Ice Storm Knocks Out Power for Thousands

L I T T L E  R O C K, Ark., Dec. 27 -- An ice storm across the southern Plains knocked out power to nearly a half-million homes and businesses and stranded travelers through the region, unexpectedly extending their holiday vacations.

The weather has also caused numerous accidents and nine trafficdeaths and forced the Arkansas governor to shut down stategovernment today.

In many towns, the only light early this morning came fromexploding power transformers streaking blue and yellow lightsacross the sky.

“You’re just hoping your roof’s not gonna cave in,” said KayBowling, a 21-year-old mother of two who first lost electricity andthen telephone service. “Everything in my trailer house iselectric. We’ve got water but it’s really, really cold.”

Thousands Without PowerAbout 214,000 Arkansas customers lost electricity earlytoday, while 120,000 Oklahoma homes and businesses were darklate Tuesday. About 106,000 Texas customers were withoutelectricity at least part of Tuesday, as were another 50,000 innorthern Louisiana.

A lull in the icy weather — however short-lived — was predictedfor Thursday by the National Weather Service at North Little Rock.

“It will be a brief break, because we have another batch ofmoisture coming Thursday night, but that may be just snow,” saidforecaster Nelson De Villiers.

Entergy Arkansas said restoring service might take untilTuesday. A Dec. 12-13 storm cut electricity to nearly aquarter-million Arkansas users. Entergy spokesman James Thompsonsaid the company had 4,000 workers on task.

Stranded in Little RockAt a hotel near the Little Rock National Airport — closed sinceMonday — Gary Blankenship of Memphis, Tenn., remained trapped withother stranded travelers and lamented his family’s aborted trip toAmarillo, Texas. Little Rock had more than a half-inch of ice andAmarillo had 15 inches of snow.

“We’ve canceled our plans and as soon as the weather clears,we’re heading back to Memphis,” Blankenship said. “But I’ve gotit better than some of these folks. At least I’ve got my familywith me.”