The National Hurricane Center is predicting that Tropical Storm Francine may strengthen into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, with landfall expected in Louisiana. The storm could bring severe weather, including strong winds, flooding rains, and possible tornadoes, to southwest Mississippi by midweek.
Entergy Mississippi is urging customers to prepare for potential outages as the peak of hurricane season approaches. The utility warns that the storm could affect parts of its service area starting Wednesday evening and continuing into Thursday.
Entergy Mississippi crews, along with contractors, are on standby to respond to outages, working long hours if needed to restore power. The company has been performing year-round maintenance, such as trimming trees and vegetation around power lines, but remains cautious about the potential impact of last year’s drought and other environmental factors on trees outside of designated clearance zones.
With only a few days before the storm’s expected landfall, Entergy advises customers to review storm plans and stock up on essentials, including flashlights, first-aid supplies, important documents, medications, non-perishable food, and enough water for several days.
Households relying on medical equipment, particularly those dependent on life-support systems, are urged to have backup power plans in case of extended outages. Entergy encourages residents to be prepared for emergencies and offers resources, including how to build an emergency kit, through the Entergy Storm Center website.
