As of noon on January 25, over 870,000 households in the United States have been affected by power outages due to the winter storm “Fern”. The prolonged power outages following winter storms can lead to severe consequences, including casualties.
According to information released by the power monitoring website PowerOutage.com, by Sunday noon, more than 870,000 households across the U.S. were without power. The most severe impacts were felt in Tennessee, where over 290,000 households were affected, accounting for approximately 8.66% of the state’s serviced grid. Mississippi followed with over 140,000 households experiencing power outages, making up nearly 9.95% of the state’s grid, equating to about one in every ten households being affected. Louisiana reported over 120,000 households without power, while Texas had over 100,000 households affected, though accounting for less than 1% of the state’s overall grid.
Major power company Entergy released a statement on Sunday morning regarding the situation in Louisiana. As of 7 a.m., over 50,000 households were without power in the Entergy Louisiana service area due to the impact of the winter weather.
Freezing rain and ice pose a greater threat to power companies than heavy snow. Even a small amount of ice can weigh down tree branches, causing them to break and potentially damage power lines below. Additionally, ice that is about half an inch thick can also lead to power line breaks. Ice also hinders repair crews from accessing the affected areas for restoration work.
Entergy explained that restoring power during winter storms requires a cautious and gradual approach. Key facilities are prioritized first, followed by larger communities, and individual homes are addressed last. Some residential and commercial properties may require more time for restoration due to the complexity of repairs at the individual user end, depending on the extent of damage to the grid, ice conditions, and operational feasibility.
Entergy Louisiana has deployed 2,750 repair and support personnel to address the outages, with additional manpower en route to provide assistance. Entergy’s power services are concentrated in the southern United States, covering Louisiana, southeastern Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
Cold weather necessitates heating, and prolonged power outages during winter can result in insufficient or no heating, exposing residents to freezing conditions. Individuals with chronic illnesses may experience worsening conditions, while seriously ill patients face risks when medical equipment fails due to power interruptions. Improper use of temporary heating sources during outages can also lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, posing life-threatening risks.
NERC President Jim Robb remarked, “I believe this storm is likely to be one of the most impactful events in the past five to six years.”
In the winter of 2021, Texas faced a major blackout during the winter storm “Uri”. Official reports indicated that the storm caused extensive power outages across the state from February 15 to 18, leaving a lasting impact on many Texans. A study conducted in mid-March by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston revealed that over two-thirds (69%) of Texans experienced power outages during February 14 to 20, with nearly half (around 49%) encountering water supply disruptions. The storm resulted in at least 210 deaths, and estimates from the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank suggest that storm-related economic losses in the state could range between $80 billion to $130 billion.
The Texas Department of State Health Services stated that most of the fatalities were attributed to hypothermia, traffic accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning, and exacerbation of chronic illnesses due to the storm’s impacts.