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Parts of the Miss-Lou begin to get power
Originally published 09:00 p.m., September 2, 2008
Updated 09:33 p.m., September 2, 2008
NATCHEZ — Entergy crews began seeing the light at the end of the tunnel earlier than they expected Tuesday evening.
Original estimates of up to a week or more without any electricity in Adams County have been lowered to just a day or two more.
Areas of both Concordia Parish and downtown Natchez saw power at about 9 p.m. Tuesday evening as electricity slowly returned to the area.
Crews were working at approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday to repair one of the five transmission lines that fuels the county. All five were damaged in Hurricane Gustav.
“If we could just get one of those lines up, we could feed a lot of businesses and restaurants,” Entergy Customer Service Manager Stephen Caruthers said.
High on the list of areas to power are the two hospitals and medical community in Natchez. But when the hospitals light up, other areas will too, Caruthers said.
Wind gusts of 60 miles per hour during Gustav and already wet grounds toppled trees and limbs, which in turn took down power lines.
High winds that continued through the night Monday and Tuesday morning prevented Entergy crews from being able to repair lines.
“Even though the customers have been out (for nearly two days), this has really been the first day of our restoration efforts,” Caruthers said.
“This weekend we’ll have pretty much everybody up,” he said.
But some homeowners with heavily damaged property will have to have an electrician do home repairs before their houses will be ready for electricity, Caruthers said.
Due to the outages, the National Weather Service lost power at their Adams County observation site shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday. The highest wind speed they clocked was 44 miles per hour, but that was well before the worst of the storm entered the area.
In Baton Rouge winds reached 82 mph. Alexandria winds were gusting into the 40 mph speed.
Much of Adams County received between 4 and 5 inches of rain. Between 5 and 6 inches was reported in a few locations.
Caruthers said Adams, Amite and Wilkinson counties received the most damage to power lines. Statewide, 35,000 customers were without power. Fifty percent of those are in Southwest Mississippi.
But Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton said the city was handling things as smoothly as possible.
“For pretty much a catastrophe, it’s being handled really well,” Middleton said.
“Me personally and the board of aldermen are very pleased with the way things are going.”
He said public works and water works did a good job getting the roads cleared and safe.
Middleton has requested additional Mississippi Highway Patrol officers and has even been offered National Guard presence by Gov. Haley Barbour.
But he said with the additional highway patrol and Mississippi Department of Transportation officers, the National Guard won’t be necessary.
He also said he requested more stop signs from MDOT to put up at major intersections will traffic signals are still out.
He urged residents to stay off the streets.
“Safety is our foremost concern,” Middleton said.
Comments
Posted by Fenwick (anonymous) on September 2, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet it was the Garden Club that nocked out the power.
Posted by lroberts1 (anonymous) on September 2, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
any takers on cutting down pecan trees, These are just to dangerous .you can take the limbs for free
Posted by oldsaw (anonymous) on September 2, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know what sections of Natchez have power on now?
Posted by mirage (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 12:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUICK RESPONCES. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB CONSIDERING THE PROBLEMS YOU HAD TO FACE. I HAVE TO SLEEP WITH A C-PAP MACHINE SO YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND THANKS AGAIN
Posted by johnwentworth (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Downtown, Village Green, Morgantown, The Trees and Woodhaven all have power. I don't think Montebello or Montebello Gardens has power back. Im not sure about Fatherland either.
Posted by speakup (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
have power at fatherland
Posted by msubulldog (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 4:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks to all of the volunteers, power crews. God bless you guys and gals.
Posted by bjparker (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 5:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anybody know if there is power in the Auburn Avenue and Duncan Park area?
Posted by GopherBaroque (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Power to the people" John Lennon.
Posted by vanluna (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks ot all the hard working crews for getting the power back on. I feed off of Entergy and I noticed on my street we had a company from Gilbert, LA working in the pouring rain and wind trying to get power back on. My thoughts and prayers are with these hard workers.
Posted by chazbear28 (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is the county and EPA never mentioned in these articles?
Posted by tinstar (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks to all my coworkers at Promise Hospital of The Miss-Lou. As an employee I can say I am very proud to be part of this unique team of health care providers that feel more like family than mere co-workers. Was very impressed with how everyone responded during Gustav, especially when I came on duty and walked past our CEO'S office and saw a mat & sleeping bag that he weathered the storm in for 2 days so his employees could have what few available beds left within the facility. And he didn't stop there -----even sent out for food in Winnsboro ( the closest store open) for food for his employees. Patients continued to receive quality care without delay. Not only was there a full crew at work but calls from employees scheduled off that were willing to come in at a moments notice. The mood and interactions between patients and employees showed me that people can still come together in times of crises. What could have been a bad experience -- instead turned out to be rewarding experience that was heart felt and made me even prouder to be a part of The Promise Team.
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Any news on the Duncan Park area?
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yu guys are too good thank you for your service to this area
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What about the Duncan Park vacinity? I really need to know. I know an elderly lady living there and I need to bring her a generator if they don't have power. Thanks.
Posted by anonymous01 (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
as of yesterday evening they were w/out power. i don't know about currently. they had power out before many others, so i would assume they are w/out power.
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to the Entergy website... you are right... they have no power. Generator on the way. Thanks!
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