Insights > Entergy Arkansas Restoration Efforts for April 12 Thunderstorms

Entergy Arkansas Restoration Efforts for April 12 Thunderstorms

04/13/2020

This tree in Pine Bluff was no match for straight-line winds, and power lines were no match for the tree.
This tree in Pine Bluff was no match for straight-line winds, and power lines were no match for the tree.

April 13, 2020 Monday, 7:00 p.m.

A large line of severe thunderstorms with straight-line winds and tornados passed through Arkansas late Sunday evening April 12 causing more than 126,000 customer outages across the state. There are currently 45 distribution substations and 38 transmission lines out of service. The heaviest area of impact is south of Interstate I-40. Additional resources have been mobilized to assist with the restoration. Restoration may be slower than normal due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements. Repairs are underway, even as damage is being assessed. Estimated restoration times and area-specific details will be communicated when available as damage assessment continues

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.

We want to keep you informed and in control. The best way to get information about outages is via Entergy’s View Outage application on www.entergy.com:

Download our app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app or visit entergystormcenter.com to stay informed on our restoration progress.
Sign up for text alerts. From your cellphone, 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.

We at Entergy realize you have been greatly impacted during this difficult time.

Southeast Arkansas

Arkansas County

Stuttgart Area

The storm caused more than 6,500 outages in the Stuttgart area leaving 95% of the customers in the area without power. Damage assessment is underway and dozens of broken poles have been identified. We expect to have damage assessment completed by close of business Tuesday April 14, 2020. Our work plan for Monday evening into Tuesday morning includes restoring power to the hospital, police station, and the city waterworks.

Dewitt Area

The storm caused more than 1,600 outages in the Dewitt area, leaving 100% of the customers in the area without power. As of 6:00 pm on Monday April 13 about 1,575 customers in the area remain without power. Damage assessment is underway and dozens of broken poles have been identified. We expect to have damage assessment completed by close of business Tuesday April 14, 2020. Our work plan for Monday evening into Tuesday morning includes restoring power to the most critical customers. Once they have been restored, we will focus on major power lines and equipment that will restore power to the largest numbers of customers in the shortest time possible.

Ashley County

Hamburg, Crossett, Fountain Hill, Portland, Montrose, Parkdale, and Wilmot

As of 6:00 p.m. on April 13, there are 763 customers without power in the Crossett/Hamburg/Portland service area. Storm damage assessment is underway. Estimated restoration times are not currently available due to the extensive damage. We will update you with estimated restoration times as soon as possible.

Bradley County

Warren and Hermitage

As of 6:00 p.m. on April 13, there are 4,182 customers without power in the Warren and Hermitage service areas. Damage assessment is underway and is expected to be completed by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. Estimated restoration times are not currently available due to the extensive damage. We will update you with estimated restoration times as soon as possible.

Chicot County

Lake Village Area

As of 6:00 p.m. April 13, 2020, approximately 615 customers are without power in the Lake Village service area. A safe work plan is under way to restore power to the Lake Village substation in the Chicot County service territory as a result of downed power lines and 9 broken poles.

Cleveland

Rison

As of 6:00 p.m. on April 13, there are 1,342 customers are without power in the Rison service area. Damage assessment is underway and is expected to be completed by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. Estimated restoration times are not currently available due to the extensive damage. We will update you with estimated restoration times as soon as possible.

Dallas County

Fordyce and New Edinburg Areas

As of 6:00 p.m. on April 13, there are 3,297 customers are without power in the Fordyce/Kingsland/New Edinburg service areas. Damage assessment is underway and is expected to be completed by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. Estimated restoration times are not currently available due to the extensive damage. We will update you with estimated restoration times as soon as possible.

Desha County

Arkansas City Area

As of 6:00 p.m. April 13, 2020, approximately 320 customers are without power in the Arkansas City service area as a result of downed transmission structures. Many areas will require off road equipment to complete repairs. Updated restoration times will be provided once additional damage assessments have been completed.

Dumas Area

As of 6:00 p.m. April 13, 2020, approximately 1754 customers are without power in the Dumas service area as a result of downed transmission structures and 25 broken poles. Many areas will require off road equipment to complete repairs. Updated restoration times will be provided once additional damage assessments have been completed.

McGehee Area

As of 6:00 p.m. April 13, 2020, approximately 1361 customers are without power in the Arkansas City service area as a result of downed transmission structures. Many areas will require off road equipment to complete repairs. Updated restoration times will be provided once additional damage assessments have been completed.

Drew County

Monticello & Wilmar Area

As of 6:00 p.m. on April 13th, there are approximately 6,230 customers without power in the Monticello and Wilmar service areas. Damage assessment is underway and is expected to be completed by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. Crews have begun to repair the damage already identified. Your area’s damage includes: 7 broken poles, 21 spans of downed wire and over 30 additional equipment failures. As of Monday April 13, crews have worked to restore heavily damaged facilities in the North Gabbert Street area of Monticello. Estimated restoration times are not currently available due to the extensive damage. We will update you with estimated restoration times as soon as safely possible.

Jefferson County

Pine Bluff Area

As of 6:00 p.m. April 13, there are approximately 24,459 customers without power in the Pine Bluff area. Damage assessment continues and includes 21 broken poles, 31 spans of wire on the ground, 3 damaged transformers, and 27 damaged pieces of equipment so far.

South Arkansas

Columbia County

There are approximately 337 customers without power in the Magnolia area. Damage assessment is underway with 18 cases of equipment failure and 6 broken poles identified so far.

Approximately 265 customers are without power in the Stamps area. Damage assessment is underway with 17 cases of equipment failure identified so far. We expect to restore power to approximately 120 of customers in your area by 11:00 p.m. tonight, April 13th.

Ouachita County

There are approximately 6,869 customers without power in the Camden area. Damage assessment is underway with severe damage to our transmission structures, 21 cases of equipment failure, 4 broken poles and 9 spans of downed wire identified so far.

Approximately 354 customers are without power in the Chidester area. Damage assessment is underway with severe damage to three structures identified so far.

Approximately 2,922 customers are without power in the Stephens area. Damage assessment is underway with severe damage to our transmission structures, 12 broken poles and 24 spans of downed wire identified so far.

Union County

There are approximately 2,133 customers without power in the El Dorado area. Damage assessment is underway with 10 broken poles and 32 spans of downed wire identified so far.

Approximately 1,829 customers are without power in the Norphlet/Smackover area. Damage assessment is underway with 24 cases of equipment failure identified so far.

Southwest Arkansas

Clark County

Arkadelphia & Gurdon Area

A line of severe thunderstorms with strong straight-line winds caused extensive damage to our facilities in the Arkadelphia/Gurdon area on Sunday, April 12, 2020. There are approximately 5,326 customers without power in the Arkadelphia area and 4,446 in the Gurdon Area. We expect to complete a full damage assessment by Tuesday evening, April 14th. Entergy workers are in your area working to restore 8 broken poles, 28 spans of downed wire, 6 additional equipment failures and to clear over 100 trees from our equipment.

Garland County / Montgomery County

Hot Springs Area

Damage assessment and line crew resources arrived today and have begun the process of assessing and restoring services. Additional resources will be onsite tomorrow with the expectation of completing 80% total damage assessment.

Local and external line resources focused today on repairs with the potential to impact the largest number of customers. Crews focused on repairs impacting South Hot Springs along Malvern Avenue South of Cones Road, the Pearcy area as well as the Amity Road and Marion Road areas. Additional line crews will be available tomorrow to continue work in these areas as well as other impacted areas.

5,628 customers remain without power in the Garland and Montgomery County areas down form just over 6,600 as of 7am this morning.

Hot Spring County

Malvern Area

A line of severe thunderstorms with strong straight-line winds caused extensive damage to our facilities in the Malvern area on Sunday, April 12, 2020. There are approximately 9,609 customers without power in the Malvern area. We expect to complete a full damage assessment by Tuesday evening, April 14th. Entergy workers are in your area working to restore 45 broken poles, 130 spans of downed wire, and 6 additional equipment failures; as well as, clearing over 100 trees from our equipment.

East Arkansas

Phillips County

Helena & West Helena Area

The thunderstorms caused more than 4,800 outages in the Helena area, leaving approximately 80% of the Entergy customers in the area without power. As of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13 about 4550 customers in the area remain without power. Damage assessment is underway and restoration work will need to be performed on nearly every street in Helena. Dozens of broken poles have been identified, and additional damage assessment workers are traveling to the area to assist. A full damage assessment is expected to take several days. Our work plan for Monday evening into Tuesday morning includes restoring power to the hospital, police station, and the city waterworks.

Lake View, Oneida, Wabash, Elaine, Mellwood, & Crumrod Areas

The thunderstorms caused more than 1,800 outages in southern Phillips county, leaving approximately 70% of the Entergy customers in the area without power. As of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13 about 1450 customers in the area remain without power. Damage assessment is underway and dozens of broken poles have been identified, and additional damage assessment workers are traveling to the area to assist. A full damage assessment is expected to take several days.

Northwest Arkansas

We at Entergy realize you have been greatly impacted during this difficult time. A line of severe thunderstorms with strong straight-line winds caused extensive damage to our facilities in your area on Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Conway County

Morrilton Area

As of 6:00 p.m. April 13, there are approximately 1,500 customers without power in the Morrilton area. Damage assessment is 85% complete, and includes 10 broken poles, 18 spans of wire on the ground, and 8 damaged pieces of equipment remaining. Crews are continuing to restore power in the area and most customers should have electric service restored by 10:00 p.m. Monday, April 13. Customers in areas with the heaviest damage should anticipate restoration on Tuesday, April 14.

North Arkansas

Stone County

Mountain View Area

As of 6:00 p.m. April 13, there are approximately 347 customers without power in the Mountain View area. Damage assessment is 100% complete, and includes 3 broken poles, 5 spans of wire on the ground, and 5 damaged pieces of equipment remaining. Crews are continuing to restore power in the area, and all customers are expected to have electric service restored by 8:00 p.m. Monday, April 13.

 


David Lewis
Senior Communications Specialist