PINEVILLE, La. - Aug. 28, 2020 (8 p.m.) - As of 8 p.m., Cleco has restored power to over 55,000 customers who lost power after Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwest Louisiana yesterday. "This is day one, our first full day of storm restoration work, and we're making progress," said James Lass, director of distribution operations and emergency management. "While we continue to make progress, we are still finding significant damage, so we want customers to know it will take time. According to experts, Laura is the worst storm to hit Louisiana since 1856." Cleco also is reminding customers using portable generators to do so safely. "Please follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper use of a portable generator," said Lass. "Operate generators in a well-ventilated area, away from combustible material and never run a generator indoors." Cleco will be able to provide more details on restoration progress in specific towns and cities in the coming days. In the meantime, the company asks that customers not stop crews, as they are driving and working. Not only is it not safe, it slows power restoration work. Below are outages by parish as of 8 p.m.
Acadia - 1,055
Allen - 5,917
Avoyelles - 2,354
Beauregard - 5,122
Calcasieu - 2,461
Catahoula - 18
Desoto - 1,336
Evangeline - 3,998
Grant - 7,659
Iberia - 1,001
Jefferson Davis - 39
Lasalle - 15
Natchitoches - 646
Rapides - 39,323 Red River - 41
Sabine - 6,363
St. Landry - 559
St. Mary - 535
Vernon - 5,684
Key points on Hurricane Laura:
· Cleco has over 2,500 external and internal resources dedicated to the restoration process.
· Cleco is still assessing damage to it electrical system and continues to find hundreds of electrical poles down, along with significant tree damage and downed power lines.
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