ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — About 75% of power is restored for Entergy customers throughout Southeast Texas.
There were over 1,500 customers without power in Jefferson County before noon on Friday, December 23, 2022.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above is from a December 23, 2022 newscast.)
Over 3,000 Entergy customers were without power shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 23, 2022. Power was slowly restored through the evening.
After working through Thursday night and Friday morning, Entergy Texas crews have restored power to approximately 36,000 of the 48,000 customers in the impacted regions, according to a news release from Entergy.
Power is expected to be restored to most of the remaining customers by late Friday, with some customers in the most impacted locations potentially being restored Saturday.
Estimated times of restoration may be adjusted as more information becomes available through damage assessment and work in the field progresses throughout the day, according to the release.
Customers are encouraged to make safety a priority by keeping their distance from utility crews and their worksites and calling 1-800-368-3749 to report downed power lines.
Entergy has an online outage map where you can view outages in their service area.
MORE | Entergy Outage Map
Customers are encouraged to make safety a priority by keeping their distance from utility crews and their worksites and calling 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) to report downed power lines.
Restoring power in extreme cold is different
The restoration process is done in an orderly and deliberate manner. As soon as it's safe to work, our crews start turning the lights back on for our customers. Restoration efforts begin as scouts start assessing the storm’s damage, and crews start needed repairs at the source and work outward. Certain types of work, such as repairs requiring the use of bucket trucks, cannot be safely completed when winds exceed 35 miles per hour.
When temperatures are extremely cold, we must bring customers back online one section at a time, rather than simply energizing an entire power line all at once. Restoring all customers on the same power line simultaneously can create large, instantaneous power demands. The instant demand is different than day-to-day operations and could be higher than the built-in protective devices on lines were designed to handle. This is done for the safety of our customers, and to avoid damaging our system or making the situation worse.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
Here’s some tips from the Entergy website on how to stay safe during an outage…
Create an emergency preparedness kit, including a flashlight, batteries, and first aid supplies.
Maintain supplies of healthy and filling snacks that don't require refrigeration, such as dried fruits, nuts and protein bars.
Make sure you have alternative charging methods for your phone or any device that requires power.
Purchase ice or freeze water-filled plastic containers to help keep food cold during a temporary power outage.
Learn about the emergency plans established in your area by contacting your state or local emergency management agency.
If you rely on anything that's battery-operated or power dependent, such as a medical device, have a backup plan.
Maintain backup generators according to manufacturers' recommendations and store an adequate supply of fuel in a safe place.
During an outage, disconnect or switch off appliances and electronic equipment that were running when the power went out. Avoid opening refrigerators and freezers to save cold air and preserve food longer.
Generators | Operate backup generators safely by following manufacturer's instructions. Don't attempt to connect your generator to the electrical system; it can backfeed to outdoor utility lines and injure or kill utility service personnel. An automatic transfer switch — installed by a qualified electrician — will help to ensure safe operation. Learn more here.
Refrigerated foods | Discard any perishable items in your refrigerator or freezer that may not be safe to consume. A refrigerator keeps food at a safe temperature for up to four hours during a power outage if it remains closed. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends discarding foods such as meat, poultry and eggs if they've been above 40°F for more than two hours. Learn more here.