News Release > Entergy Mississippi encourages customers to get spring storm ready

Entergy Mississippi encourages customers to get spring storm ready

02/11/2024

Utility observes Severe Weather Preparedness Week, Feb. 11-17

JACKSON, Miss. – Spring weather is welcomed for its sunny skies and cool breezes, but the season has also proven to bring dangerously irregular storms.

Ahead of the seasonal switch, Mississippi has declared Feb. 11-17, Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Entergy Mississippi is encouraging customers to observe the week by making a plan, keeping a kit, and staying informed.

Last spring, our service area saw devastating damage after an EF-4 tornado swept through the Mississippi Delta, destroying more than 700 distribution poles. Our crews plan and train for storm readiness year-round, which aides us in restoring power as safely and quickly as possible.

As severe weather threatens, we monitor, mobilize and act. We’re asking customers to be just as prepared for an emergency this spring.

• Make a plan. Sit down with your family and share all emergency contact information, so everyone knows how and who to alert. Designate one or more out-of-town contacts. Be aware of the emergency plans at work, and if applicable, your children’s school or elderly family members’ residences if they do not live with you. If your household depends on life-support or other medical equipment, discuss with your physician, including alternate living arrangements, should unplanned, extended outages occur.
• Keep a kit nearby. Experts agree it’s a good idea to have items such as non-perishable food, plenty of water, flashlights, a first aid kit with extra batteries and a portable phone charger on hand and easy to access in case of storms. Remember to check the expiration dates on your supplies often and replace the expired items.
• Keep up with weather updates. Install a smart phone app that will alert you when severe weather is in the area, or sign up for emergency alerts on your smartphone. A weather radio with a loud alarm can also help wake you when severe weather threatens overnight.

Stay informed

Knowing how to communicate with Entergy Mississippi after a storm hits is important. There are several ways to report outages and downed power lines:

• Download our free app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app.
• Sign up for text alerts by texting REG to 36778 and have your account number and ZIP code handy. The registration pattern is as follows including spaces: REG (account number) (ZIP code). Once registered, text OUT to 36778 to report an outage. You can also report an outage online as a guest.
• Visit the Entergy Storm Center website and our View Outages
• Call us at 800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243).

Storms aren’t the only emergencies for which we prepare. Team members from across Entergy’s four-state service area recently completed Entergy GridEx training, which drills participants on extreme hypothetical natural and/or man-made threats to operations. Observing Severe Weather Preparedness Week reminds us that extreme scenarios could happen during severe weather – underscoring the importance of advanced planning.

About Entergy Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 461,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom.