

The final line of severe winter weather and freezing rain produced ice of up to half an inch within areas in the southern region of the state, resulting in approximately 53,000 customer outages at peak today. Currently 42,000 customers are without power.

The state has been hit by multiple waves of winter storm activity since last week. Entergy Arkansas has safely restored approximately 53,000 customer outages since Monday.

Although we’re 50% assessed, we have identified 58 broken poles, 345 spans of downed wire, and 11 damaged transformers. Most outages are attributed to ice accumulating on trees and tree limbs, causing them to fall onto power lines. Half an inch of ice can increase the weight of a tree limb as much as 30 times, causing limbs to bend, snap or fall. In addition, the extra weight on power lines has caused them to stretch or fall onto roadways or other areas, making conditions dangerous for our workers and the public. View photos of trees on power lines and other damage here.

We have an estimated 2,800 workers engaged and responding to outages as quickly and safely as possible. This includes additional resources that have come to Arkansas from other states to assist with restoration efforts, including scouts, vegetation crews, electricians, track equipment and more.

We want to keep you informed. The best way to get information about outages is via Entergy’s View Outage page on our website.

Additional resources for your convenience:

• Download our app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app or visit Entergy Storm Center to stay informed on our restoration progress.
• Sign up for text alerts. From your cell phone, text R E G to 368374, or visit entergytext.com.
• Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @EntergyARK.
• Follow updates in your local news media, like radio, television, and newspapers.

Greatest Impacted Areas

(2-2-23; 6:00pm)

Warming Centers Open for Customers

(2-2-23; 6:00pm)

WINTER WEATHER RESTORATION PROCESS

We are deploying scouts to assess damage in all affected areas. It is on these assessments that we base our estimated restoration times. We will communicate these estimates with you, updating as new information becomes available. Our crews will simultaneously be restoring service where it is deemed safe to do so. We ask for your patience, and please know restoring your power safely and quickly is our top priority.

Please be aware the restoration process can be hampered by the surge of instantaneous electrical demand from appliances (heating units, water heaters, etc.) when service is restored to your location, potentially overloading protective devices on Entergy’s electrical system. To help mitigate this problem, Entergy encourages you to turn off any electrical heaters or electrical appliances that can easily be turned off until power is restored.

As with any weather event, please be mindful of the following safety tips:

• Live wires can be deadly. Stay away from downed power lines. Call 1-800-9OUTAGE or 1-800-968-8243 to report downed or dangling power lines, damaged or downed poles or other damaged equipment.
• Do not trim trees or remove debris on or near downed power lines. Only power company crews or their contractors should remove trees or limbs touching power lines. Again, stay away from downed power lines.
• Keep away from the immediate areas where crews are working. There is always the danger of moving equipment and the possibility of construction materials, limbs or overhead wires falling to the ground.
• If you plan on using a generator for temporary power, get a licensed electrician and disconnect from the utility electric system before hooking up to your main electric panel. 
• Do not run a generator in a confined space without adequate ventilation. Use them only outdoors, following all manufacturers’ safety guidelines.
• Turn off any electrical appliances that can easily be turned to the off position until power is restored.
• Check on seniors, who can be particularly susceptible to extreme temperatures.
• Try to stay off the roads in affected areas. More traffic in bad weather leads to more accidents, including more injuries and fatalities as well as accidents that can damage electrical poles and other equipment, creating outages and impeding the ability of crews to access and repair damage and slowing restoration.

Tags

Arkansas  Storm Center 

Arkansas Editorial Team