Severe storms that swept through Southwestern Electric Power Company's (SWEPCO) service area on Tuesday have led to extensive damage, particularly in East Texas and Central Louisiana. This weather event has also delayed restoration efforts in Northwest Arkansas, which had already been affected by tornado activity over the previous weekend.
Energy Delivery System Affected
Significant impacts were reported in East Texas regions such as Longview, Henderson, New London, and Mineola. Meanwhile, in Central Louisiana, areas like Many, Toledo Town, Hornbeck, and Hicks faced substantial damage to their energy infrastructure due to the fierce winds. Residents across SWEPCO's three-state territory are advised to stay alert as additional storms are expected throughout the week.
Estimated Restoration Times
Recovery efforts are underway, with SWEPCO estimating that approximately 95% of power will be restored to customers who can receive it in Hornbeck and nearby areas of Central Louisiana by 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 30. Similarly, about 95% of affected customers in Longview and surrounding areas of East Texas are expected to have power restored by 10 p.m. on Friday, May 31.
Assistance from Other Utilities and Contractors
As of 8 p.m. on Tuesday, roughly 8,000 customers in Texas and 1,700 in Louisiana remained without power. In response, SWEPCO has enlisted additional support from other utilities and contractors to expedite the restoration process, with many teams already on their way.
