As the summer heat continues to scorch the southern United States, power outages have left many residents searching for relief. The effects of these outages have been felt across multiple states, including Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. The severe weather over the weekend has caused more than 300,000 customers to be without electricity, with some people not expected to have power restored until the weekend.
The situation in Oklahoma is particularly dire, with more than 139,000 people still without power after severe weather caused trees and power lines to come crashing down. The state has a reputation for severe weather, but the widespread nature of the winds and the damage they caused has taken many by surprise. Oklahoma meteorologist Steve Piltz even commented that he had never issued a warning for 100 mph winds before.
The power outages have been devastating for many residents, leaving them without air conditioning or other essential electrical equipment. With the heat index reaching as high as 120 degrees in some parts of Texas, it’s no surprise that people are struggling to cope with the situation. For those without power, it’s a matter of survival. Leigh Johnson, a resident of Mount Vernon, Texas, told Dallas television station KXAS, “It’s been horrible because it’s like, the heat index has been so bad that literally, we’re having to sit in the cold baths to cool ourselves down.”
The situation is made worse by the fact that power providers have warned that some outages may not be fixed until the end of the week. In Mississippi, some residents have already been without power and air conditioning for almost 100 hours, which is longer than the outages caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The delay in restoring power has caused significant hardship for customers and officials are calling for power companies to do more to prepare for these kinds of situations.
Despite the challenges, many people are rallying together to help those in need. In Harrison County, Texas, a West Virginia line mechanic who had been working to help restore power in East Texas died after suffering a heat-related incident while working. But others have stepped up to support their communities. Some residents who lost electricity headed to Immanuel Baptist Church in Marshall, Texas, to keep cool. In Tulsa, people without power lined up for bags of ice as temperatures reached the mid-90s.
The situation is a stark reminder of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters and extreme weather events. It’s always a good idea to have a plan in place for how to cope with power outages, including having a backup generator and stocking up on essential supplies like water, food, and medication.
The summer heat can be brutal, but it’s important to stay safe and take care of yourself and your community. If you’re struggling with power outages or extreme temperatures, remember to check on your neighbors and loved ones and take precautions to stay cool and hydrated. With a little help from each other, we can make it through even the toughest of summers.
References
- https://amp-static.cbsnews.com/amp/embed/video/?feature%5Bconsent%5D=0&setDevice=mobile&v=23da2bed74e9783333cf303fba619e891687346665&uspri
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tornado-louin-mississippi-severe-storm-lightning/
- https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/local/lineman-restore-power-to-east-texans-dies-following-work-detail/501-657077b1-e64c-41e6-a052-296cb7de849d
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-power-winter-weather-death-toll-climbs/
- https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2023/06/18/oklahoma-storms-caused-hundreds-of-thousands-of-power-outages/70334461007/
- https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/weather/100-mph-winds-advisory-a-first-national-weather-service-tulsa-says-as-surveyors-review-damage/article_14c159
- https://d3k342lst4pmzf.cloudfront.net/external/default.html?address=73129
- https://outagemap.oge.com/
