‘Cataclysmic’ Storm Devastates Arkansas
Tens of thousands of people shivered without heat again Friday, nearly a week after a Christmas ice storm devastated parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
From 750,000 to as many as 1 million people--at least a quarter of Arkansas’ population--lost power after the storm, Gov. Mike Huckabee said as he looked at street after street littered with splintered, ice-caked trees. About 135,000 homes and businesses remained in the dark Friday.
“We’ve never had a storm like this,” Huckabee said. “I’m using words like ‘apocalyptic’ and ‘cataclysmic.’ ”
Some communities have been without power, water and sewer service for days. In Dierks, Brandon Janes hoped to have a generator running soon for the sewer and water systems. “We’ll cross our fingers and pray real hard,” he said.
Oklahoma emergency officials urged thousands of people left without power and facing another icy blast to turn to each other for help.
An estimated 120,000 Oklahomans remained without power Friday, and some areas weren’t expected to get service restored for at least five days.
In Texas, about 45,000 people were waiting for electricity Friday, five days after a winter storm hit the state.
At least 40 deaths in the three states were blamed on the bad weather.
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