Entergy Arkansas offers tips for year-round storm preparedness

As winter leads to spring, potential for dangerous weather remains

From Entergy Arkansas

entergy.com/arkansas

After multiple rounds of snowfall and extreme cold temperatures the last two months, many people are ready to welcome spring weather to the Natural State.

But like it’s winter counterpart, spring can also bring dangerous weather like thunderstorms to the area.

Ahead of the seasonal switch, Arkansas has declared March 2-8 as Severe Weather Awareness Week. Entergy Arkansas is encouraging customers to observe the week by ensuring they have a severe weather plan, a stocked-and-ready emergency kit and a dependable way to stay informed of weather conditions.

Entergy Arkansas is a proven leader in storm preparation and response. Monitoring weather threats is a 24/7, year-round effort for its employees. Entergy Arkansas relies on a continuous cycle of planning, preparation, training and evaluation to serve its customers during severe weather.

When a weather threat is confirmed, Entergy Arkansas uses weather forecasts and computer models based on knowledge from past storms to predict an estimated duration and number of outages that could occur. It follows a detailed, rehearsed plan that has worked well during storm recovery. Every storm is unique, so while plans are rehearsed and in place, Entergy Arkansas also adapts to everchanging conditions brought by Mother Nature.

Entergy recognizes that the intensity and frequency of major storms are increasing which is why the company is taking an accelerated approach to storm hardening and building resilience into the electric system.

“After each severe weather event we experience we take steps to harden the system with taller and wider poles and concrete structures where needed,” Adam Effrein, vice president of reliability for Entergy Arkansas, said. “And every year, our teams execute reliability projects to redesign and upgrade parts of the system, making power restoration safer and quicker in the future.”

Storm readiness includes year-round planning and training, then monitoring weather, mobilizing crews and acting as safely and quickly as possible when severe weather strikes. They ask customers to join by:

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Sit down with your family and share all emergency contact information, so everyone knows how and who to alert.

Designate one or more out-oftown contacts.

Be aware of the emergency plans at work, and if applicable, your children’s school or elderly family members’ residences if they do not live with you.

If your household depends on life-support or other medical equipment, discuss with your physician, including alternate living arrangements, should unplanned, extended outages occur.

• Keeping a kit nearby.

Experts agree it’s a good idea to have items such as non-perishable food, plenty of water, flashlights, a first aid kit with extra batteries and a portable phone charger on hand and easy to access in case of storms.

Remember to check the expiration dates on your supplies often and replace the expired items.

• Keeping up with weather updates.

Install a smart phone app that will alert you when severe

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is in the area or sign up for emergency alerts on your smartphone.

A weather radio with a loud alarm can also help wake you when severe weather threatens overnight. After impact, stay informed Knowing what’s happening around you will help you make more informed stormrelated decisions. Verify or update your contact information now at myEntergy.com to receive the most up-to-date information during weather events.

Get current news and updates on Entergy Arkansas’ restoration efforts by:

• Downloading the Entergy App. Customers can use the app to report outages or check on the status of power at their home or business.

• Checking our View Outage website. Maps show where outages are located and give information about restoration progress.

• Following us on Facebook and X. Social media plays an important role in keeping you informed.

• Signing up for notifications about storm and restoration efforts by texting REG to 36778.

• Visiting the Entergy Storm Center website. The site has storm safety, preparation and restoration information that is updated throughout the day.

Knowing how to communicate with Entergy Arkansas after a storm hits is important. Customers can report outages and downed power lines on the app or by calling us at 800-9OUTAGE.