Mississippians Near Two Weeks Without Power After Winter Storm

Nearly 20,000 customers remain without power in northern Mississippi after ice storm.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Nearly two weeks after an ice storm knocked out power to her home, 79-year-old Barbara Bishop and her 85-year-old husband George are still trying to restore electricity and deal with spoiled food. The Bishops, along with their son, granddaughter, and two children, have endured days of bitter cold with just a gas heater to keep them warm. Nearly 20,000 customers in northern Mississippi remain without power, with Lafayette County having the most outages.

Why it matters

The prolonged power outages have left many Mississippians struggling to cope with the aftermath of the winter storm, which caused significant damage to the power grid and infrastructure. The situation highlights the vulnerability of rural communities to extreme weather events and the challenges in restoring power in remote areas.

The details

The ice storm struck late last month, knocking out power to about 180,000 homes and businesses in Mississippi. While the number of outages has dropped significantly, nearly 20,000 customers remain without power, particularly in Lafayette, Tippah, Panola, Yalobusha, and Tishomingo counties. The Bishops and their family have been without power and water for days, relying on a gas heater and a fireplace to stay warm. Volunteers from the nonprofit Eight Days of Hope have been helping clear debris and provide free meals to affected residents.

  • The ice storm struck late last month.
  • Nearly two weeks after the storm, many Mississippians are still without power.
  • On Friday, nearly 20,000 customers remained without power in northern Mississippi.

The players

Barbara Bishop

A 79-year-old resident of a rural area near Oxford, Mississippi, who has been without power for nearly two weeks after the ice storm.

George Bishop

Barbara Bishop's 85-year-old husband, who has also been without power for nearly two weeks.

Russ Jones

A resident of Oxford, Mississippi, who has been without electricity or water for days and has been staying with friends who have power.

Eight Days of Hope

A nonprofit organization that has been responding to the winter storm in Mississippi, helping clear debris, patch damaged roofs, and serve more than 16,000 free meals to affected residents.

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What they’re saying

“It's just been one of those times you just have to grit, grit your teeth and bare it.”

— Barbara Bishop (41nbc.com)

“It's been a shock to the system.”

— Russ Jones (41nbc.com)

“It's just beyond anything I could ever imagine.”

— Russ Jones (41nbc.com)

What’s next

The power companies in the affected areas are continuing to work to restore electricity to the remaining customers, but it is unclear how long it will take to fully restore power to the region.

The takeaway

The prolonged power outages in Mississippi following the winter storm highlight the need for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness in rural communities, which are often more vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events. The response from organizations like Eight Days of Hope has been crucial in supporting affected residents, but long-term solutions are needed to strengthen the resilience of these communities.