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Power outages reported in Louisiana

Power outages
Posted at 3:34 PM, Mar 30, 2022
and last updated 2022-03-30 17:32:01-04

Power outages are being reported across the state as severe storms move through.

To see the number of power outages currently reported in Louisiana, click here.

Residents who experience power outages should contact their local power company to make a report.

UPDATE: Entergy reports about 43,000 Louisiana residents are without power as of 4:30 p.m.

Utility crews and contractors will be assessing impacts to the companies’ electric system and restoring power throughout the afternoon where it is safe to do so. Although crews cannot go up in buckets if winds exceed 30 mph, there is some restoration work like switching or flipping circuit breakers that can be performed from the ground, the company says.

Estimated times of restoration will be developed once the storms pass through and crews are able to get a clearer picture of the impacts and what it will take to restore power quickly and, above all, safely, the company says.

As with any weather event, please be mindful of the following safety tips:

Stay away from downed electric equipment

  • 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, damaged or downed 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. Again, stay away from downed 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, limbs or overhead wires falling to the ground.

Use generators safely

  • If you plan on using a generator for temporary power, have 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. Use them only outdoors, following all manufacturers’ safety guidelines.
  • Unplug or turn off any electrical appliances that can easily be turned to the off position until power is restored.

Avoid traveling in affected areas

  • Try to stay off the roads in affected areas. More traffic in bad weather leads to more accidents, including more injuries and fatalities as well as accidents that can damage electrical poles and other equipment, creating outages and impeding the ability of crews to access and repair damage and slowing restoration.

Outage maps can be found below:

LUS

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SLEMCO

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ENTERGY

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CLECO

As of 3 p.m., Cleco had 7,284 customers without power due to the thunderstorms.

For the latest outage numbers, visit Cleco’s storm center at www.cleco.com/residential-commercial/storm-center.

Acadia —110
Allen —308
Avoyelles —1,021
Beauregard —38
Calcasieu —151
DeSoto —6
Evangeline —1,197
Grant —985
Iberia —44
Jefferson Davis —29
Natchitoches —441
Rapides —1,946
Red River —34
Sabine —32
St. Landry —487
St. Martin —166
St. Mary —7
St. Tammany— 256
Vernon —26

Safety tips during a storm:

  • Listen to local radio and TV stations for power outage and restoration status reports.
  • If water is rising, turn off electricity at the main breaker, evacuate and stay away until the water has completely receded.
  • Generators should be operated outdoors only and in well-ventilated areas. Plug appliances directly into portable generators with grounded extension cords that can handle the load. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. Don't exceed the rated capacity of the generator and only refuel when the engine is off and cool.
  • Assume all downed lines are live and stay away. Report downed lines immediately by calling 1-800-622-6537 or 911.

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