Violent spring storms left a path of destruction this weekend. The damaging outbreak of severe weather, including approximately 120 tornado watches and warnings across the nation’s heartland, also delivered a blow closer to home in the ArkLaTex region.
Across SWEPCO, the severe weather began in earnest in northeast Texas late Friday. Wind gusts downed trees, ripped through power lines, and toppled transmission towers that feed multiple communities and neighborhoods. Crews worked tirelessly to repair and replace the heavily damaged towers and other structures.
ArkLaTex region
The ArkLaTex region was hit again Sunday as residents sheltered in their homes amid multiple tornado warnings. Shreveport area meteorologists reported winds in excess of 70 mph.
The National Weather Service also declared at least four tornado warnings in the service territory in northwest Louisiana, and southwest and western Arkansas.
At peak, approximately 61,000 SWEPCO customers were without power. As of 10 a.m., power has been restored to roughly 22,000 customers and all hospitals and critical care customers are online.
Crew on the way
Dozens of crews from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Alabama are on the way to the SWEPCO service territory to provide mutual assistance to the line and tree crews with post-storm assessments and, where possible, safely begin work to restore all power.
Crews were out before dawn to begin assessing the damage. An additional 61-line crews and 64 2-man teams are en route from several states to the SWEPCO territory with additional forestry resources to aid in the restoration effort.
Digital and physical inspection
SWEPCO maintains approximately 30,000 miles of line across its service territory. Assessments include both digital and physical inspection. Crews patrol lines by plane and by car to assess the damage and identify the repairs needed.
While one may not see a SWEPCO truck in their neighborhood, work could be performed many miles away on lines that provide power to the neighborhood.