Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia Still in the Dark as 700,000+ Lose Power After Winter Storm
UNITED STATES — More than 700,000 customers across multiple Southern and Eastern states remain without electricity as cleanup efforts continue following a powerful winter storm that brought damaging ice, heavy snow, and falling trees across the region. Utility crews warn that restoration could take several days — and in some areas, much longer.
According to live outage tracking, the hardest-hit states include Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, where ice-laden trees and snapped power lines have left entire counties in the dark.
Where Power Outages Remain the Worst
Current outage data shows the highest number of customers without electricity in:
- Tennessee — more than 230,000 customers
- Mississippi — over 150,000 customers
- Louisiana — exceeding 110,000 customers
- Texas — nearly 50,000 customers
- Kentucky — more than 35,000 customers
- South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia — tens of thousands combined
Damage is concentrated along a long corridor stretching from eastern Texas through the Deep South and into parts of the Mid-Atlantic, where freezing rain and ice accumulation placed extreme stress on trees and power infrastructure.
Why Restoration Is Taking So Long
Utility officials say this is not a simple repair event. Several factors are slowing progress:
- Trees are still hanging and unstable, posing danger to repair crews
- Ice-weakened branches may fall without warning
- Rural and forested areas are difficult to access
- Some transmission lines suffered structural damage, not just surface breaks
Officials caution residents to stay well clear of downed power lines and damaged trees, even if lines appear inactive.
Cold Temperatures Increase the Risk
With dangerously cold air still locked in across much of the eastern U.S., extended power outages raise serious concerns:
- Risk of hypothermia, especially overnight
- Increased danger from improper heating methods
- Frozen pipes and burst plumbing
- Limited access to warming centers in rural areas
Emergency managers urge residents to conserve heat, check on vulnerable neighbors, and avoid using grills or generators indoors.
What Residents Should Expect Next
Power companies say restoration will continue in phases, prioritizing hospitals, emergency services, and densely populated areas first. However, some households may remain without power for most of the week, especially in heavily damaged zones.
Officials also warn that additional tree falls are possible, even after electricity is restored, due to lingering structural weakness from ice.
What You Should Do Now
- Stay away from downed or sagging power lines
- Avoid walking or driving near ice-damaged trees
- Use generators only outdoors and far from buildings
- Report outages and hazards to local utilities
- Monitor official updates before assuming power will return quickly
Power outages, extreme cold, and storm cleanup continue to impact millions across the country. Stay with ChicagoMusicGuide.com for real-time winter weather updates, safety alerts, and detailed breakdowns of how severe conditions are affecting communities nationwide.