Insights > Texas Restoration Update: 9/2/17, 5 p.m.

Texas Restoration Update: 9/2/17, 5 p.m.
By: Texas Editorial Team

09/02/2017

There are currently transmission line outages across the Entergy Texas service territory as well as substations that are still under water, which is causing outages for several thousand customers.  As floodwaters recede and large transmission lines are repaired, estimated times of restoration will become clearer. Please know that we are working as quickly as possible to restore power in areas we can access.  By end of day Sunday, September 3rd, we will provide an update on how long it will take to restore your power.

At 5:00 pm 49,299 Entergy Texas customers were without power.  Entergy has restored over 231,000 outages since Harvey began impacting our area on Friday. Our workers continue to safely restore power as quickly as possible.

East Region

Jefferson County

Beaumont

There are currently 7,412 customers without power in Beaumont and the surrounding areas.  Nearly half of those customers without power are still inaccessible due to flooding.  Workers continue to restore power to customers throughout the area today as well as assisting Beaumont Water Works. Downtown Beaumont is now fully restored. Additional workers continue to arrive to help restore the Beaumont area.  

Determining a plan to address the flooded Amelia substation is underway.  Customers impacted by this substation outage are those along North Major Drive to Highway 105, Delaware St. to Barrington Heights, parts of Folsom Dr. and the Amelia area. An estimated restoration time will be provided on this area as soon as it is available. 

Workers today are assessing Bevil substation, which remains under water.  This substation outage impacts customer located in the areas north and west of the intersection of Hwy 105 and Major Drive. An update will be provided as soon as possible.

All damage assessments are complete in areas not impeded by flood waters.  Additional damage assessments are taking place today in South County, La Belle and Fannett while assessments began by boat in Bevil Oaks and Sour Lake.  

Port Arthur, Mid-County

There are currently 1,482 customers without power in the Port Arthur and Mid-County areas.  496 of the remaining customers without power are inaccessible due to flooding.  This includes all or portions of Sabine Pass, Parkway Village, the Port Arthur area at 9th Ave and 60th St. and the Golf Course area along Jimmy Johnson Blvd. 

Entergy workers are currently working in areas that have recently become accessible. They 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.

This morning workers were able to restore power to the Saba Lane area of Port Neches, which had previously been inaccessible due to high water.

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 869 customers without power in the Dayton area with flooding still preventing access to most of these customers. Scouting of remaining flooded areas show the water is still too deep to access.

Power was restored today to 90 customers, including all customers in the Lochshire subdivision who were able to safely receive power.  All customers in Hull have been restored. 

Airboat damage assessments were completed today on Hwy 563 and in South Liberty along FM 2684. Workers have been dispatched in an airboat down FM 2684 to remove a tree from power lines and restore power to Ross St. this evening.

Tomorrow morning workers will take an airboat to the Magnolia Ames substation to test equipment. If no issues are discovered, workers will restore power to all customers who can safely receive it in the south Liberty area off of Hwy 563 from Hankamer to Liberty.

Vegetation workers are located on Hwy 563 clearing problem spots as the receding water permits. 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 currently 25,015 customers without power in the Orange County area.  The most significant damage is to the transmission lines that feed the substations in addition to broken poles, damaged transformers, trees on power lines and power lines down. 

Three substations remain out in Orange, impacting downtown, Old Town, Lamar and Front Street, 16th Street, as well as Little Cypress, Bridge City, West Orange, Mauriceville, McLewis and Winfree.  Large sections of these customers will be restored as power returns to the substations, and 7,000 of these customers may be restored by tonight.

In the Vidor area, approximately 85 percent of customers remain without power after losing most of the transmission power lines serving the substations in the area. Additional flooding has increased 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. The Lakeview subdivision is inaccessible due to flooding.

There are a total of 167 workers in the field in Orange, Vidor and surrounding areas with additional workers in route.  Workers are located in all substations making repairs and preparing equipment to allow for restoration once the transmission lines are energized. Additional utility workers and vegetation workers are working in multiple areas repairing damaged equipment. 

Hardin County, Tyler County

Silsbee, Woodville, Lumberton

Currently there are 5,302 customers without power in Silsbee, Lumberton and the surrounding areas.  Two substations in Silsbee are still out due to a transmission line down, but transmission equipment is expected to arrive tonight. Additional equipment is on its way to help address the outage along Highway 418. 

The previously damaged feeder line serving Chester and parts of Woodville has been restored so most customers in those areas should now have power. 

All damaged poles have been replaced in Lumberton and all reported outages have been completed, but more outages are being reported. All outages in accessible areas not impeded by flood waters are being restored as they are reported.   

Chambers County

Winnie, Anahuac

There are 8,888 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 tonight. 

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

Today 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:

Click here to view our gallery of storm damage and restoration photos.

Tags
Corporate  Texas  Storm Center  Hurricane Harvey 
Texas Editorial Team
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