What You Need to Know
- As Hurricane Beryl moved onto the Texas Coast and made its way to the ArkLaTex, it left a path of destruction.
- On Monday, the National Weather Service reported issuing a record-setting 67 tornado warnings for its Shreveport warning areas, which includes most of the ArkLaTex and SWEPCO’s service territory.
- Currently, more than 2 million Texans, served by various utility providers, are without power. Within SWEPCO’s service territory, approximately 14,202 customers in Texas, primarily in the Longview region and 15,784 customers in Louisiana with an additional 4,828 customers in Arkansas had power disrupted because of the tornadoes, hurricane force winds and other related storm impacts brought by Beryl.
- During outages, SWEPCO works to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.
- SWEPCO has deployed teams to identify needed repairs including forestry work to make the area ready for line crews. Current estimates show more than 9,000 unique locations requiring assessment and repairs. Due to the expanse of significant damages, repairs will require crews to cover a region that spans about 14,000 square miles.
- Customers should prepare for additional outages that could occur as SWEPCO stabilizes its energy delivery system.
- As assessors identify ALL repairs needed, estimated restoration times will be forthcoming.
CURRENT SITUATION
Beryl made landfall and left millions of Texans without power, including about 14,000 SWEPCO customers in Texas, primarily in the Longview region. Its path of destruction continued into the ArkLaTex and, sadly, claimed the life of a Louisiana resident, according to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Beryl’s arrival into the ArkLaTex region fueled a warm and unstable atmosphere and churned more than 67 active tornado warnings, a National Weather Service record, across the area, with many in SWEPCO’s service territory.
Due to the extreme weather, SWEPCO sustained impacts on its energy delivery system and distribution networks with homes, businesses damaged, roofs removed, trees downed, and power lines snapped.
As a result of the significant impacts, additional outages could occur until SWEPCO’s transmission system is stabilized. Customers should prepare to be without service for an extended period.
Flooding from the storm makes restoration efforts more complex and could add additional complexities and time to restoration efforts.
RESTORATION PROCESS
When a major storm rips through our service area, everyone helps. Often unnoticed are the employees who take on the role of damage assessor. The first step in our restoration process is to assess the damage after a storm. Damage assessors look for downed power poles and wires, damaged transformers and other electrical equipment.
These highly trained employees go out first to look at the damage and help determine what type of crew and what equipment is needed for restoring power for affected customers. Assessors also evaluate any other issues that may impact the restoration work.
During outages, SWEPCO works to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.
In every storm restoration plan, we implement a basic process. Special priority is given to reported hazards such as downed power lines, 911 agency calls and emergency facilities such as fire and police stations.
In restoring customers’ electric service, SWEPCO works on main lines, or circuits that will restore the largest number of customers in the shortest period of time. A main line feeds power to thousands of homes and is the source of power for secondary and service drop lines. After main lines are restored, power lines that serve smaller clusters of homes are repaired. Finally, lines that feed service drops to individual homes are repaired.
As assessors identify ALL repairs needed, estimated restoration times will be forthcoming.
Peak Impacts from Beryl
At 11 p.m. Monday, July 8, a peak of 48,831 SWEPO customers had power disrupted as a result of Beryl and the severe weather it brought.
2024 TORNADOES
The National Weather Service has reported 21 tornadoes in the ArkLaTex in 2024, as of June 22. Four of those twisters were rated EF0, while the other 17 were EF1. This does not include the record-setting 67 tornado warnings issued from the NWS Shreveport on Monday that spun out of Tropical Storm Beryl. Meteorologists are surveying the area and that number may increase based on the active tornadoes reported on Monday, July 8.
GET RESTORATION UPDATES
Enroll in our alerts at SWEPCO.com/Alerts
MAKE A PLAN
Consider what you’ll do if there’s an extended power outage. Be sure to contact family, friends, neighbors with young children, the elderly or people with medical conditions to ensure they also have a plan. If you or a family member relies on uninterrupted electric service for health reasons, plan now in case of extended outages.
POST-STORM SAFETY TIPS
Find post-storm safety tips: https://www.swepco.com/safety/
Report outages: SWEPCO.com/outage or call (888) 216-3523
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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 the restoration process work?
During outages, SWEPCO works to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. In every storm restoration plan, we implement a basic process. Special priority is given to reported hazards such as downed power lines, 911 agency calls and emergency facilities such as fire and police stations.
In restoring customers’ electric service, SWEPCO works on main lines, or circuits that will restore the largest number of customers in the shortest period of time. A main line feeds power to thousands of homes and is the source of power for secondary and service drop lines. After main lines are restored, power lines that serve smaller clusters of homes are repaired. Finally, lines that feed service drops to individual homes are repaired.
STAYING CONNECTED
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.