Insights > Texas Restoration Update: 9/3/17, 10 a.m.

Texas Restoration Update: 9/3/17, 10 a.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 10 a.m. 30,507 Entergy Texas customers were without power.  Our workers continue to safely restore power as quickly as possible.

East Region

Jefferson County

Beaumont

There are currently 7,240 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.   

Finalizing a plan to address the formerly flooded Amelia substation is underway.  Customers impacted by this substation outage will receive an estimated restoration time today, including those along North Major Drive to Highway 105, Delaware St. to Barrington Heights, parts of Folsom Dr. and the Amelia area.       

Finalizing a plan to address flooded Bevil substation is underway.  Customers impacted by this substation outage will receive an estimated restoration time today, including those in the areas north and west of the intersection of Hwy 105 and Major Drive.

All customers in the Beaumont area that can safely take power and are not impacted by the Amelia substation or Bevil substation outages will be restored by the end of today.

Air boats and additional resources brought in today will help workers reach areas today that were currently inaccessible.  Workers will be assessing the Hwy 105 west corridor today and continue to work outages scattered throughout the area.  Areas such as the south county areas of Fannett and La Belle as well as Bevil Oaks, Pinewood, Countrywood and Northwest Forest will continue to be assessed.

Port Arthur, Mid-County

There are currently 1,285 customers without power in the Port Arthur and Mid-County areas.  476 of the remaining customers without power are inaccessible due to flooding, mainly in Sabine Pass.  Parkway Village and the Golf Course area along Jimmy Johnson Blvd. are now accessible and workers are in those areas assessing damage today.

Entergy workers are currently working in areas that have recently become accessible including the Stonegate area of Port Arthur. They also continue to work smaller, isolated outages throughout the Port Arthur, Groves, Nederland, Port Neches and Port Acres areas that are not flooded.  There are over 100 workers assisting in the restoration of this area. Airboats fitted with specialized construction equipment are restoring power to areas that are not reachable by truck.

Yesterday evening, workers were able to restore power to 81 customers in the Port Arthur area of 9th Ave and 60th St. who were previously impeded by flood waters.

All customers not impacted by flooding and that can safely take power should be restored by the end of today. 

Liberty County

Dayton, Liberty

There are currently 860 customers without power in the Dayton area, and all but 7 customers are out due to flooding. Scouting of remaining flooded areas late Saturday showed the water is still too deep to access.

Saturday evening workers were dispatched in an airboat down FM 2684 to remove a tree from power lines and all customers who were where able to receive power on Ross St. were restored.

This morning workers will be going to the Magnolia Ames substation via airboat 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.

Today a crew will continue work in the Lockshire edition to restore power to any additional customers that are able to receive power.  Workers continue to patrol Hwy 563 by airboat while vegetation workers clear and correct problem spots as the receding water permits in that area.  More vegetation and utility workers will be making repairs to lines in the Dayton area and in the Hardin Batson Saratoga Devers and Liberty areas.  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 18,952 customers without power in the Orange County area, which is down from 25,015 yesterday.  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. 

Progress was made last night in the restoration of damaged transmission lines and substations. Power was restored to 4,611 customers in Orange including the Front Street and 16th Street areas and approximately 700 customers in Vidor. 

In the Vidor area, the Lakeview subdivision is still inaccessible due to flooding. Most of the remaining customers in Vidor who are out are due to substation flooding. Customers impacted by the substation outages will receive an estimated restoration time today. 

Transmission lines in the Orange area should be restored today, making it possible to energize the remaining substation, restoring power to customers who are able to receive it. 

Today there are a total of 300 workers in Orange, Vidor and surrounding areas, including utility workers, scouts, tree trimmers and support workers.  100 percent of damage assessments will be complete today. 

Hardin County, Tyler County

Silsbee, Woodville, Lumberton

Currently there are 1,858 customers without power in Silsbee, Lumberton and the surrounding areas. 

Last night two substations in Silsbee were repaired and equipment is arriving to address the third substation outage along Highway 418.  Customers impacted by this substation outage will receive an estimated restoration time today, including those in north and east Silsbee along Hwy 418 and Hwy 92 north.  

Today workers are assessing damage as waters recede.  All outages in Lumberton and Woodville not impeded by flood waters are being restored as they are reported.

Chambers County

Winnie, Anahuac

There are 92 customers without power in the Winnie area.  Power has been fully restored for all customers who can safely take power in Winnie, Anahuac, Hankamer, Wallisville, Smith Point, Double Bayou, High Island and Crystal Beach.

Some areas are still inaccessible due to high water, including Labelle Rd, Boondocks Rd, Todd Rd and Wilber to Big Hill.  Power will be restored to these customers once water recedes and it is safe to do so.  Today workers continue to patrol for any unknown damage. 

West Region

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

All storm-related outages not impacted by flooding 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
Texas  Corporate  Hurricane Harvey  Storm Center 
Texas Editorial Team
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