Mississippi Power receives response award

The Emergency Response Award presented to Mississippi Power reflects their work during seven consecutive days of severe weather across its service territory that included response to an EF-2 tornado in Moss Point last June.

Mississippi Power is being recognized for its severe weather response in June 2023.

Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies, awarded Mississippi Power with the Emergency Response Award for the company’s response to seven consecutive days of severe weather across its service territory culminating with a devastating EF-2 tornado in downtown Moss Point last June.

EEI presents Emergency Response Awards twice per year to recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events. Recipients are chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process, and the awards were presented during EEI’s winter Board of Directors and CEO meeting.

According to the company, roughly 50,000 customers were impacted at some point during the week due to straight line winds, tornados and lightning. In Moss Point, 75 poles, 50 transformers and more than eight miles of power lines were replaced following the tornado that left the coastal community in shock.

Mississippi Power’s restoration efforts in Moss Point included a storm team of 500 Mississippi Power employees and additional resources working around the clock to restore service to customers. Less than 36 hours after the tornado, all 8,000 impacted customers that could receive power had their service restored.

“America’s electric companies are committed to serving their communities and to restoring power safely and as quickly as possible following severe storms and other extreme weather events,” said EEI President and CEO Dan Brouillette in a statement. “I applaud Mississippi Power’s commitment to restoring service under challenging conditions following the severe weather across their service territory and the tornado in Moss Point. I am honored to present Mississippi Power and its storm response team with this well-earned recovery award.”