As Darren Cox held his newborn child in his arms for the first time, he didn’t anticipate that less than a month later, he’d be leaving his home for days on end—working through snow, ice and freezing temperatures to restore power to our customers across our region. For Entergy Mississippi lineworkers like Darren, this is what service looks like when severe weather strikes.
This past week, an intense wave of winter weather swept across Entergy Mississippi’s service area. Snow, ice and freezing rain weighed down trees and power lines, causing power outages for families and businesses across the region. With frigid temperatures and gusty winds affecting our service area over the past week, extensive damage from this winter storm has presented our teams with uniquely challenging restoration conditions.
“One of the most dangerous parts about the restoration process is the ice and wind,” said Cox. “Those conditions can cause trees and limbs to fall while we’re working in the field. Some of those limbs can weigh hundreds of pounds and can cause serious injury—or worse—if they come down on you.” 
The harsh conditions don’t just slow restoration efforts; they increase the risk. Ice-covered roads, debris and flooding can make it difficult to safely reach damaged equipment.
“Safety is our core value,” Cox said. “Sometimes it takes longer to repair lines due to dangerous conditions blocking our way. We owe it to ourselves, our teams and our customers to perform this work as safely as possible. We have families at home, and we all want to make it back to them the way we left them.”
For many lineworkers, that sacrifice hits especially close to home, especially for Darren. “I just had a baby about a month ago, and I haven’t been able to see him awake in about two weeks since this storm has passed through,” mentioned Cox. “It weighs on you, being away from your family in times like this.”
Restoring power during winter storms can be taxing on the mind and body with freezing cold temperatures, hard to access terrain and strenuous physical labor required to do the job. This is where the culture of teamwork and looking out for one another becomes even more important than ever.
“You have to be your brother’s keeper out here,” said Cox. “When you’re tired and worn down, having someone watch out for you makes all the difference.”
Behind every restored light is a crew facing extreme elements, making personal sacrifices and putting safety first, so the communities we serve can get back to their everyday routines.
