What You Need to Know
- SWEPCO has mobilized a workforce of nearly 300 utility professionals to aid in restoration efforts, including additional tree and line crews from Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.
- Relentless severe weather unleashed yet another violent storm Tuesday that roared across Texas and devastated parts of SWEPCO's service territory.
- As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, crews have successfully restored power to 15,500 Texas customers. At peak, approximately 19,000 customers were without power in Texas.
- Crews made significant progress Wednesday in Fruitvale and Grand Saline, Texas, where Tuesday’s powerful storms toppled trees that took down several miles of power lines and knocked down an entire storefront.
- The estimated time of restoration for 95 percent of customers who can receive power are 10 p.m. Thursday, May 30 for Carthage, Gilmer Gladewater, and Mineola and 10 p.m. Friday, May 31 for Henderson, Kilgore, Longview, and Marshall. However, power could be restored sooner.
- Across the state line, approximately 800 Louisiana customers remain without power with the majority of those in Hornbeck and its surrounding areas. Approximately 95% of customers who can receive power in the Hornbeck and surrounding areas of Central Louisiana should be restored by 3 p.m. Thursday, May 30.
- With continued severe weather and scattered thunderstorms forecast across SWEPCO’s service territory, customers are encouraged to stay weather aware and alert for possible delays.
CURRENT SITUATION
Nearly 300 utility professionals, including additional tree and line crews from nearby states, are working safely and quickly to restore service to the remaining customers without power across East Texas and Louisiana.
Work is underway to replace an estimated 23 utility poles, 14 transformers, 26 cross arms and 67 miles of electrical wire.
Crews made significant progress Wednesday in Fruitvale and Grand Saline, Texas, where Tuesday’s powerful storms toppled trees that took down several miles of power lines and knocked down an entire storefront.
Meanwhile, near Turnertown, Texas, work was underway to repair a Transmission line that had multiple broken poles, cross arms, and downed wire from Tuesday’s severe weather.
With continued severe weather and scattered thunderstorms forecast across SWEPCO’s service territory, customers are encouraged to stay weather aware and alert for possible delays.
BY THE NUMBERS
Currently, SWEPCO has restored service to more than 15,500 customers. Work continues to restore power to everyone. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, approximately 3,400 Texas customers are without power in Texas and 1,000 in Louisiana.
Restoration work in New London, Texas.
ESTIMATED TIMES of RESTORATION
SWEPCO has provided estimated restoration times for areas impacted by the storm. However, service could be restored soon.
We estimate power will be restore to 95 percent of customers by these times:
3 p.m. Thursday, May 30
Hornbeck and surrounding areas of Central Louisiana
10 p.m. Thursday, May 30
Carthage | Gilmer | Gladewater | Mineola
10 p.m. Friday, May 31
Henderson | Kilgore | Longview | Marshall
GET RESTORATION UPDATES
By enrolling in our alerts at SWEPCO.com/Alerts, customers get updated restoration information. When our crews arrive on individual work sites, a more precise restoration time for the affected group of customers will be updated in our system and communicated through alerts if the customers have signed up to receive our notifications by phone or email. Updated information can also be found at SWEPCO.com/OutageMap.
CAN YOU RECEIVE POWER?
Now is the time for customers to determine whether their home can receive power - SWEPCO cannot connect power to a home or business if there is damage to the service entrance, which is owned by the customer. Customers must have a licensed electrician repair damage before power can be restored. Click for a flyer in English & Spanish. Learn how to identify weatherhead damage by watching this video. ENGLISH | SPANISH
Customers should remain weather aware as there are storms predicted throughout the week across SWEPCO’s entire three-state service territory.
POST-STORM SAFETY TIPS
Find post-storm safety tips: SWEPCO.com/safety
Report outages: Report outages: SWEPCO.com/outages
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Should I call SWEPCO to report my power outage?
Immediately after a major storm, report only safety hazards such as downed power lines or equipment that is sparking. Often, we’re already aware of damage to our systems such as transmission lines and distribution circuits. Your calls help us focus resources on hazards that are not automatically picked up by our monitoring systems. You can also report an outage using our online form. Want to be the first to know about outages? Subscribe to alerts.
What should customers do if they see downed lines?
Don't touch it or anything near it. Even telephone or cable lines can become energized. Keep yourself and others as far away as possible and call 911 or SWEPCO immediately at (888) 218-3919.
How does SWEPCO handle tree damage?
Our tree crews are among the first responders as they work to safely clear trees from our lines and equipment and move to the next location as quickly as possible to allow our line crews to restore power.
We do not remove cut trees or limbs during emergency power restoration. In these instances, property owners are responsible for removing tree debris.
Don't attempt to remove tree limbs or debris yourself if it is within 10 feet of a power line. Also, if you notice downed lines or sparking equipment, stay far away and call 911 and SWEPCO immediately at (888) 218-3919.
STAYING CONNECTED
To receive the latest alerts and information from SWEPCO, customers should:
NEXT UPDATE
We will continue to keep you informed as more information becomes available. Updates will be provided at SWEPCO.com as well as other communication channels.