As severe weather and significant icing is happening in parts of Mississippi, thousands of power outages are being reported.
As of 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, the lights were out for over 174,000 residents. Counties with the most outages:
- Lafayette: 20,123
- Alcorn: 13,846
- Lee: 12,607
- Tishomingo: 11,276
- Tippah: 9,246
- Warren: 7,886
- Hinds: 7,886
Crews are working to restore power in homes and businesses as quickly and safely as possible. To view the live outage map, click here.
According to the National Weather Service, the winter storm’s trek through Mississippi ended just before 1 p.m. However, low temperatures statewide are forecast below freezing Sunday night and into the work week, meaning ice could stick for several days.
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).