Severe Storms Create More Complications in Arkansas

A spring storm roared through parts of southern Arkansas, uprooting trees and downing power lines, leaving thousands without electricity during a pandemic that’s already upended the normal rhythms of life.

Without power, residents in Pine Bluff flocked to fast food restaurants, waiting in their cars because of social distancing guidelines and fears of exposure to the coronavirus.

At gas stations, attendants wearing face masks stood ready to manage the increasingly long lines of drivers filling up their vehicles.

One driver who decided to forgo the line said, “The line is so long I’ll be out of gas when I get there.”

The frustration served to exacerbate the difficulties millions of Americans have already experienced during the coronavirus outbreak.

Arkansas remains only one of six states without a formal stay-at-home directive during the pandemic, but Pine Bluff’s mayor, Shirley Washington, issued a curfew last week to prevent an uptick in cases. And in Little Rock, where no power outages were reported, Mayor Frank Scott implemented a curfew in late March.

Entergy, the electric company that serves the area, sent a text message to customers  Friday night.

“Potential severe weather is expected in your area beginning late Saturday that could cause power outages,” the text read. “We are working to ensure we have the people and resources to respond to outages quickly and safely, while taking precautions while taking precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. You should prepare, too.”

The storm swept through several southern states over the weekend, spawning tornadoes that killed 30 people.