Over 90,000 Cleco customers were without power as of 8 p.m. due to Hurricane Ida which made landfall in southeast Louisiana earlier today as a Category 4 Hurricane.
“Ida is forecasted to move farther inland tonight and into Monday. Once the storm passes, and it is safe for crews to assess damage and make repairs, estimated restoration times will be provided,” said Clint Robichaux, manager of distribution operations support. “As the wind gusts from Ida have brought down trees, poles and power lines, we remind our customers to be safe.”
Downed Power Lines:
· Be aware of your surroundings. Never touch a power line directly or use an object such as a stick to touch a power line. Electricity is always looking for a path to ground, and it will take the easiest path to get there. It can travel through you or something that you are touching, like a tree or ladder.
· Assume all downed lines are live and stay away. Report downed lines immediately by calling 1-800-622-6537 or 911.
Portable Generators:
· Thoroughly read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use of a portable generator.
· Operate the generator in a well-ventilated area, away from combustible material and keep it free of oil, mud, etc. Never operate a generator indoors.
· Plug appliances directly into portable generators with grounded extension cords that can handle the load. Don't plug a generator cord directly into a wall outlet. A generator can back feed electricity through your home's electric wiring to the entire Cleco circuit. This can cause injury or even death to a worker attempting to repair that circuit and anyone else who may come into contact with power lines. This also can damage your generator.
· Don't exceed the rated capacity of a generator.
· Only refuel a generator when the engine is off and cool.
Power Outages as of 8 p.m.
Parish Customers Affected
- Evangeline - 6
- Iberia - 446
- St. Martin - 26
- St. Mary - 4,708
- St. Tammany - 86,131
- Washington - 461
Total 91,778
