Insights > Entergy Louisiana Restoration Morning Update – Sept. 13

Entergy Louisiana Restoration Morning Update – Sept. 13

09/13/2020

Workers rebuild storm-damaged equipment in the Hackberry area.
Workers rebuild storm-damaged equipment in the Hackberry area.

While crews continue making progress restoring power to customers affected by Hurricane Laura, Entergy is also preparing for the potential impacts in the coming days of Tropical Storm Sally that forecast to move into the Gulf of Mexico. We encourage customers to prepare, too.

Tropical Storm Sally is expected to bring high winds, heavy rains, high tides and coastal flooding to portions of southeast Louisiana and power outages could occur. Crews from Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy New Orleans, LLC are on alert and preparing to respond should the systems impact the companies’ service territories.

Entergy’s storm team continues to work to restore power to customers in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, the areas hit hardest by Laura on Aug. 27.

Crews have restored power to approximately 213,900 of the 270,900 customers who lost power at the peak of Hurricane Laura.  As of 9 a.m. Sunday, approximately 48,500 customers remain without power in heavily impacted southwest Louisiana. As we continue to restore service to customers, outage numbers may fluctuate on our outage map depending on current conditions, such as thunderstorm outages or temporary outages to make repairs.

Statewide damaged distribution equipment replaced includes 10,608 poles, 2,778 transformers and 22,654 spans of wire as of 8 a.m. Sept. 10. Crews have also identified approximately 1,600 transmission structures that were damaged or destroyed.

. For customers in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, this means an extended restoration effort as the transmission and distribution systems will require nearly a complete rebuild. Once the transmission lines are flowing electricity into the city’s substations, power can flow through the distribution lines to homes and businesses that are able to safely accept power. As more generation and transmission services are available in southwest Louisiana, this should help improve our ability to finalize our restoration efforts.

Along with standard storm procedures, Entergy employees are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic by taking additional steps. Due to the added measures crews must take, restoration may take longer, especially where there are widespread outages.  Also, crews will continue to practice social distancing, and we ask that customers do the same.  For their safety and yours, please stay away from work zones.

Crews are focusing on restoring emergency services first and then will prioritize work to restore the greatest number of customers. 

As we continue to restore power across our service territory, we want to ensure that you can accept power when it becomes available.  Check for damage to the electrical equipment attached to your home or business and contact an electrician to make any needed repairs. For information on your home’s electrical equipment, visit www.entergy.com/hurricanelaura/home-repairs. If damage has been repaired by a qualified electrician, please call 1-800-ENTERGY to generate a service reconnection work order.

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

Lake Street – University – Prien

More than 225 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working in the areas of E. McNeese Street, Sale Road (Contraband), Casino and South of downtown (Lake). Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

Airport – Big Lake

More than 940 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working in the areas of Gerstner Memorial (Smith), S. Lake Street (Solac), Graywood (Vincent) and Tank Farm. Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

Goosport – Moss Bluff – Iowa

More than 595 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working in the areas of LA-90 & LA-397 (Chlomal), Goosport, Iowa, Gillis and Legion. Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

Central – East Lake Charles

More than 740 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working in the areas of LA-14 & 7th Street (Broadmoor), E. Broad, S. Kirkman (Ford), Chennault (Legion), Oak Park, downtown (Ann Street) and I-210 & LA-14 (Greinwich). Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

City of Sulphur

More than 1,800 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working in the areas of Beglis Pkwy, Hwy 27, Ruth St, Hwy 90, Old Spanish Trail, Burton St, and Maplewood Ave. Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

Toomey - Starks

More than 600 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working individual outages in the area. Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

City of Westlake 

More than 200 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working in the areas of Old Hwy 90, Westlake Ave, and Sampson Ave. Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

Cameron Parish and the City of Hackberry

More than 300 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working in the areas of Main St and Hwy 27 in Hackberry. Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

Jennings – Mermentau – Lacassine

More than 100 lineworkers and support personnel continue working to repair and rebuild the electric system in this area. Crews are working in the areas of Lacassine, Hayes and Bell City. Entergy is accommodating requests to remove its equipment and wire from both commercial and residential customers. Crews are dealing with traffic and access issues, entangled power lines and high temperatures.

Jefferson Davis Parish

Progress has been made in this area. There is significant damage to the transmission lines that serve the Iowa area, including those customers in the west side of Jefferson Davis Parish. We have damaged structures off road that are hard to access. Entergy is utilizing special equipment to make repairs. Estimated restoration for this area is Sept. 18.

STORM RESTORATION PROCESS

Following a storm, we deploy scouts to assess damage. Our scouts work as quickly and safely as possible in sometimes very dangerous conditions. As damages are assessed, we will communicate with you the conditions found along with an estimated restoration time and our progress toward restoring your power. We ask for your patience, and please know restoring your power safely and quickly is our top priority.

As we assess the damage, we will begin restoring service where it is deemed safe to do so.

Your preparation is essential too:

    • Above all stay safe. A personal plan for you and your family is the best way to stay safe and be storm ready.
    • Visit the Entergy Storm Center website for planning tools that can help guide you through the decisions you need to make.
    • Whether you shelter in place or evacuate you should make preparations to protect your home.
      • Decide to stay or go well before the storm strikes.
      • Basic emergency supplies and a first aid kit are key items to keep on hand during severe weather.
      • Visit the Entergy Storm Center website in advance for details on how to prepare for hurricanes and other types of storms.

KEEP SAFETY TOP PRIORTY

There is no way to know if a downed line is energized or not, so if you see one, keep your distance and call 1-800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243).

Stay safe and away from downed power lines and flooded areas. Do not walk in standing water and do not venture into areas of debris, since energized and dangerous power lines may not be visible.

Customers choosing to use portable electric generators should do so in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Customers must never connect a generator directly to a building’s wiring without a licensed electrician disconnecting the house wiring from Entergy’s service. Otherwise, it can create a safety hazard for the customer or our linemen working to restore power. And it may damage the generator or the house wiring.

For the latest details, visit our new Hurricane Laura information hub at entergy.com/hurricanelaura. If the electric equipment appears undamaged, report the outage by texting REG to 36778 or by calling 1-800-9OUTAGE

We continuously keep our communities informed throughout a storm using the following channels:

  • Download our free app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app.
  • Sign up for text alerts. From your cellphone text REG to 36778.
  • Visit the Entergy Storm Center website and our View Outages page.
  • Follow us on Twitter.com/entergyla or Facebook.com/entergyla.
  • Call us at 800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243).
  • Follow updates in your local news media like radio television and newspapers.

Louisiana Editorial Team