Craighead County, AR — (Contributed) — April 6, 2025 — Following the severe weather systems that moved through Northeast Arkansas, Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation (CECC) crews have been actively working to assess damage and restore power to affected members.
As of Saturday afternoon, CECC has identified a total of 213 broken poles across its service area with 55 poles remaining to be replaced, with 640 meters still without power. While damage is scattered throughout the entire area, the most severe impact remains concentrated in the Monette and Lake City regions.
Restoration efforts are ongoing, but progress is being slowed by extreme flooding and continued high winds, which are making it difficult for crews to access and safely repair damaged infrastructure.
“We are seeing widespread damage and extremely difficult working conditions,” said Justin Etter, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Despite the challenges, our crews—alongside mutual aid partners—are making steady progress. We are deeply grateful for the patience and support of our members.”
Assistance from City Water and Light of Jonesboro, Paragould Municipal Utilities, SEC, and Arkansas Electric Cooperative, along with the continued encouragement from CECC members, has motivated crews to push forward through difficult conditions and widespread damage.
Crews will continue to work until all service is restored. However, CECC encourages members to prepare for extended outages, especially those in the hardest-hit and most difficult-to-access areas. Updates will be shared on social media at Craighead Electric Cooperative.