News Release > Entergy Prepares to Go Another Round with Ol' Man Winter

Entergy Prepares to Go Another Round with Ol' Man Winter

03/03/2015

Company brings in 500 additional workers to respond to latest winter storm

JACKSON, Miss. – The third winter storm in as many weeks has Entergy Mississippi, Inc. crews standing by again, ready to take action should tonight’s forecasted winter storm cause damage to the electrical system.

Forecasts call for up to 1/2-inch accumulation of ice from Tunica down to north of Cleveland, and up to ¼-inch of ice from Greenville over to Grenada. Thunderstorms and freezing rain are expected in central Mississippi and our southern Mississippi service area, with slick and icy roads statewide on Thursday.

“Our workers are mobilized, ready to respond and prepared to restore power as quickly and safely as possible should we have a lot of damage,” said Robbin Jeter, Entergy Mississippi vice president of customer service. “Hopefully, we won’t.”

Entergy workers have laid in supplies, topped off fuel tanks and, in some cases, packed to be on the road for several days.

In addition to the Entergy Mississippi linemen and support staff, the company has requested 400 contracted linemen and vegetation workers, and about 100 scouts to arrive in areas expected to be hit Wednesday evening. Scouts are the first out after a storm -- they assess the damage and note what type of equipment and how many workers will be required to restore an outage. After they make their assessment, repair crews are dispatched to the affected area.

Entergy encourages its customers to prepare for the storm as well:

o Above all, stay safe. A personal plan for you and your family is the best way to stay safe and be storm ready.

o Visit the Entergy Storm Center website for details on how to prepare for storms.

o A kit of basic emergency supplies and a first aid kit are smart ways you can prepare for severe weather.

As you make your own plans, Entergy will keep you informed throughout about our response. Here is how you can get information.

o Download our free app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app.

o Sign up for text alerts. From your cellphone, text REG to 368374.

o Visit the Entergy Storm Center website and our View Outages page.

o Follow us on Twitter.com/entergy or Facebook.com/entergy.

o Call us at 800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243) to report outages and downed power lines.

o Follow updates in your local news media.

Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 442,000 customers in 45 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation’s leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $12 billion and approximately 13,000 employees.

-30-

entergy-mississippi.com
Twitter: @EntergyMS
facebook.com/EntergyMS