Severe storms have wreaked havoc across the Ark-La-Tex region, causing significant damage to SWEPCO's energy infrastructure and leaving thousands without power. Heavy rain, strong winds, and extensive flooding have compounded the challenges, prompting a coordinated response from SWEPCO and sister utilities, including the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and AEP Texas, to expedite power restoration efforts.
Collaborative Restoration Efforts
The difficult terrain created by widespread flooding has necessitated the use of specialized track equipment
The difficult terrain created by widespread flooding has necessitated the use of specialized track equipment to reach damaged areas. Both crews and contractors are fully engaged in ensuring power restoration for all customers who can currently receive it. On-the-ground, aerial, and water resources are being utilized to access and repair equipment in remote and hard-to-reach locations.
In particular, the Longview area is heavily impacted, with crews conducting water patrols to manage the situation safely. Meanwhile, in the Texarkana area, cooperation with railway companies resulted in a temporary pause in rail operations to facilitate secure access for repair teams working on Nash, Texas's water systems. Damage assessments in Natchitoches have identified downed power lines, broken poles, and fallen trees, with repairs needed in saturated, wooded areas demanding the use of advanced equipment.
Challenges in a Flooded Environment
Flood conditions create significant obstacles for safe repairs, potentially extending power restoration timelines. Despite these hurdles, SWEPCO crews are dedicated to restoring power to all affected customers. As of 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, approximately 19,000 SWEPCO customers were still without electricity. Nevertheless, efforts are ongoing, with assistance from additional teams from SWEPCO's Fayetteville district and sister utility companies.
Progress and Communication
At the peak of the storm, around 35,000 customers experienced outages. By 6 p.m. Wednesday, power had been restored to 18,000 customers. SWEPCO continues to provide estimated restoration times for affected areas, with some services potentially being restored ahead of schedule.
Customers can receive updates on restoration estimates at their specific locations if they have registered for email or text notifications, enabling them to stay informed as crews work tirelessly to restore power.
Storms that swamped many areas of the Ark-La-Tex as a result of relentless rain, damaging winds and flooding conditions also damaged SWEPCO’s energy system and disrupted power to thousands across the Ark-La-Tex region.
As a result, SWEPCO joined forces with crews from its sister utilities, including Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and AEP Texas, to support the restoration effort.
Extensive flooding and hard-to-reach, sometimes treacherous terrain, requires crews and contractors to use specialized track equipment to access the areas. Please be assured crews are working to get every customer who can receive power back on.
Heavily flooded areas
Already, crews have leveraged resources on the ground, in the air, and on boats to safely access remote and often hard to reach areas to make repairs.
In the Longview area, crews have secured water patrols in heavily flooded areas. In the Texarkana area, crews coordinated with railroad companies to temporarily halt rail traffic to enable crews to safely access and complete repairs to local water systems in Nash, Texas since early afternoon.
Early damage assessments in the Natchitoches area showed downed power lines, broken poles and fallen trees with repairs needed in heavily wooded areas with saturated ground. Similarly, many of those repairs will require specialized equipment.
Dangerous restoration environment
Flooding creates a unique and dangerous restoration environment. Flooding can make it more difficult to safely make repairs, which may result in longer than usual power restoration times.
As of 6 p.m., on Wednesday, April 10 approximately 19,000 SWEPCO customers are without power. SWEPCO’s crews are committed to getting all remaining customers who can receive power back on.
Additional crews from SWEPCO’s Fayetteville district and SWEPCO’s sister operating companies, AEP Texas, and Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), are assisting with the efforts to restore service to the communities as safely and quickly as possible.
By The Numbers
At the peak of the storm’s impact, approximately 35,000 customers were without power. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, 18,000 customers have had their power restored.
SWEPCO has provided estimated restoration times for areas impacted by the storm. However, service could be restored sooner.
Customers who signed up for email or text alerts could receive direct updates on the estimated restoration time at their home or business as crews continue working to restore power.
