A severe storm swept across the central United States, significantly affecting the Southwest Electric Power Company's (SWEPCO) service area, predominantly in Benton County, Arkansas.
The northwest region of the state, including Rogers, is grappling with widespread destruction, with potential tornado activity causing structural damages and severing power lines.
Impact on SWEPCO's Service Area
While assessments are ongoing, early reports indicate that De Queen, Texarkana, and Ashdown also suffered power disruptions due to the severe weather.
As of 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, approximately 19,000 SWEPCO customers are without electricity. The storm's damaging winds resulted in uprooted trees, snapped over 300 utility poles, and compromised several hundred spans of electrical wires.
Restoration Efforts Underway
SWEPCO is actively conducting damage assessments to provide estimated restoration times
SWEPCO is actively conducting damage assessments to provide estimated restoration times once evaluations are complete. Crews are in place to ensure efficient and safe power restoration, having the correct teams and equipment ready for the task.
Customers can receive updates by enrolling in SWEPCO's alert system, which notifies them via phone or email with case-specific restoration timelines once the crews arrive on-site.
Safety Precautions Advised
Customers should maintain a safe distance from any downed power lines or objects in contact with them. To report hazards, individuals should call 911 or reach SWEPCO directly at (888) 218-3919. It is advisable to exercise caution while clearing debris, as downed wires may be hidden beneath.
Individuals should refrain from handling debris within 10 feet of power lines. For those using generators, adherence to manufacturer guidelines is essential to ensure safety.
A destructive storm barreled through the central U.S. and was felt in SWEPCO’s service territory with damage reported across Benton County, Arkansas in the far northwest corner of the state.
The extreme weather likely included possible tornadoes that leveled buildings, scattered walls, roofs and other debris and downed trees throughout Rogers, Arkansas.
Initial damage assessments are underway. Elsewhere in the state, severe weather also caused weather impacts and disrupted power to customers in De Queen, Texarkana and Ashdown areas.
Ongoing Restoration
Estimated times of restoration will be made available once assessors have completed their work
Customers are urged to stay as far away as possible from downed wires and anything they may be touching. Call 911 to report any hazards or call SWEPCO immediately at (888) 218-3919. The weather remains unstable throughout the area and customers should remain weather aware.
As of 8:00 a.m. Sunday, approximately 19,000 customers are without power from the storms that brought strong winds, downed trees and snapped more than 300 utility poles and damaged several hundred spans of electrical wire.
Estimated times of restoration will be made available once assessors have completed their work. When a storm causes the power to go out, assessors ensure the right crew, the right equipment and the right location are accurate to safely and as quickly as possible, restore service to customers.
Restoration updated
By enrolling in SWEPCO’s alerts, customers get updated restoration information. When their crews arrive on individual work sites, a more precise restoration time for the affected group of customers will be updated in the system and communicated through alerts if the customers have signed up to receive the notifications by phone or email.
Safety tips
- Stay as far away as possible from downed wires and anything they may be touching. Call 911 to report any hazards or call SWEPCO immediately at (888) 218-3919.
- Carefully investigate before cleaning up any debris. Tree limbs, leaves and other objects moved by the wind could hide downed wires.
- Do not attempt to remove tree limbs or debris within 10 feet of a power line.
- If using a generator, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
