Violent spring storms left a path of destruction this weekend. The damaging outbreak of severe weather, including approximately 120 tornado watches and warnings across the
nation’s heartland, also delivered a blow closer to home in the ArkLaTex region.
Across SWEPCO, the severe weather began in earnest in northeast Texas late Friday. Wind gusts downed trees, ripped through power lines, and toppled transmission towers that
feed multiple communities and neighborhoods. Crews worked tirelessly to repair and replace the heavily damaged towers and other structures.
The ArkLaTex region was hit again Sunday as residents sheltered in their homes amid multiple tornado warnings. Shreveport area meteorologists reported winds in excess of 70
mph. The National Weather Service also declared at least four tornado warnings in our service territory in northwest Louisiana, and southwest and western Arkansas.
At peak, approximately 61,000 SWEPCO customers were without power. As of 10 a.m., power has been restored to roughly 22,000 customers and all hospitals and critical care customers
are online.
Dozens of crews from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Alabama are on the way to the SWEPCO service territory to provide mutual assistance to our line and tree crews
with post-storm assessments and, where possible, safely begin work to restore all power.
Crews were out before dawn to begin assessing the damage. An additional 61-line crews and 64 2-man teams are en route from several states to the SWEPCO territory with additional
forestry resources to aid in the restoration effort.
SWEPCO maintains approximately 30,000 miles of line across its service territory. Assessments include both digital and physical inspection. Crews patrol lines by plane and
by car to assess the damage and identify the repairs needed.
While you may not see a SWEPCO truck in your neighborhood, work could be performed many miles away on lines that provide power to your neighborhood.