Severe Weather Sweeps Across ArkLaTex Leaving Thousands Powerless; Power Restoration in Progress
SHREVEPORT, La. – A wave of severe weather tore across the ArkLaTex region on the night of April 28, leaving extensive damage and widespread power outages in its wake. The storm hit around 7 p.m., with the most severe conditions observed when a tornado watch was in effect throughout the day.
Storm Triggers Widespread Damage and Power Cuts
The violent weather resulted in noticeable damage across the region, toppling trees and triggering a widespread power outage that affected thousands of homes. Power company Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) reported that up to 55,000 power outages were recorded in Louisiana alone at one point on Sunday night.
Parishes particularly hard hit were Bossier Parish, with approximately 13,000 outages, and Caddo Parish, with about 41,000 outages. In response, SWEPCO mobilized crew from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Alabama to travel to the ArkLaTex region to aid in power restoration efforts.
Steady Progress in Power Restoration
As of noon Monday, SWEPCO reported a total of 31,396 outages across its service area: 27,493 in Louisiana, 3,853 in Texas and 50 in Arkansas. By about 3 p.m., outages had dropped to 21,653 in Louisiana, 2,506 in Texas and 42 in Arkansas.
The majority of the remaining outages in Louisiana were located in Caddo Parish (16,844) and Bossier Parish (4,019). By about 6:30 p.m. Monday, power had been restored to a significant number of customers, reducing the number of outages to 15,017 in Louisiana, 1,357 in Texas and only 19 in Arkansas.
Estimated Restoration Times
According to SWEPCO’s estimates, power was expected to be restored in Henderson, Texas, and Mansfield and Natchitoches, Louisiana by 10 p.m. Monday (April 29). Expected restoration times for Carthage, Marshall, Mount Pleasant, Texas and Hornbeck, Louisiana would likely stretch into Tuesday (April 30), while it may take until Wednesday (May 1) for power to be fully restored in the Shreveport/Bossier City area.
City Response and Safety Measures
In response to the devastation, the City of Shreveport has been hard at work restoring phone lines and managing traffic. The city has offered several safety tips for residents, including treating non-functional traffic lights as four-way stops, reducing speed to react to unexpected debris, using headlights even during the day and avoiding flooded areas. Patience was also encouraged during periods of traffic congestion.
Residents have been urged to report any downed power lines by calling (888) 218-3919. Those who wish to share pictures of storm damage can submit them through the designated platform.
Continuing Recovery Efforts
The recovery from this severe weather continues as power restoration and cleanup efforts progress. While there is a difficult road ahead for residents, the community and its officials are working tirelessly to restore normalcy in the wake of this destructive storm.