Gulf Coast utilities are now bracing for the second storm in a week, Hurricane Laura, which is expected to hit the Texas-Louisiana coast by Wednesday night or Thursday morning as a Category 4 storm. Laura is predicted to bring winds of up to 140 mph, centering approximately 175 miles south of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
As utilities in the path of the storm finalize preparations aimed towards minimizing damage, thousands of workers from across the region are being deployed to follow the storm path and safely restore power to impacted areas.
According to Entergy, which serves a large part of the area expected to be the hardest hit, customers may see extended power outages given the escalating nature of the storm and the need to follow COVID-19 precautionary measures.