Insights > Crews Continue Restoring Power After Harvey

Crews Continue Restoring Power After Harvey

By: Kacee Kirschvink • Manager, Entergy Arkansas Communications

08/30/2017

This afternoon, 64,801 Entergy Texas customers were without power, down from a peak this morning of over 80,000. Currently, there are 4,322 customers that are without power and are unable to be restored at this time due to high water. Entergy has restored 128,664 outages since Harvey began impacting our area on Friday. Our crews continue to safely restore power as quickly as possible.

Flooding is significantly impacting Entergy's ability to restore power to customers in some areas. Damage will be assessed as flood waters recede, and restoration will continue as it is safe to do so.

East Region

Beaumont

There are currently 12,734 customers out in Beaumont and the surrounding areas, down from a high of 15,100 this morning. Approximately 5,000 of those customers without power are currently inaccessible due to flooding. Although still hindered by water, workers have been able to assess damages in most areas and begin restoring customers.

Currently workers are making repairs near the Municipal Airport on Keith Road, the sewer plant on Lafin Road and other emergency services while addressing hazardous downed power lines.  Trees on power lines are the main cause of outages in the area as well as broken poles along Eastex Freeway.  South County areas of Fannett and La Belle as well as Bevil Oaks, Pinewood, Countrywood and Northwest Forest remain inaccessible due to flooding.

Dayton

There are currently 1,065 customers without power in the Dayton area. There are approximately 20 workers in the Dayton area working to restore power, with some workers currently displaced due to flooding. Restoration efforts are significantly slowed in many areas that are inaccessible due to high water, including the East side of Hwy 1409, Day Lake Rd subdivision and Huffman in the Lochshire addition. The Saratoga, Daisetta and Batson areas remain hard to access at this time due to floodwaters and trees and lines are down on Nichols Rd in Saratoga, according to customer reports.  There are Entergy workers actively pursuing alternate routes to access this area.

Approximately 50 customers were restored in the Indian Springs subdivision on Hwy 146 and one customer now remains in the subdivision without power. A transformer in Devers has been replaced and power restored.

The majority of outages are in the south Liberty area, off of Hwy 563 from Hankamer to Liberty, with 776 customers without power because of a transmission line that was knocked down. After the transmission line is restored, we'll still be unable to access this area due to flooding. We have a crew working in a boat to assess damage in flooded areas. However, scouting in south Liberty had to be put on hold when it became too dangerous to continue due to the rushing river. Five utility workers are working to restore power to all locations not restricted due to flooding.

Orange

The Orange area currently has 30,203 customers without power and is the most heavily impacted area in the Entergy Texas service territory. Flooding is preventing most scouting and restoration efforts at this time with many areas inaccessible due to high water. Workers have been able to restore 3 substations in West Orange, Winfree and Bridge City along with 5 main power lines this morning. There are an additional 51 Entergy workers committed to the Orange area who will arrive once safely able to travel from Lake Charles, Jasper and Woodville. More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

Port Arthur

There are currently 7,121 customers without power in the Port Arthur and Mid-County areas. Overnight damage to this area was extensive, and workers continue to deal with heavy rain while restoring power around the area. The Taylor Landing area is inaccessible due to water covering Hwy 73, and Sabine Pass is still not reachable due to high water. The Medical Center of Southeast Texas has power.

Scouts continue to assess the damage in the areas that are reachable. Workers have restored power to approximately 1,000 customers in the accessible areas of Port Arthur and Mid-County, but new outages continue to be identified. Restoration will continue in Port Arthur, Groves, Nederland, Port Neches and Port Acres, as soon as the areas are reachable and it is safe to do so. Additional crews will be arriving to the area once they can safely reach the affected areas.  

Silsbee, Woodville

Currently, there are 14,163 customers without power in the Silsbee, Kountze and Woodville areas with damage assessments approximately 30 percent complete. Outside workers are unable to get to most of these areas at this time due to flooded creeks and water across roads. Entergy workers are currently focusing efforts on restoring a damaged substation located on Hwy 418 in Silsbee.

Most outages in the Lumberton area have been restored while the majority of Kountze is without power and workers cannot access this area to restore at this time. In Woodville, assessments are 70 percent complete. There are 26 workers in the Wildwood, Village Mills and Spurger areas restoring power with additional crews en route. The city of Chester has 171 customers without power that we are unable to restore at this time, due to a large tree that has fallen on power lines in a fast-moving creek.   

Winnie

There are currently 4,821 customers without power in the Winnie area. Flooding is having an impact on restoration efforts with many areas inaccessible due to the high water, including Boondock, Cottonwood, Oilfield, County Road 1051, Big Hill, Craigen Road, Highway 124 and Brush Island. Workers are still restoring the damaged transmission line from Winnie to Anahuac and from Stowell to the Shilo substation. Once that power line is repaired, restoration work will then continue in Hamshire, Winnie, Anahuac, and the Bolivar area. Crews have restored 885 outages in the Winnie area, and full restoration will continue in all areas as soon as it is safe to do so.

West Region

Conroe

There are currently 460 customers without power in the Conroe, Willis, Montgomery and surrounding Lake Conroe areas. Assessment of the area is 100 percent complete, and all areas are accessible and are currently being worked on. Eighty-five percent of Conroe and surrounding areas are completely restored, with 90 percent set to be restored by the end of today (Wednesday, August 30). The 100 customers without power near FM 1097 and Big Oaks Drive will be restored by the end of today Wednesday, August 30. 

Cleveland

There are currently 2,571 customers without power in the Cleveland area, and 977 customers without power in the Splendora area. Floodwaters are beginning to recede, which is allowing more access to damaged areas, although high water continues to impede restoration efforts in the city of Plum Grove. There are approximately fifteen workers in North and Northwest Cleveland and in the Morgan Drive area working to repair damaged power lines and broken poles. Ten workers are currently working in the Splendora downtown area repairing damaged poles that fell overnight due to the severe weather conditions. 

Huntsville

The Huntsville area currently has 220 customers without power. There are 50 Entergy workers restoring power in Huntsville, mainly located at Huntsville State Park, Vick Springs Road and Club Lake. Carmona Creek and Ellis Prison Unit have been restored and power is expected to be restored to all customers in the Huntsville area who can safely take power by the end of today, Wednesday, August 30.

Navasota

Currently there are nine customers without power in the Navasota area, and assessment is 100 percent complete. Entergy currently has workers along Highway 90 near Singleton, Mumford, and Gause repairing power lines and broken poles.  Power is expected to be restored to all customers in the Navasota area who can safely take power by the end of today, Wednesday, August 30.

New Caney

There are 1,991 customers currently without power in the New Caney area. Power has been 100 percent restored to customers in the North Park and Tavola subdivisions. Roman Forrest is 90 percent restored, with the remaining 10 percent still inaccessible due to high water conditions. The Sorters subdivision is 80 percent restored and the remaining 20 percent of the area is still inaccessible due to high water conditions. The Peach Creek subdivision is 50 percent restored and Kings Colony is 80 percent restored. The Peach Creek and Kings Colony subdivisions are now accessible and workers are accessing damages in those area. Workers are working to restore power in the Wood Branch subdivision today.  Portions of FM1485 east still remain inaccessible due to high water conditions and road obstructions. Workers plan to reassess that area tomorrow, Thursday, August 31.

The Woodlands

There are 513 customers currently without power in The Woodlands and South Montgomery County Area. Many areas are still inaccessible due to flooding, including River Road and Forest Hills off 242 and I-45, as well as parts in The Woodlands south off Grogans Point, Trace Creek and Tanglebrush. There are around 80 customers without power in Grogans Point and potential outages in Woodloch, near Needham Rd, although flooding is preventing access to fully assess the damage.

Customers are without power around Torch Pine Ct, between Gosling and Tangle Brush due to flooding. Additional outages throughout Trace Creek subdivision, Yewleaf, Tallowberry Drive, Simon Lake Lane and West Trace Creek are due to submerged transformers, affecting approximately 114 customers. Customers are without power in South Conroe at I-45 and the River due to submerged poles.

Power was restored to 800 customers in Harpers Landing with approximately 104 customers still without power around Forest Hills due to flooding. Power was restored to 490 customers in Gleneagles, who experienced outages due to post storm equipment failure.  Power was also restored to 27 customers in Sleep Hollow, 177 customers in Oak Pass and 50 customers in the Trace Creek area, off Dara Beth Ct. Power was restored to 66 customers who lost power off Robinson Road, near Darby Loop and customers in Windsor Hills, north of 242.

Entergy has brought in 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:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Avoid using candles or other flammable devices to warm your home. 
• Imminent flooding or when it is occurring, or evacuation:
  • 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.
  • Do not run a generator in a confined space without adequate ventilation.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 so here is the best way to get information about outages in addition to the View Outage application:

1. Download our app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app or visit entergystormcenter.com to stay informed on our restoration progress.
2. Sign up for text alerts. From your cellphone, text REG to 368374 or visit entergytext.com.
3. Follow us on Twitter.com/EntergyTX or Facebook.com/EntergyTX.
4. Follow updates in your local news media, like radio, television and newspapers.

For more restoration, visit our Entergy Storm Center online.

Tags

Corporate  Texas  Storm Center  Hurricane Harvey 

Kacee Kirschvink

Manager, Entergy Arkansas Communications