Insights > Texas Restoration Update: 9/2/17, 10 a.m.

Texas Restoration Update: 9/2/17, 10 a.m.
By:

09/01/2017

Flooding is significantly impacting Entergy's ability to restore power to customers in some areas, and flooding is expected to continue for several days.  Several substations which distribute electric service to many customers, over large areas are experiencing outages due to flooding. Restoration of these locations is also being hampered as workers are unable to access these areas. Entergy workers will assess damage and begin restoration when flood waters recede and it is safe to do so.

At 10:00 am 53,595 Entergy Texas customers were without power.  Currently there are approximately 4,222 customers that are without power and are unable to be restored at this time due to high water.  Entergy has restored 231,600 outages since Harvey began impacting our area on Friday. Our workers continue to safely restore power as quickly as possible.

There are currently transmission line outages across the Entergy Texas service territory as well as 13 substations that are still under water, which is causing outages for several thousand customers.  The areas most impacted by these outages are Orange County and Hardin County.  Workers are repairing the damaged equipment and restoring these lines, which will restore power to large sections of customers.

East Region

Jefferson County

Beaumont

There are currently 7,941 customers without power in Beaumont and the surrounding areas, down from a high of 15,100 Tuesday morning.  Approximately half of those customers without power are still inaccessible due to flooding. 

Assessments continue today on the previously flooded Amelia substation, impacting customers along North Major Drive to Highway 105 and the Amelia area.  An estimated restoration time will be provided on this area as soon as it is available.  Additional workers are arriving today to assist in restoring scattered outages around the Beaumont area, including downtown.

As of this morning, 90 percent of damage assessments are complete in areas not impeded by flood waters.  Additional damage assessments will take place today in South County, La Belle and Fannett while assessments begin by boat in Bevil Oaks and Sour Lake.

Port Arthur, Mid-County

There are currently 1,537 customers without power in the Port Arthur and Mid-County areas. This is down from a high of over 6,800.  Approximately 734 of the remaining customers without power in this area are inaccessible due to flooding.  This includes all or portions of Sabine Pass, Parkway Village, the Saba Lane section of Port Neches and the Golf Course area along Jimmy Johnson Blvd.  Entergy workers continue to work smaller, isolated outages throughout the Port Arthur, Groves, Nederland, Port Neches and Port Acres areas that are not flooded.  Airboats fitted with specialized construction equipment are restoring power to areas that are not reachable by truck.

Last night workers were able to restore power to areas previously impeded by flood waters, including all or portions of Stonegate, Lake Arthur and the Port Arthur area of Memorial and 25th Street. These restorations, in addition to numerous isolated outages, resulted in restoration to nearly 1,000 customers. Scouts continue to assess damage in the previously inaccessible areas and workers will begin restoration as soon as it is safe to do so.

Liberty County

Dayton, Liberty

There are currently 965 customers without power in the Dayton area with flooding still preventing access to most of these customers. Today workers are restoring power in the Lochshire subdivision with additional workers  in route to assist.  Utility workers are in Hull restoring power on CR 2414 and vegetation workers are located on Hwy 563 clearing problem spots as the receding water permits.

Airboat damage assessments are taking place today on Hwy 563 and in South Liberty along Hwy 2684.  Additional workers are on the ground ready to restore service as water recedes and it is safe to work.

Orange County

Orange, Vidor, Bridge City

There are approximately 26,051 customers currently without power in the Orange County area. There are a total of 167 workers in the field in Orange, Vidor and surrounding areas with additional workers in route.  The most significant damage is to the transmission lines that feed the substations. Three substations remain out, impacting downtown, Old Town, Lamar and Front Street, 16th Street, as well as Little Cypress, Bridge City, West Orange, Mauriceville, McLewis and Winfree.

In the Vidor area, approximately 85 percent of customers remain without power after losing most of the transmission power lines serving the substations. Additional flooding has increased flood water depth from six feet to eight feet of water in some places.  Flooding not only prevents restoration, but floating debris is causing additional damage that must be repaired.

Workers are located in all substations making repairs and preparing equipment to allow for restoration once the transmission lines are energized, however, additional rising water is expected today in Orange, which will impede progress.

Large sections of customers will be restored as power returns to these substations.

Hardin County, Tyler County

Silsbee, Woodville, Lumberton

Currently there are 6,168 customers without power in Silsbee, Woodville and the surrounding areas.  Two substations are still out due to a transmission line down, but the substation on Highway 418 is now accessible and workers will be assessing damage and making repairs when it is safe to do so.

Woodville was 95 percent restored as of last night with the remaining five percent still without power due to a feeder line outage.  Once this feeder is restored, most customers without power in the city of Chester will be restored as well.

All areas in Lumberton not impeded by flood waters will be assessed today as workers are now able to gain access into the city.

Chambers County

Winnie, Anahuac

There are currently 10,134 customers without power in the Winnie area.  Customers in Fannett, Hamshire, Winnie, High Island and Crystal Beach are currently without power due to a transmission line outage that occurred around 6pm last night.  This outage is expected to be restored sometime today. 

Flooding is having an impact on restoration efforts with many areas still inaccessible due to the high water, including Craigen Rd, Labelle Rd, Boondocks Rd, Todd Rd and Wilber in the Big Hill. 

Power has been fully restored for customers who can take power in Anahuac, Hankamer, Wallisville, Smith Point and Double Bayou.  All customers who can safely take power will be restored today in the Winnie area. 

West Region

Conroe, The Woodlands, Huntsville, Navasota, New Caney, Cleveland

This morning workers are reassessing the isolated areas that were previously inaccessible due to high water and will restore power when it is safe to do so.  All other storm-related outages that are not impeded by flood waters have been repaired and all customers who can safely take power should now be restored.

Entergy has brought additional restoration workers to Texas. As with most restoration efforts, Entergy is focusing on restoring power to essential services first, and then the effort will focus on restoring service to areas where the greatest numbers can be restored fastest. This is how we approach things at this stage:

  • Essential services such as hospitals, nursing homes, fire and police departments, and water systems are at the head of the restoration list, along with our equipment that supplies electricity to large numbers of customers.
  • Then we will concentrate our resources on getting the greatest number of customers back the fastest.
  • We cannot use our bucket trucks until sustained winds are less than 30 mph, but we can still begin restoring service to customers by closing circuit breakers, rerouting power and other actions.

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, 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.
  • 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 home main electric panel.
  • Do not run a generator in a confined space without adequate ventilation.
  • Avoid using candles or other flammable devices to warm your home.
  • Try to stay off the roads. 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.

Imminent flooding or evacuation:

  • Before leaving, prepare your home by turning off your electricity at the main fuse or breaker and your water at the main valve. Also check for and secure objects that could cause damage if blown by high winds.
  • When power is restored, look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or notice the smell of hot insulation, turn off the electricity at either the main fuse box or circuit breaker. You may need a licensed electrician to assess your equipment and assure safety.
  • If it looks as though water may enter your home, it’s a good idea to open the main breaker in your electrical breaker box in order to cut off power.

After a flood:

Did the water level rise above your electrical outlets but stop below the electric meter?

If you are present when Entergy workers arrive:

  • We will advise you to turn off your main breaker and have repairs made. You will then need to turn your main breaker back on.
  • For your safety, we suggest a qualified electrician inspect electrical equipment inside of the facility or home, even if your city or parish does not require inspection. If the breaker is turned on before such inspections, you may cause personal injury or property damage. 

For customers with property damage:

  • If your property has any water damage, please turn off the electricity at either the main fuse box or circuit breaker.
  • Call a licensed electrician for advice when necessary.
  • Don’t step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker.
  • A licensed electrician may need to inspect your property’s electric wiring before we can restore power to a home or business that has water damage from rain or flood waters.

For customers without property damage:

  • Property owners without storm damage should still be cautious.
  • Look for electrical system damage after power is restored. If you see sparks, broken or frayed wires, or the smell of hot insulation is noticeable, turn off the electricity at either the main fuse box or circuit breaker.

We want to keep you informed and in control. Here is the best way to get information about outages in addition to the View Outage application:

Tags
Texas  Corporate  Hurricane Harvey  Storm Center 
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