Search
Insights > Entergy Arkansas winter storm update – 2/26/22, 5 p.m.
Entergy Arkansas winter storm update – 2/26/22, 5 p.m.
02/26/2022
The winter storms coupled with severe weather this week produced widespread damage, causing more than approximately 30,087 customer outages at peak. As of 5 p.m., statewide outages have been reduced to approximately 6,420 customers.
We are engaged in restoration efforts with 2,100 restoration workers across affected areas, and we are responding to outages as quickly and safely as possible. The Russellville area is expected to be restored by the end of the day, with the heaviest affected customers – including those in the Stuttgart area – to be restored by the end of day tomorrow. Damage assessments across Monroe, Cross, and St. Francis counties are 95% completed, and we have counted 171 broken poles, 269 spans of downed wire, 49 transformers, 79 crossarms and 59 tree trimming spans needing repair.
All customers who can safely take power are expected to be restored by the end of the day February 27, however Mississippi County damage assessments have resulted in additional work, and we expect to have all customers in this area who are able to safely take power to be restored by 10 p.m. Monday.
If you are still without power, check for damage to the electrical equipment attached to your home or business. If the service line to your home or business has been damaged by this storm, you may have damage to your meter base. If it is damaged, you will need to have an electrician make repairs before Entergy Arkansas can safely reconnect service. Once repairs are made, call 1-800-ENTERGY for a reconnection.
We continue to ask for your patience, and please know that safely restoring your power is our top priority. We appreciate and thank you for being a valued Entergy Arkansas customer.
Northeast Arkansas
Cross County
Cherry Valley, Hickory Ridge, Vanndale, and Wynne
Currently 94% of customers have been restored, leaving 300 customers without power in Cross County area. Crews continue to work on isolated cases restoring power to individual customers. A total of 465 restoration workers including Entergy and contract crews will be concentrating on the affected areas today. We expect to restore power to 90% of customers who can safely take power tomorrow by 10 p.m. We are continuing to work to access areas that require off-road equipment which could take more time to restore.
Mississippi County
Bassett, Joiner, and Wilson
Currently 96% of customers have been restored, leaving 610 customers without power in Mississippi County area. Crews continue to work on isolated cases restoring power to individual customers. A total of 100 restoration workers including Entergy and contract crews continue to work throughout the affected areas, with more workers arriving tomorrow. Damage assessments are 96% completed, and we have counted 27 broken poles, 55 spans of downed wire, 2 transformers and 32 crossarms needing repair. The Wilson area has substantial damage that could take longer to repair however we are expecting to restore power to most customers Monday by 10 p.m.
Monroe County
Brinkley and Cotton Plant
Currently 790 customers remain without power in Brinkley and Cotton Plant area. Crews continue to work on isolated cases restoring power to individual customers. A total of 465 restoration workers including Entergy and contract crews will be working throughout the affected areas. We expect to restore power to 90% of customers who can safely take power tomorrow by 10 p.m. We will continue to work to access and repair the harder hit areas, some of which require special equipment including trailers, boats, and ATVs, which could take until Monday at 10 p.m. to restore.
St. Francis County
Forrest City
Currently 1,719 customers remain without power in the Forrest City area. Crews continue to assess and repair isolated cases restoring power to individual customers. A total of 465 restoration workers including Entergy and contract crews will be concentrating in the affected areas. Damage assessments are 90% completed, and we have counted 171 broken poles, 269 spans of downed wire, 49 transformers, 79 crossarms and 59 tree trimming spans needing repair. We expect to restore power to 90% of customers who can safely take power tomorrow by 10 p.m.
East & Southeast Arkansas
Arkansas County Area
Lonoke, Carlisle, Hazen, and England
As of 5 p.m., approximately 840 customers remain without power across the locations listed above. With 95% of the area scouted, we still have 64 poles down and 275 spans of wire down. A span of wire is the wire between two utility poles. With the extent of the damage and navigating off road, damaged equipment with limited access can make the restoration progress take longer than normal. Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to get power restored to all remaining customers that can safely take power. As of now all customers who can receive power will be restored by noon tomorrow.
Crittenden County
Marion
The winter weather storm that came through the Marion service area the past two days left over 8,000 customers without power at its peak. As of 5 p.m., 1,381 customers remain without power. Damage assessments are winding down as more customers are being restored, with over 1,200 customers having been energized today. As of 5 p.m. we have identified 149 damaged poles, 143 cross arms needing replacement, 391 spans of damaged wire, 22 damaged transformers, 33 spans of tree trimming needed and 11 services needing re-connections. Entergy has deployed 275 workers to the Marion network today and additional resources will be deployed as needed. We plan to continue our work this afternoon and evening in Marion, Crawfordsville, Earle, Turrell, Gilmore, Parkin, and Clarksdale areas. We anticipate power restoration to 90% of our customers who can take power to be restored by 10 p.m. tomorrow evening.
For additional inclement weather tips and storm updates, visit entergy.com/stormcenter.
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, have 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.
- Unplug or turn off any electrical appliances that can easily be turned to the off position until power is restored.
- Check on elderly individuals, 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.
We want to keep you informed and in control. 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 entertgytext.com.
- Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @EntergyARK.
- Follow updates in your local news media, like radio, television and newspapers.
