Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Storm’s dregs create misery in two states
JACKSON, Miss. — What was left of Tropical Storm Olga was causing soggy conditions in Mississippi and Alabama on Saturday and dozens of flights were canceled or delayed at New Orleans’ main airport after two power failures.
There were no reports of major flooding, but several trees were downed. A wind advisory remained in force for eastern Mississippi. Meteorologist John Moore of the National Weather Service in Jackson said the wind could topple more trees weakened by recent drought conditions and knock out power.
The mayor of Tupelo, Miss., was trapped in his home for about 1½ hours Saturday by a downed tree and was taken out on a stretcher. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported that the fallen tree caused significant damage to Mayor Jason Shelton’s home.
City spokeswoman Lucia Randle confirmed that Shelton was transported to North Mississippi Medical Center and is “under observation.” She did not say what injuries Shelton may have suffered.
The storm spawned tornado warnings, and at least one twister touched down in Mobile. The weather service in Mobile planned to survey the area to determine the tornado’s path and intensity.
Meteorologist Gary Goggins of the weather service in Birmingham, Ala., said the primary hazard was gusty winds, possibly up to 40 mph around Tuscaloosa.
“Olga has dissipated but remnants are pushing north into Tennessee,” Moore said. “It should be out of state [Mississippi] by later Saturday.”
Meanwhile, electricity was restored to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport after two power losses occurred as the storm moved through Louisiana.
Airport officials reported on Twitter shortly before noon Saturday that there was a second loss of power at the airport, the result of powerful winds from Olga that ripped through the area overnight. Power had been out for hours earlier, canceling and delaying dozens of flights before it was restored about 10 a.m.
Entergy utility crews returned to the airport and restored power around 1:15 p.m.
At its peak, Entergy Louisiana’s power outage map showed close to 70,000 buildings without power across Louisiana, including 26,000 in Jefferson Parish and close to 19,000 in Orleans Parish as Olga rushed onshore with higher-than-anticipated winds. There also were more than 10,000 power failures reported in Tangipahoa Parish.