Northwest Arkansas Reeling from Power Issues After Storms
Rumbling thunder and gusty winds have left a trail of power issues across Northwest Arkansas. As reported by the National Weather Service in Little Rock, Sunday’s storms brought “widespread” damage and winds reaching speeds between 60 and 80 mph.
Outages in the Region
– SWEPCO reported that over 58,668 customers across ArkLaTex were without power as of 10:00 p.m. Sunday.
– In Northwest Arkansas, SWEPCO crews addressed more than 3,000 outages in early morning hours, later reducing the numbers to below 600 by 5:15 a.m..
– At one point, 55,115 customers in Arkansas’ most populous county, Pulaski County, were affected, with Lonoke County seeing 33,897 outages and Faulkner having 13,413.
– Across the state, Entergy reported over 66,000 customers without power, while PowerOutage.us recorded approximately 147,190.
Damage and Emergency Responses
– In Pulaski County, the sheriff’s office received about 20 reports of downed power lines and trees, though no injuries were reported. The county also faced a residential fire.
– Several areas in Northwest Arkansas were “severely impacted” by the storm, prompting the city of Conway to open the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate first responders.
Restoration Efforts and Safety Advice
– Crews from power providers are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible, but the damage is severe across the region.
– To ensure safety, residents are advised not to approach downed power lines or allow pets to approach them. Report such incidents to local authorities and power companies.
For real-time outage updates, stay informed through:
– SWEPCO customers can check outages in their area here: [insert SWEPCO outage link]
– Entergy customers, check here: [insert Entergy outage link]
– View the live look at power outages in the state: [insert 5NEWS live outage link from reference]
As the region recovers, power companies and emergency services continue to work tirelessly to restore services, offering a guiding light amid the tumultuous aftermath of Sunday’s storms.
