posted: Tuesday, August 30, 6:00am
MLGW enacts emergency response plan and begins multi-day restoration process after remnants of hurricane Katrina hit Memphis
NOTE: MLGW will hold a press conference at 9:30 this morning in the MLGW Administration Building auditorium to update the media on the restoration progress and provide additional details.
MLGW has activated its emergency response plan and crews have begun a multi-day restoration effort after the remnants of hurricane Katrina passed through Memphis and Shelby County during the overnight hours. High winds knocked down power lines and as of 5:30 a.m., more than 70,000 customers are without power, and more than 33 electric circuits have been affected. At this time the utility is still assessing the extent of damage and is not making a projection on when all power will be restored, but utility leaders do expect the restoration effort to last several days. MLGW leaders are hopeful to give a more specific restoration timeline later this afternoon after the assessment is complete. Additional customers may lose power as more gusty winds are forecasted throughout the morning.
Preparations made early:
MLGW leaders began making preparations for the possibility of an extended outage over the weekend. Utility leaders identified additional resources to assist in restoration efforts in the event of a prolonged outage event. However, because of the breadth of this storm, sister utilities usually called upon to assist during events like this one were not able to provide assistance and many contracted crews were already assigned to areas harder hit by hurricane and recent hurricane victims in Florida. MLGW has secured crews from North Little Rock, Arkansas and Springfield, Missouri to assist in the restoration effort. Those crews will arrive and begin work today.
MLGW also redeployed resources such as transformers and other heavy equipment within Shelby County so they would be more assessable to crews working to restore power. As part of the Emergency Response Plan, some MLGW office employees with field experience will return to assist with restoration efforts.
Customer safety:
All downed or sparking electric lines should be considered energized and should be considered dangerous and should be reported immediately to MLGW’s 24-hour Emergency Line at 528-4465. Do not touch downed power lines or broken appliances. If you are in a vehicle that hits a pole and wires fall on your vehicle, stay inside and ask someone to call 911 for fire and police rescue first, then MLGW for assistance. Unless your life is threatened by severe injury or fire, you should remain in your car until an MLGW representative tells you it is safe to leave. If you must leave, however, jump completely clear of the vehicle, never touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Land with your feet together and be careful to maintain your balance.
To report an outage:
It is extremely important for customers to make us aware of any power outages they may experience, as well as storm-related utility hazards. Please keep the following numbers available during a significant weather event. Call MLGW’s outage reporting number at 544-6500 to report your outage via the automated system. During your call, you will be asked to respond to prompts to identify the degree of your outage, as well as the location. As the restoration effort progresses, you can call this number for general restoration updates for your address.
Call the emergency line at 528-4465 if you have a downed wire, gas leak or broken water mains.
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