Following a series of back-to-back storms, over 25,000 residents across the Ark-La-Tex region have had their power restored. Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) has deployed nearly 900 workers to expedite these restoration efforts, reallocating resources to areas most in need as progress is made. Crews remain focused on reconnecting all customers able to receive power.
Restoration Efforts in Remote Areas
The extensive restoration operations have required workers to employ various methods to access isolated and challenging areas. In Kilgore, Texas, teams utilized a boat to reach a fallen power line in the Sabine River. Efforts continued around the clock, even dealing with new outages caused by trees loosening due to recent heavy rains.
Cross-State Support
As work concluded in Arkansas and Texas, teams redeployed southward to assist in central Louisiana. In Natchitoches, crews faced additional challenges not only due to the swampy terrain but also due to local wildlife, including alligators and snakes.
System Resilience
An estimated 10,500 customers in the Ark-La-Tex area remain without electricity as restoration continues. SWEPCO's infrastructure is designed to withstand significant wind damage, yet various factors such as heavy rainfall and flooding contribute to falling trees outside designated right-of-ways, complicating efforts.
Specialized Equipment and Crew Support
The restoration process is further complicated by extensive flooding and difficult terrain. Specialized equipment is required to safely reach and repair damaged areas. Additional teams from SWEPCO's Fayetteville district and affiliated companies, AEP Texas and Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), are providing vital support to accelerate the recovery process.
Power Restoration Status
At the peak of the storms, power outages affected approximately 35,000 customers. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, power had been restored to more than 25,000 of those customers. SWEPCO has communicated estimated restoration times, though power may be returned sooner. Customers with alerts set up via email or text can receive timely updates on their service status.
More than 25,000 Ark-La-Tex residents have had their power restored following back-to-back storms on the heels of the Great American Eclipse.
SWEPCO mobilized a workforce of nearly 900 people to aid in restoration efforts and redeployed resources to areas in need as work was completed elsewhere. Please be assured, crews are working to get every customer who can receive power back on.
The multi-day restoration effort has required crews to leverage resources on the ground, in the air, and on boats to safely access remote and often hard to reach areas to make repairs. In Kilgore, Texas, crews utilized a boat to access a downed power line in the Sabine River.
Ongoing work
Work continued into the wee hours of the morning on several repair projects. Well past the storms, several trees, located outside right of ways and loosened by the significant rainfall, have continued to fall, and create new outages such as one incident late Wednesday evening that temporarily disrupted service to customers in the Mount Vernon, Texas area.
Across state lines, as restoration work was completed, crews in Arkansas and Texas moved south to assist efforts in central Louisiana. In Natchitoches, unexpected challenges extended beyond navigating the swampy terrain. Workers had to keep an eye out for alligators, snakes, ticks and other wildlife.
Resilient system
Reports show approximately 10,500 Ark-La-Tex customers remain without power and work continues. SWEPCO’s crews are committed to getting all remaining customers who can receive power back on.
SWEPCO designs its system to be resilient enough to withstand significant wind damage; however, there are many variables at play during severe storms. Significant rains and flooding, along with the wind, can loosen soil and increase the likelihood of trees falling into lines, even if those trees are outside the right of way.
Crew Support
Extensive flooding and hard-to-reach, sometimes treacherous terrain, requires crews and contractors to use specialized track equipment to access the areas. Flooding creates a unique and dangerous restoration environment. Flooding can make it more difficult to safely make repairs and can result in longer than usual power restoration times.
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 SWEPCO’s 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 4 p.m. Thursday, more than 25,000 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.
