Updated
Updated · Action News 5 · Aug 22
MLGW Restores Power to 100,000-Plus Customers as 130,000 Lost Service in Memphis Storms
Updated
Updated · Action News 5 · Aug 22

MLGW Restores Power to 100,000-Plus Customers as 130,000 Lost Service in Memphis Storms

3 articles · Updated · Action News 5 · Aug 22

Summary

  • MLGW said more than 100,000 customers were still affected after Saturday storms, down from a peak of about 130,000 outages across Memphis and Shelby County.
  • 80-100 mph straight-line winds from a Bow Echo system drove the damage, and the utility warned recovery will take multiple days, with most customers expected back by Thursday evening.
  • Hospitals, water treatment and sewer facilities are the first restoration targets, while more than 30 contractor crews join MLGW and tree-trimming teams already assessing damage overnight.
  • Germantown reported multiple traffic-signal outages at major intersections, and Olive Branch said crews were clearing downed trees and power lines while urging residents to treat every line as live.

Insights

How did a Saturday afternoon thunderstorm manage to instantly cripple the infrastructure for over 120,000 Memphis residents?
Beyond the blackout, what deadly secondary hazards are Memphis residents facing as they wait for power restoration?
With outages topping 128,000, what hidden vulnerabilities in Shelby County's power grid did these severe storms expose?