Entergy Louisiana crews and contractors are working on the second day of power restoration following a severe storm system that heavily impacted the Interstate 10 corridor between Calcasieu and East Baton Rouge parishes. The storm brought high winds and tornadoes, leaving a trail of damage in its wake.
The restoration teams aim to bring power back to the majority of customers who can safely accept service by late Thursday night, with isolated groups in the hardest-hit areas possibly extending into Friday. Estimated restoration times by parish have been provided by Entergy Louisiana.
The National Weather Service's field surveys identified impact from straight-line winds in Pointe Coupee Parish and tornadic activity near Livonia, Sulphur, Westlake, Lake Charles, and Henderson.
The aftermath of the storm left downed trees and limbs, resulting in damage to power lines and electric equipment. Despite approximately 10,500 customers still without power, significant progress has been made across all affected regions.
A storm team comprising approximately 1,560 personnel, including tree trimmers, line workers, and support staff, is actively engaged in restoration efforts statewide.
Damage assessments have revealed the extent of repair required, including approximately 150 poles, 360 spans of wire, 60 transformers, and 170 crossarms. Vegetation crews have been indispensable due to the hundreds of cases of falling trees and limbs.
In Calcasieu Parish, most of Vinton has been restored, with ongoing efforts in Sulphur, Lake Charles, and areas like Maplewood. In Acadiana, crews are diligently working across Lafayette, facing challenges such as backyard equipment usage. Henderson, also in Acadiana, requires extensive line work due to tornadic activity.
In the Greater Baton Rouge area, crews are focusing on the hardest-hit locations, with some cases necessitating preliminary tree trimming and backyard equipment use. While communities like Maringouin and Rosedale in the Highway 411 corridor between Livonia and Grosse Tete have been restored, line work in Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes is extensive and ongoing, including offroad in cane fields. Additionally, there is a heavy presence of utility crews in the Crestview area of Plaquemine, where a combination of vegetation and line work is taking place.
