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News Release > Entergy assembling team of thousands to respond to Tropical Storm Francine
Entergy assembling team of thousands to respond to Tropical Storm Francine
09/10/2024
Customers urged to be safe and prepared for potential power outages
NEW ORLEANS – Entergy’s Louisiana utilities are staging equipment and materials and assembling a storm team of thousands to respond to Tropical Storm Francine. The company is committed to quickly and safely restoring power as soon as it is safe to do so. Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana are also urging customers to make final preparations today and to be ready for potential power outages, particularly in south and southeast Louisiana, where the greatest impacts from the storm are expected.
As of Tuesday morning, approximately 1,600 employees and contractors are on the ground in Louisiana, with an additional 3,400 resources requested—bringing the total to around 5,000 personnel, including lineworkers, tree trimmers, scouts, and support staff. Additional resources are expected to be arriving this afternoon and into tomorrow morning.
“As we do with any storm that threatens our service territory, we’re taking Tropical Storm Francine very seriously and have activated our methodical storm response process,” said Steven Benyard, vice president of reliability for Entergy in Louisiana. “Our goal is to ensure we have the right resources in place to restore power efficiently and, above all, safely.
He added, “Customers can rest assured that we are prepared to respond swiftly once it’s safe to begin restoration.”
Given ongoing concerns about the effects of last year’s drought and other environmental factors on vegetation, Entergy’s Louisiana utilities have made a significant allocation for tree trimmers. Of the 5,000 anticipated resources, approximately 1,400 will be tree trimmers tasked with removing vegetation to allow lineworkers to safely repair and work on electric equipment. This allocation is double the number of tree trimmers used for previous storms, such as hurricanes Isidore and Lili.
The number of resources may change as more weather-related data becomes available and the company’s models provide updated damage predictions. Forecasting potential impacts is fluid and adjusting staffing levels is strategic and will continue until restoration work is completed.
In addition to making staffing decisions, Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana are:
- Completing pre-storm checklists at service centers across the state to ensure readiness.
- Patrolling critical distribution and transmission power lines and addressing any identified issues.
- Securing specialized equipment like track machines and backyard units that may be needed.
- Setting up staging sites and preparing to receive and integrate both local and out-of-state crews into the Louisiana storm response team.
- Ensuring that materials such as utility poles, power lines, transformers and other electric equipment are available at laydown yards.
Depending on its path and intensity, Francine has the potential to cause widespread and extended power outages, particularly in south and southeast Louisiana. Entergy urges customers to stay safe by maintaining a safe distance from utility crews and their work sites. While some tasks, like damage assessments and field switching, can be completed on the ground as the storm moves out, lineworkers cannot safely use bucket trucks to work on electric equipment until winds decrease to 30 mph or less.
Customers urged to be storm ready
As the storm approaches the Louisiana coast, Entergy is encouraging customers to finalize their preparations, stay alert to electrical hazards and prepare for potential power outages. For households that depend on life-support or other medical equipment, it is especially important to be prepared for unplanned, extended outages. While crews are dedicated to restoring power, we advise customers to have a backup system and plan in place for relocating or providing a backup power source should power outages or other emergencies occur.
In addition, customers should consider keeping the following items on hand:
- Flashlights and batteries
- A battery-powered radio
- A battery-powered lantern
- Battery-operated cellphone chargers
- Canned foods, a can opener and bottled water
- Camping gear, such as portable lanterns and cook stoves
- Extra batteries in a variety of sizes for extended power outages, along with batteries for critical-care devices
Learn more about how to make an emergency kit and get important severe weather safety tips on the Entergy Storm Center.
If customers do experience a power outage, please report it to Entergy and consider the following tips:
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. They will keep food cold for up to two days if doors are not opened and closed frequently. Covering the unit with a blanket or other insulating material will help retain the cold. In an extended outage, store food in an ice chest.
- Disconnect or turn off major appliances that would go on automatically when power is restored, such as an air conditioning or heating unit, electric water heater or television set. When service is restored, there will be less chance of a circuit overload.
- Don't plug a portable generator into a wall socket. The power can travel into power lines outside the house and hurt or kill someone.
- If power comes back on at a neighbor's house but you are still without service, call 1-800-ENTERGY (800-368-3749). You may have experienced a problem in addition to the one which affected your neighbor.
- Restoration work can be dangerous. Stay a safe distance away from active work zones and restoration workers on the job.
- Please have patience. Entergy crews and contractors are dedicated to restoring service as quickly as possible, regardless of the weather.
Staying informed
Staying informed before, during and after a tropical system strikes is just as important as making personal storm plans. Here’s how you can stay up to date on our preparations and restoration efforts:
- Download the Entergy app. Customers can use the app to report outages or check on the status of power at their home or business.
- Check Entergy’s View Outages Maps show where outages are located and give information about restoration progress.
- Social media also plays an important role in keeping you informed, and we place a high priority on updating our social media channels throughout an event. Follow Entergy’s Louisiana utilities on Facebook and X:
- Text us: If you are signed up to receive our notifications, you can text OUT to 36778 to report an outage or STAT for the status of your power outage. To sign up for text messaging, go to myEntergy.com or by texting REG to 36778. Have your account number and ZIP code handy. The registration pattern is as follows including spaces: REG (account number) (ZIP code).
- Visit the Entergy Storm Center The site has storm safety, preparation and restoration information that is updated throughout the day.
- Download the Operation: Storm Ready Guide. This guide will help you plan and prepare for weather emergencies. Information is also available in Spanish and Vietnamese.
About Entergy Louisiana
Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
About Entergy New Orleans
Entergy New Orleans, LLC is an electric and gas utility that serves Louisiana’s Orleans Parish. The company provides electricity to more than 209,000 customers and natural gas to more than 110,000 customers.
Both companies are subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees.
