Thursday, January 29, 2026
In response to widespread outages caused by Winter Storm Fern, Ozarks Electric Cooperative recently deployed 20 employees to assist Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association with power restoration efforts in Mississippi. The storm brought heavy ice accumulation and high winds to the region, resulting in damaged lines, fallen trees, and difficult access to impacted infrastructure.
The Ozarks Electric team includes linemen, right-of-way workers, and a mechanic, allowing crews to address multiple aspects of restoration in the field. Their work will focus on clearing debris, repairing damaged lines and equipment, and restoring service safely in areas affected by severe weather. Many of the locations they will be working in are remote, with narrow or ice-covered roads that complicate access for trucks and equipment.
Crews departed early Thursday the morning and are expected to remain on assignment for approximately two weeks. During that time, they will be based out of an old armory that provides basic accommodations. While conditions are modest, the setup allows crews to remain close to work sites and respond efficiently as restoration progresses.
Cold temperatures and slippery conditions add another layer of challenge to the work. Ice buildup on lines, poles, and roadways requires crews to move carefully and deliberately, following established safety procedures while working long hours to restore service. As always, safety remains the top priority for both crews in the field and the communities they serve.
This deployment is part of the electric cooperative system’s long-standing practice of mutual aid, following the principle of "cooperation among cooperatives." Cooperatives support each other during major outages and natural disasters. Ozarks Electric has relied received mutual aid in the past, and regularly sends crews to assist fellow cooperatives. system in the past and remains committed to providing assistance when fellow cooperatives face large-scale restoration needs.
Ozarks Electric asks members to keep these employees in their thoughts as they work in challenging conditions and remain focused on restoring power safely and efficiently for communities impacted by the storm.