Oxford Storm Recovery: Outages, Costs and School Updates

Power outages linger nearly two weeks after Winter Storm Fern

Nearly two weeks after Winter Storm Fern coated Oxford and Lafayette County in ice, many homes in the region are still without electricity. State figures on Friday showed close to 20,000 customers in northern Mississippi in the dark, with Lafayette County carrying one of the highest remaining totals.

In rural areas outside Oxford, some families have gone almost fourteen days relying on gas heaters, fireplaces and coolers after losing both power and water. Volunteers and church groups are cutting away fallen limbs, tarping damaged roofs and serving hot meals while utility crews work long shifts through broken trees and low-hanging lines.

Costs mount as families cope with extended outages

Across northeast Mississippi, including communities around Oxford, residents are now dealing with the financial side of the storm. Recent regional reports estimate tens of thousands of customers still without power as of Thursday, weeks after ice first brought down trees and lines and froze roads.

Families are dipping into savings for propane, gasoline for generators and unexpected repairs, all while throwing away spoiled food and managing temporary housing. Local officials say the prolonged recovery is especially hard on older residents and people in rural pockets where access to supplies and transportation is limited.

Schools and campus continue storm-adjusted schedules

The Oxford School District has been phasing students and staff back into buildings after closing for a full week because of damage and outages. District updates describe a cautious reopening plan, with operations teams checking campuses, restoring food service and gradually restarting transportation and activities.

At the University of Mississippi, the Oxford campus remains closed through Sunday, February 8, with all in-person classes and events canceled while cleanup continues. Student leaders and community groups are coordinating relief efforts, including emergency funds for students facing lost wages or housing costs and neighborhood volunteer networks that match residents who need help with those able to offer it.

Looking ahead

With temperatures finally warming, officials expect faster melting and steadier progress on repairs in and around Oxford this weekend. Residents are still being asked to treat any downed lines as live, avoid unnecessary travel on side roads and check in on neighbors who may be without power, water or transportation.

Sources

• https://apnews.com/article/f50e8fe0ca3b997a5bfbdfa79f0a87ae
• https://nationaltoday.com/us/in/oxford-in/news/2026/02/05/25-000-in-northeast-mississippi-still-without-power-weeks-after-ice-storm
• https://visitoxfordms.com/
• https://www.oxfordsd.org/post-details-osd/~board/news-and-announcements/post/weather-updates
• https://oxfordeagle.com/2026/01/28/ole-miss-will-remained-closed-through-feb-8/
• https://www.olemissasb.org/winter-storm-fern