As Winter Storm Fern’s impact is being felt in Mississippi, the National Weather Service is warning people to be ready for power outages – some of which have already begun to be reported across the state.
Frigid conditions made it to north Mississippi Friday and are trekking southbound with NWS placing most of Mississippi under a winter storm warning through Sunday evening. As part of the warning, power outages are “likely.” As of Saturday morning, the Laurel, Hattiesburg, and Poplarville areas, along with the Gulf Coast, will be spared from the worst.
“We’re not really expecting the entire state to lose power for multiple days or anything like that, but intermittent power outages aren’t out of the picture by any means,” NWS Jackson meteorologist Orion Jones said heading into the storm.
How to find power outages in Mississippi
Areas of Mississippi expected to be impacted by Winter Storm Fern are largely covered by Entergy Mississippi and Mississippi Power, along with electric cooperatives supplied by Cooperative Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Each company has brought in additional crews to be able to essentially work around the clock and restore power as safely and as quickly as possible.
Power outages statewide can be tracked through PowerOutage.com.
Electric companies also provide their own maps of current outages. Those can be found on their websites.
What to do if your power goes out
If your power goes out and you don’t have a generator, steps that should be taken, per the NWS and others, include:
- Stay calm and stay inside. Avoid hazardous travel conditions.
- Use battery-powered lighting or phone flashlights, and avoid burning candles if possible, since open flames increase fire risk.
- Turn off or unplug electrical appliances and electronics to protect them from possible surges when power returns. Leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food cold. An unopened fridge can keep foods safe for a few hours, and an unopened freezer for longer.
- Avoid using gas stoves, ovens, charcoal grills, or camp stoves indoors due to carbon monoxide threats. Rather, dress in loose-fitting, warm cloths and use blankets when needed. Close off unused rooms to preserve heat. Consider seeking a warming shelter if conditions allow. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency provides a list of open warming shelters here.
- Report the outage to your electric company, and monitor local alerts with battery-powered radios and phones (if charged).
How to report power outages
While it may be natural to assume electric companies are aware of all outages, report them anyway. Many companies allow reporting by phone or through their websites.
To report an outage to Entergy Mississippi:
- Call 1-800-968-8243
- Text “OUT” to 36778
- Use the Entergy app or the myEntergy website
To report an outage to Mississippi Power:
- Call 1-800-532-1502
- Use the Mississippi Power mobile app or website
To report an outage to Cooperative Energy:
- Call specific local offices. Local distribution co-ops include Coahoma Electric, Delta Electric, Dixie Electric, Magnolia Electric, Pearl River Valley Electric, Southern Pine Electric, Southwest Mississippi Electric, Twin County Electric, and Yazoo Valley Electric. A full list of co-ops, their coverage range, and contact information can be found here.
To report an outage to Tennessee Valley Authority:
- Call specific local power associations. Local power associations partnering with TVA include Pontotoc Electric Power Association, Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association, Tombigbee Electric Power Association, Prentiss County Electric Power Association, Alcorn County Electric Power Association, and Tishomingo County Electric Power Association. A full list of TVA-served local utilities and their contact information can be found here.