Power restoration efforts continue to see progress early Wednesday morning as local energy companies and coops report improved numbers.
As of 8 Wednesday morning, Entergy Arkansas is reporting 48 customers without power in Baxter County, 436 in Marion County and 49 in Boone County. North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) reports 1922 members in Baxter County without power, 40 members in Fulton County and 18 in Sharp County.
In a press release from NAEC Tuesday evening a damage assement in the Mountain Home district found more than 173 broken poles. Most crews were working in the Highway 5 South area out of Mountain Home, which includes Briarcliff, Norfork and Salesville. Crews were also in Buffalo City, Buford, Lakeview, Lone Rock and Shady Grove. Individual servicemen are tackling smaller outages as able. Most of the 100 line personnel assisting NAEC from fellow electric cooperatives in Arkansas and surrounding states are working in Baxter County.
Damage assessments in the Salem district found almost 90 broken poles. Restoration efforts are concentrated in the Hand Cove area, where more than 70 poles were broken. NAEC brought in excavators and track equipment Tuesday to assist in clearing debris from the right-of-way. The co-op estimates work should be completed in the Hand Cove area Friday.
NAEC CEO Mel Coleman spoke with KTLO News at 7 with the following Wednesday morning update.
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