OEM: Pay attention to storms, surroundings

St. Francis County suffered little, if any, damage from thunderstorms that moved through the area overnight, according to local officials.

However, weather forecasts show the potential for dangerous storms to develop continues through tomorrow night.

SFC Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Zakk Jumper said this morning that he had not received any reports of damage from last night’s storms.

Jumper encourages residents to be mindful of the weather over the next couple of days as more storm systems move through.

“If you have a weather radio, keep it on,” said Jumper. “Pay attention to what’s going on around you and learn the difference between watches and warnings.”

Jumper said people should also pay attention to the weather in nearby areas in order to prepare themselves and their families.

“Watch and pay attention to counties around us so you’re not trying to scramble for safety at the last minute,” said Jumper. “Pay attention to weather stations. Pay attention to what is going on around you.”

Power outages were not a major problem during last night’s storms.

Anna Howton, spokesperson for Woodruff Electric, said about 80 customers in Forrest City lost power last night. Across the company’s service territory, 430 members were without power during the storms, with the majority of those being near Fair Oaks. “They were without power for less than an hour,” she said.

“For days, we have been monitoring the potential severe weather that could impact our service territory, and crews have been making preparations for the possible storm threat that is expected mid-week,” said Howton. “Our experienced and highly trained crews continue to prepare and plan for potential

(Continued from Page 1) weather with one goal in mind: to safely work to restore power as quickly as possible.”

Officials with Entergy Arkansas told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that about 110 of the company’s 2,293 customers without power were in St. Francis County.