Insights > Entergy’s Louisiana Companies Winter Storm Update – 2/17/21 @ Noon

Entergy’s Louisiana Companies Winter Storm Update – 2/17/21 @ Noon
By: Louisiana Editorial Team

02/17/2021

Entergy’s Louisiana storm restoration workers, now numbering 3,100, continue to make progress in restoring power to customers who lost it following Monday’s winter weather that brought snow, ice and freezing rain to our service territory.

As of 9 a.m., approximately 40,000 customers remained without power, primarily in the hardest hit areas of Greater Baton Rouge, Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes.

Customers in northern Louisiana are encouraged to monitor another system of snow and ice that is forecast to impact our state throughout the day today and into Thursday. Crews in these areas are going through their pre-storm checklists for the second time in a week. Line workers are prepping and fueling their trucks and making sure they have adequate winter clothing.

Mandatory outages that began at 7 p.m., Tuesday, February 16, have ended for now, and we have returned the system to normal operations. All customers affected by this directive were restored by 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16.

We continue to face challenges related to the cold temperatures. Be mindful of your electricity usage to help prevent the need for any additional forced outages. We’re not out of the woods yet, so please continue to conserve energy.

Restoration during extremely cold weather can take time. If outages occur, crews may have to bring customers online in phases to avoid damaging the electric system. Crews also will continue practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may slow restoration work. To learn more about restoring power in extremely cold weather, visit entergynewsroom.com/storm-center/restoration/extreme-cold/.

While a load shedding event occurred in southwest Louisiana Tuesday morning at the direction of MISO, that directive has been lifted and all customers have been restored who were impacted. However, extreme cold temperatures in the forecast could lead to additional outages over the next few days. As the situation continues to evolve, we know we’re not in the clear and continue to encourage customers help conserve energy and avoid outages by:

  • Lower the central thermostat to 68 degrees.
  • Open blinds, drapes and curtains to let in warmth from the sun.
  • Delay laundry, washing dishes, bathing and other non-essential uses of electricity until this appeal for conservation has ended.
  • Wash clothes with cold water, cook foods at the lowest possible setting and refrain from opening the oven door while baking.
  • Don’t allow warmed air to escape from the home.

 

Estimated Restoration Times:

East Baton Rouge Parish

Number of outages as of 6 p.m.:  31,091

Percentage of damage assessments complete: 75%

Estimated restoration: While many customers have been restored in East Baton Rouge, we continue to work through larger numbers of outages in Iberville Terrace from Highland Rd. to Bluebonnet Blvd.; Belfair including East Belfair and West Belfair; and Drusilla area to Essen Lane.

Areas worked today:  North Baton Rouge (Central, Merrydale, Brownfields, Baker Brookstown, and the Glen Oaks Community); South Baton Rouge (Hyacinth, Gardere and Pecue); Baton Rouge East (Park Forest, Oak Villa and Villa Del Rey, Belfair along East and West Belfair and the surrounding streets); Baton Rouge West (Essen Lane to Jefferson Hwy. to Drusilla Lane, Old Goodwood and Garden District); Downtown Area beginning at Florida Blvd and 10th Street to River Road going east to west and north to south, extending to Mayflower).

 

Livingston Parish

Number of outages as of 8 a.m.:  3,839

Percentage of damage assessments complete: 75%

Estimated restoration:  The vast majority of customers who can accept power have been restored with some customer outages extending into Wednesday, February 17. 

Areas worked yesterday: Town of Livingston, Walker Area (includes Duff Rd., Hwy 449, Hwy 447), Brian Park, Pleasant Ridge, Pendarvis, Gaylord, South of I-12-, Denham Springs (includes Hwy 16 North, 4-H Club, Benton Lane, Woodcrest Subdivision, River Road) French Settlement(includes Shane St. Baton Rouge (includes La Bel-Aire, Stevendale, Neighborhoods on the southside of Florida Blvd-Fountainbleu Subdivision S. River Oaks, and Strain Rd.

 

St. Helena Parish

Number of outages as of 8 a.m.:  332

Percentage of damage assessments complete: 100%

Estimated restoration:  The vast majority of customers who can accept power have been restored with some customer outages extending into Wednesday, February 17.

Area Notes: Crews continue to work through vegetation issues while managing the cold load restoration process in the area of Amite north to Kentwood and Mississippi/Louisiana state line.

 

Tangipahoa Parish

Number of outages as of 8 a.m.:  2,440

Percentage of damage assessments complete: 100%

Estimated restoration:  The vast majority of customers who can accept power have been restored with some customer outages in Tangipahoa, Fluker, Arcola, Kentwood, Amite, and Easeleyville extending into Wednesday, February 17.

Please be mindful of the following safety tips:

  • Live wires can be deadly. Stay away from downed power lines. Call 1-800-9OUTAGE or 1-800-968-8243 to report downed or dangling power lines, poles or other damaged equipment.
  • Do not trim trees or remove debris on or near downed power lines. Only power company crews or their contractors should remove trees or limbs touching power lines.
  • Keep away from the immediate areas where crews are working. There is always the danger of moving equipment and the possibility of construction materials or limbs or overhead wires falling to the ground.
  • If you plan on using a generator for temporary power, get a licensed electrician and disconnect from the utility electric system before hooking up to your main electric panel.
  • Do not run a generator in a confined space without adequate ventilation.
  • Turn off any electrical appliances that can easily be turned to the off position until power is restored.
  • Check on seniors, who can be particularly susceptible to extreme temperatures.
  • Try to stay off the roads in affected areas. Restoration crews can work safer and faster if they don’t have to work around traffic.

We want to keep you informed. The best way to get information about outages is via Entergy’s View Outages page on our website. Additional resources for your convenience:

Tags
Louisiana  New Orleans  Storm Center  Feb 2021 Storm 
Louisiana Editorial Team
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