Memphis and Shelby County face major power outages after severe storms

A severe “bow echo” storm that struck the Memphis and Shelby County region on Saturday, August 22, has caused widespread damage to infrastructure and utility services. Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) reported that the event is among the seven worst in the company’s history regarding outages and impacted circuits.

As of Monday morning, approximately 10 percent of MLGW customers remained without power, though the utility noted that upwards of 140,000 customers lost electricity following the storm. MLGW CEO Doug McGowen stated that most customers should have power restored by Thursday evening, noting that physical damage to the distribution system, including downed trees, poles, and wires, has complicated repairs.

In addition to electricity loss, the storm impacted water treatment plants, leading MLGW to request that residents conserve water. The storm also affected local schools, with several closures reported in the Memphis-Shelby County district. State Representative Gabby Salinas has formally requested that Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declare a state of emergency for Memphis and Shelby County to expedite the allocation of resources and funds for recovery efforts.