RIVER VALLEY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — UPDATE: As of 9 p.m., OG&E 250 customers do not have service. It is expected to be restored “no later than 3 p.m. Saturday,” according to a press release.
The customers without service are primarily in the Poteau area.
RIVER VALLEY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — UPDATE: As of 12 p.m., OG&E says approximately 1,000 customers are without service, down from 9,500 Thursday.
Crews are still working to determine an estimated restoration time for those customers who remain without power due to this storm and will have updates this afternoon.
RIVER VALLEY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — UPDATE: As of 6:30 a.m. on July 22, OG&E reports 1,495 customers are without power, 948 of those being Le Flore County. 69 customers are without power in Crawford and Sebastian Counties.
OG&E issued an update at 7 a.m. saying crews are finalizing assessments as approximately 300 power restoration personnel will continue to restore power and repair damaged equipment as safely and quickly as possible.
The electric company again asks everyone to stay safe and stay away from downed power lines and anything they are touching. Report downed power lines by calling 800-522-6870.
KNWA/FOX24 as we will continue to provide updates.
RIVER VALLEY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — UPDATE: At 8:30 p.m., OG&E issued an update stating that as of 8:00 p.m., approximately 5,500 customers were without service, “down from a peak of 9,500 earlier in the day.” The statement noted that the majority of affected customers are located in the communities of Muldrow, Poteau, Roland, Vian and Muskogee, Oklahoma, as well as Fort Smith.
“Crews will assess damage and restore power through the night, as storm impact is across a wide geographic area,” the release stated. “OG&E is mobilizing approximately 300 personnel and bringing additional materials to the area to restore power and repair damaged equipment as safely and as quickly as possible.”
Power lines are down in many areas, and everyone is advised to stay away from them and anything they are touching. Report downed power lines by calling 800-522-6870.
A thunderstorm that rolled through the River Valley has caused power outages to thousands of customers.
According to the National Weather Service, trees and power lines are down near the Oklahoma and Arkansas state line, as well as in Poteau.
Poteau Mayor Scotty White said that the fallen tree shown above was “the biggest tree in town.” The hole after the tree fell was approximately 23 feet wide.
OG&E is reporting more than 2,700 customers out of power, most of which are in the Poteau area.
Capt. Philip Pevehouse said the only report of damage in Sebastian County is a tree down in the Barling area.
Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for additional updates.