Hurricane Francine has impacted more than 34,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) customers while also causing record-breaking rainfall of 4.25 inches.
The storm brought in winds up to 57 mph and according to MLGW this caused a number of downed limbs and trees and outages. As a result, the utility company has more than 50 crews working around the clock to clear debris and work on storm restoration.
MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen said they are prioritizing the largest outages and customers who have been without service the longest.
“We are asking everyone for their patience as we take care of the damage that came from the storm and prepare for what is ahead,” McGowen said.
Work such as replacing power poles can take an average of eight hours. During this time crews are working to close roads, direct traffic, and coordinate with law enforcement agencies. MLGW said underground outages can take longer than overhead outages.
Some of the areas that MLGW prioritizes include hospitals, facilities with large community impact, and areas with large members of customers without power.
Customers are urged to report outages on the MLGW app or by calling 544-6500.
MLGW also asks that customers stay away from downed power lines and to not attempt to remove fallen tree limbs or debris. Customers should also report these to MLGW.