GULFPORT– Mississippi Power has added a new, interactive outage map to its online Storm and Outage Center at www.mississippipower.com/storm. The resource will be useful for customers during storm season as well as for year-round severe weather events.

    Updated every five minutes, the new online Outage Map can be accessed via the Internet using a desktop computer, tablet or phone and allows customers to track utility crews as they work to safely restore power. Customers can view detailed information on outages often caused by severe weather, traffic accidents and other external causes, see how many customers are impacted and learn an estimated time for power restoration.

    The interactive feature on the Outage Map allows visitors to set personal preferences, such as their home location or travel destinations. Having the ability to access outage information and track restoration progress allows customers the ability to adjust plans and make important decisions that can impact their families, homes and businesses, officials said.

    “Customer surveys and focus groups revealed that our customers wanted more options related to outage information and we’re listening,” Randall Pinkston, distribution director, said. “As a result, Mississippi Power is empowering customers by offering a new interactive, online outage tool to help customers stay informed about outages all year round.”

    In addition to viewing the new outage map, visitors to Mississippi Power’s online Storm and Outage Center can instantly report an outage and find helpful tips and important information about severe weather, divided into categories including “Preparation and Safety,” “Restoration Process” and “General Storm Tips.”     The website is also optimized for mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets, which allows customers to easily access the information even during an outage.