Insights > Entergy Arkansas winter storm update – 2/27/22, 9:30 a.m.

Entergy Arkansas winter storm update – 2/27/22, 9:30 a.m.

02/27/2022

Drone photo of crews working in Cottonland Deview Bayou, which they had to access by boat.
Drone photo of crews working in Cottonland Deview Bayou, which they had to access by boat.

The winter storms coupled with severe weather this week produced widespread damage, causing 30,087 customer outages at peak. As of 10 a.m., statewide outages have been reduced to 4,040 customers. Over 77,000 customer outages have been restored, totaling 95% of customers who experienced an outage in the last four days. The restoration total reflects outages from multiple waves of storms and freezing precipitation, with the southern parts of state experiencing another round of freezing rain last night.

We have engaged 2,100 restoration workers across the affected areas, and we are responding to outages as quickly and safely as possible. Damage assessments are nearing completion, and total damages include 615 broken poles, 1,867 spans of downed wire, and 711 pieces of equipment. A span of wire is the wire between the two utility poles. We expect to have all customers who can safely take power to be restored by 10 p.m. Monday.

If you are still without power, check for damage to the electrical equipment attached to your home or business. If the service line to your home or business has been damaged by this storm, you may have damage to your meter base. If it is damaged, you will need to have an electrician make repairs before Entergy Arkansas can safely reconnect service. Once repairs are made, call 1-800-ENTERGY for a reconnection.

We continue to ask for your patience, and please know that safely restoring your power is our top priority. We appreciate and thank you for being a valued Entergy Arkansas customer.

Northeast Arkansas

Cross County

Cherry Valley, Hickory Ridge, and Vanndale

Currently 96% of customers have been restored, leaving 215 customers without power in Cross County area. Crews continue to work on isolated cases that require special equipment restoring power to individual customers. Restoration workers will be grouped together concentrating on the isolated cases in Cherry Valley, Hickory Ridge and Vanndale today. We expect to restore power to all customers who can safely take power today by 10 p.m.

Mississippi County

Bassett, Dyess, Joiner, and Wilson

Currently 97% of customers have been restored, leaving 326 customers without power. Crews continue to work on isolated cases restoring power to individual customers. A total of 100 restoration workers with more coming in today will continue to work throughout the Bassett, Dyess, Joiner and Wilson area. We have 131 broken poles, 150 spans of downed wire, 2 transformers and 32 crossarms needing repair. We expect to restore power to many customers who can safely take power today by 10 p.m. The Wilson area has substantial damage that could take longer to repair so we are expecting to restore power to most of this area Monday by 10 p.m.

Monroe County

Brinkley and Cotton Plant

Currently 84% of customers have been restored, leaving 602 customers without power. Crews continue to work on isolated cases, restoring power to individual customers. A total of 465 restoration workers will be working throughout Brinkley and Cotton Plant today. We expect to restore power to 90% of customers who can safely take power today by 10 p.m. We will continue to work to access and repair the harder hit areas, some of which require special equipment including trailers, boats, and ATVs, which could take until Monday at 10 p.m. to restore.

St Francis County

Forrest City and Wheatley

Currently 88% of customers have been restored, leaving 977 customers remain without power. About 465 restoration workers will continue to assess and repair isolated cases restoring power to individual customers. We have 224 broken poles, 419 spans of downed wire, 57 transformers and 126 crossarms and 73 tree trimming spans needing repair. We anticipate power restoration to most customers who can take power to be restored today by 10 p.m. We will continue to work to access and repair the harder hit areas, some of which require special equipment including trailers, boats, and ATVs, which could take until Monday at 10 p.m. to restore.

East & Southeast Arkansas

Arkansas County Area

Lonoke, Carlisle, Hazen, and England

As of 9 a.m., 406 customers remain without power across the locations listed above, down from over 2,000 at the beginning of this event. With 95% of the area scouted, we still have 64 poles down and 275 spans of wire down. With the extent of the damage and navigating off road, damaged equipment with limited access can make the restoration progress take longer than normal. Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to get power restored to all remaining customers that can safely take power. As of now all customers who can receive power will be restored by noon today.

Crittenden County

Marion

As of 10 a.m., Entergy crews and contractors have restored power to 91% of our customers who can take power in the Marion network. About 1,045 customers remain without power, down from a peak of over 8,000. We were able to bring an additional 400 customers back online last night.  Damage assessment is at 95% for the Marion district with 100% assessment completion targeted later today.  As of 8 a.m., we have identified 149 damaged poles, 143 cross arms needing replacement, 391 spans of damaged wire, 22 damaged transformers, 33 spans of tree trimming needed and 15 services needing re-connections. Entergy has deployed 275 workers to the Marion network and additional resources can be deployed as needed.  We plan to continue our work this morning on re-energizing all remaining customers without power that can take power in Marion, Crawfordsville, Earl, Parkin, Turrell, Gilmore, and the Clarksdale area. We anticipate power restoration to 90% all remaining customers who can safely take power to be restored by 10 p.m. this evening.


Arkansas Editorial Team