After snow, some Arkansans face week without power

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas' largest utility warned Wednesday that some customers who lost power during the holiday blizzard that dumped more than a foot of snow on parts of the state may have to ring in 2013 by candlelight.

Strong winds downed trees and power lines throughout the state that had been weighed down by ice and snow, and although the snow stopped by midday Wednesday, crews trying to restore electricity to affected homes and businesses were facing tough conditions.

"This was a very significant storm," said Hugh McDonald, the president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas, whose own home was among those without power. "You try to predict how bad it's going to be. We don't think we would have predicted 192,000 outages."

McDonald said damage assessments were only 10 percent complete Wednesday, but that it was already apparent that some power would be out until Jan. 1 or later.

"It depends on the damage and terrain," McDonald said. "Most customers will be back within seven days, but the most remote areas could be longer."

According to a utility timetable, service could be restored to most homes and businesses in Helena and Russellville sometime Wednesday; Forrest City, Lonoke, Marion, Pine Bluff and Stuttgart on Thursday; Blytheville and Jacksonville on Friday and the hardest-hit area of Hot Springs, Little Rock and Marion in seven or more days.

"We had the freezing rain, sleet and snow compounded by the high winds. It's a lot of factors coming together to cause extensive damage, and then the process of resetting power is slowed down by the winds and the slippery roads," Entergy spokeswoman Julie Munsell said. "While we expect that we will have most people on sooner, some people could be out seven (days)."

Combined with outages at the state's electric cooperatives and government-owned utilities, the number of outages exceeded 200,000 - the worst since a similar storm at the holiday season 12 years ago.

While snow isn't unusual for the region, the Christmas Day storm was exceptional for its scale. Snow hadn't fallen in Little Rock on Christmas since 1926, but 10.3 inches had fallen as the clock ticked into Wednesday. Winds gusting to 40 mph in the northeastern quarter of the state prompted the National Weather Service to post a blizzard warning that lasted to midmorning Wednesday.

The area from north of Little Rock to around Batesville had up to 14 inches of snow.

Gov. Mike Beebe declared that only essential personnel had to report for state government jobs in the Little Rock area Wednesday and was among the few people in the Arkansas Capitol building.

"I'm essential personnel. I figured if I didn't show up people would think I'm not needed," Beebe said, wearing an Arkansas State sweatshirt on a visit to a nearly empty press room with his bodyguard and spokesman.

Earlier Wednesday, he dispatched the National Guard to help ambulance crews that were having trouble reaching people who needed transportation to hospitals.

"They're actually transporting EMTs, nurses" and patients, the governor said.

Jackknifed tractor-trailers blocked portions of Interstate 40, and Beebe said state police, sheriffs and wreckers were aiding motorists stuck in traffic. "They have not requested the National Guard," he said.

Arkansas State police spokesman Bill Sadler says numerous motorists were stuck on highways overnight but that it appeared all were safe.

"There have been some instances where individuals were stranded and waiting for friends or tow trucks that never made it. Everybody is accounted for as far as we know," Sadler said.

Sadler said people shouldn't venture out except in emergencies - particularly because roads are expected to refreeze after sundown.

"We've been repeating it all day. Unless it's an emergency you need to stay in. Getting home may not qualify as an emergency," Sadler said.

The National Weather Service said that with temperatures plummeting to the teens Wednesday night, road conditions will deteriorate rapidly.

"It'll be very quick and it will take a while to go above freezing in the morning," meteorologist Chris Buonanno said.

The 10 inches of snow was the equivalent of about an inch of rain, so any benefit to Arkansas' recent drought was minimal in most areas - though southern Arkansas had 2 to 3 inches of rain.

"Longer term, I would not expect much of an impact," Buonanno said. "You need a lot more events of prolonged precipitation."

The governor also said he had given utility companies permission to bring in out-of-state workers to help restore power. He said he wasn't sure what regulations might be in place to prevent their working in Arkansas, but "If you have a problem, call me."

Snow struck the southern Plains beginning Christmas morning in Oklahoma, arriving with a storm system that spawned nearly three dozen tornadoes along the Gulf Coast. Brisk north winds followed the snow, causing drifts and prompting forecasters to warn of wind chill readings at minus-11.

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