BEAUMONT, Texas — By Thursday night, two days after a line of severe storms and at least one tornado ripped through Southeast Texas, about 67 Entergy customers in Orange County and a few in Jefferson County were still without power.
The severe weather hit roughly between 3 and 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Entergy reported Wednesday afternoon that power will not be restored across Orange County until 10 p.m. Thursday night.
Critical transmission infrastructure and 11 substations were damaged by the storms.
If you are still without power, check for damage to your electrical equipment. If your electrical equipment appears undamaged, call 1-800-968-8243.
By 10:15 p.m. Thursday, a total of 74 customers were without power in Jefferson and Orange County according to Entergy's outage website.
The bulk of those customers without power remained in Orange County where 67 were still without power. At 10 p.m. Tuesday that number was 14,761.
Here's a breakdown of outages by county as of 10:15 p.m. Thursday..
- Hardin County: 0
- Jefferson County: 7
- Orange County: 67
- Newton County: 0
- Tyler County: 0
Entergy Texas crews are assessing damage and restoring power safely and as quickly as possible, according to a statement provided by Entergy Texas.
Additional resources are being deployed to the hardest hit areas to assist with restoration efforts. Orange County was heavily impacted by the severe weather with more than 17,400 customers with outages the utility reported Wednesday night.
Restoration times are estimates only according to the Entergy website.
"Indication that power is restored to your area does not guarantee your house/business has power. We cannot restore power to structures with damaged electrical equipment," according to Entergy.
Entergy has an online outage map where you can view outages in their service area.
MORE | Entergy Outage Map
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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.