Insights > Entergy Arkansas Outages Under 10,000

Entergy Arkansas Outages Under 10,000

08/29/2020

Summer sun and pop-up thunderstorms were among Saturday's challenges, but we made much progress.
Summer sun and pop-up thunderstorms were among Saturday's challenges, but we made much progress.

Hurricane Laura entered the Entergy Arkansas service area Thursday morning with heavy rains and tropical storm winds ranging from 40-50 mph and wind gusts up to 65 mph.  The storm system exited our service territory early Friday afternoon.  As of 5 p.m., power has been restored to over 70% of the customers who lost power as a result of the storm and 13,000 customers remain without power.  The southern part of the state experienced the most significant damage, including downed trees, power lines, damage to high voltage structures and utility poles.  Damage assessments have identified a total of 217 broken poles, 260 damaged pieces of equipment and over 482 spans of downed wire across the state still needing to be repaired.  We continue to monitor the weather.  Isolated thunderstorms have caused additional outages across the north and central part of the state, which may continue into the night and into Sunday across the entire state. Additional crews and resources have been assigned to the heaviest hit areas to restore outages as quickly and safely as possible; however, given the severity of the storm and the potential for additional thunderstorms, some outages could take longer to restore.

Should you have structural damages and/or damages to your electrical service connection equipment please ensure all repairs and any required inspections are completed as soon as possible to avoid any further service delays.

More than 1,200 employees and contractors are supporting restoration efforts. Entergy Arkansas is practicing social distancing measures necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For specific information out your particular outage, check our outage map at http://www.entergy.com/viewoutages. Due to the additional safety measures our crews must take, restoration may take longer, especially where there are widespread outages. For storm tips and updates visit www.entergy.com/stormcenter.

STORM RESTORATION PROCESS

Following the tropical storm impact, we deploy scouts to assess damage. As damages are assessed, we will communicate with you the conditions found along with an estimated restoration time and our progress toward restoring your power. We can begin restoring service to customers by closing circuit breakers, rerouting power and other means. As we continue to assess damages, we are 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.

Central Arkansas

Pulaski County

Little Rock Areas West of I-430

As of 4 p.m., less than 100 customers remained without power in the West Markham service area.  Additional outages were caused as a result of the brief and abrupt storm that swept in the area around that time. As of 5 p.m., approximately 560 customers are currently without power. We expect to have all customers restored by 10 p.m. tonight. Some isolated customers may carry over into Sunday.

Little Rock Areas South of I-630

As of 5 p.m., there are approximately 529 customers without power, down from a peak of 4,000 from when the storm first impacted our area two days ago. Our goal today is to get all customers restored that can safely take power by the end of the day in the affected area. 

Scouting efforts continue in the Baseline network with 12 scouts assigned to cover the affected areas. Nearly three dozen employees and contractors are assigned to cover the affected areas. An additional 60 workers will be in the area tomorrow morning to assist with restoration efforts.

Damage assessments are 94% complete and currently include 16 broken poles, 15 spans of downed wire, 2 transformers and 8 other pieces of damaged equipment remaining to be restored.

As of 5 p.m., we will continue our efforts to restore power to the remaining customers in the Little Rock Port/LR Industrial area, the Mabelvale area, the Rock Creek area, the Little Rock Chico area, and 23rd & Spring area of Little Rock. Most of the outages are related to residential customers with some commercial customers also being affected.

We will continue to target all areas remaining south of I-630. Taking account of the short inclement weather experienced around 4 p.m., we estimate half of current outage customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. tonight, with any remaining customers to be restored tomorrow.

South Arkansas

Ouachita County

As of 5 p.m., there are approximately 896 customers without power in the Camden area, down from a peak of 2,970 with 70% restored.  Damage assessment is over 90% complete, currently identifying several broken poles, 4 crossarms, and 10 spans of wire down needing repair.  Over 120 additional personnel have been assigned to Union and Ouachita Counties to assist in restoration efforts.

Crews will be working in the Apple Avenue, California Avenue, and Chidester Road areas tonight.  We expect most customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. Sunday.

Southwest Arkansas

 

Columbia County

Approximately 92 percent of the customers in Columbia county who lost power as a result of the tropical storm that came through the area Thursday have been restored.  As of 5 p.m., approximately 964 customers remain without power in the Magnolia area which includes Stamps. Crews are working at Columbia County Road near Columbia 402, Columbia 64 near Columbia 73, State Highway 98 and Columbia 85, State Highway 19 and Columbia 3 and the Hazel Circle area. Crews will continue to work on isolated cases through the weekend restoring power to individual customers. All customers that can receive power should be restored by 10 p.m., Sunday.

Union County

El Dorado

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, there are approximately 4,450 customers without power in the El Dorado area which includes Junction City, Strong and Huttig.  Junction city has just over 200 customers remaining out, down from 700 with over 70% restored. Over 65 broken poles and crossarms have been identified at this time and over 64 spans of downed wire, as damage assessments are 70% complete.  Over 700 workers are in the Union and Ouachita county areas assisting in restoration efforts.

Crews continue to work in the Junction City area on Saturday; as well as, in El Dorado along Highway 82, Mt. Holly area, Tanglewood Drive, 19th Street A156, and Highway 275 North (Strong) areas.   Some of these areas will be returned to service by 10 p.m. Saturday. Others may carry over into Sunday.  We expect most customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. Sunday.

Norphlet/Smackover

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, there are approximately 896 customers without power, mainly in the Smackover area, with over 70% customers restored.  Damage assessments are over 90% complete, including transmission assessments. 

Crews are working in the City of Louann and expect most customers there to be restored tonight by 10 p.m.  Crews are also working in the Smackover area specifically around Highway 7, Myrtle Road, and old Camden Road.  Some will be restored tonight, but other could carry over into Sunday. We expect most of the remaining customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. Sunday.

Southeast Arkansas

Ashley County

Hamburg and Crossett

As of 5 p.m. on our second day of restoration we have restored service to nearly 70% of customers affected in this area by Hurricane Laura. Currently there are 1534 customers remaining without power in the Crossett/Hamburg service area. Damage assessment is completed with 7 broken poles, 6 pieces of damaged equipment, 21 spans of downed wire, and 42 total locations with damage.  Several line crews and support personnel are working diligently in multiple areas in and around Crossett to restore power.  Estimated restoration times may vary case by case, however we expect all customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. Sunday.

Bradley County

Warren and Hermitage

As of 5 p.m. on our second day of restoration we have restored service to 65% of customers affected in this area by Hurricane Laura. Currently there are 293 customers remaining without power in the Warren/Hermitage service area. Seventeen locations with storm damage remain to be repaired.  Several line crews and support personnel are working diligently in multiple areas in and around the Warren and Hermitage area to restore power.  Estimated restoration times may vary case by case, however we expect all customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. Sunday.

Dallas County

Fordyce and New Edinburg Areas

As of 5 p.m. on our second day of restoration we have restored service to 75% of customers affected in this area by Hurricane Laura. Currently there are 191 customers remaining without power in the Warren/Hermitage service area. Eight locations with storm damage remain to be repaired.  Multiple line crews and support personnel are working diligently in multiple areas in and around the Fordyce and New Edinburg area to restore power.  Estimated restoration times may vary case by case, however we expect all customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. Sunday.

Desha County

Dumas & McGehee Area

As of 5 p.m. on our second day of restoration we have restored service to 75% of customers affected in this area by Hurricane Laura. Currently there are 292 customers remaining without power in the Dumas and McGehee service area. Twenty-six locations with storm damage remain to be repaired.  Multiple line crews and support personnel are working diligently in multiple areas in and around the Dumas and McGehee service area to restore power. Estimated restoration times may vary case by case, however we expect all customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. tonight.

Drew County

Monticello & Wilmar Area

As of 5 p.m. on our second day of restoration we have restored service to 70% of customers affected in this area by Hurricane Laura. Currently there are 317 customers remaining without power in the Monticello and Wilmar service area. 36 locations with storm damage remain to be repaired.  Multiple line crews and support personnel are working diligently in multiple areas in and around the Monticello and Wilmar area to restore power. Estimated restoration times may vary case by case, however we expect all customers who can safely receive power to be restored by 10 p.m. Sunday.

  

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 or 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.
  • 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.

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 entergytext.com.
  • Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @ EntergyARK.
  • Follow updates in your local news media, like radio, television and newspapers.

 

 


Arkansas Editorial Team